[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6141225,"mediaKeyId","5576054-d6de23358c45d5b29c5764ad97827f0b","parentId",5576054,"title","Finance and fire department present budget overview and proposed building-permit fee increases","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",10947000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576054-d6de23358c45d5b29c5764ad97827f0b&start=10947&end=10947","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576054-d6de23358c45d5b29c5764ad97827f0b/thumbnail_10947000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6141225/Hastings-City/Adams-County/Nebraska/Finance-and-fire-department-present-budget-overview-and-proposed-building-permit-fee-increases","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141225-3da4d7e67a946694b9341e04d1cdcafe/orig.mp4?Expires=1773033334&Signature=Iiz4W6Xguq1TxKm1277tfvEnPegsh1hQ~i-z-6vShurhz7-wkBrmlephoReKCv91EyyWRQoP1IOfmlqoia~J3cIjCOygVej3gCnySimUMWuxwSvaDonH-kjYadL1NJn~UcjzXTcqY9mpHIBSMZTEkVTuXroF7LldO3hotchqmppZb0t3giQKRuq1qpFm3QxqYchd5a4HZFU3l8IrCpnh33fVW6qTQN36oIFSTk8mGHcliI87HglmaLs76DQk5kxpKVCIvr~jgYHRq2O-aelS7XNy8eQmohU0lTVTyWxo0EJSDDAlTeyIk2Ge5VdI89vGgKJFKoVDgQ4MBIX1TLZCWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Hastings, NE","date","2025-06-16T00:00:00Z","article","City finance staff gave the council an update on the general fund through May and described the city’s budget process and constraints, while the fire department proposed modest increases to plan-review and other permit fees to better match staff time and inspection costs.

\"So as you can see, it's, the operating budget,\" said Roger, who provided a monthly briefing showing year-to-date expenditures are near expected percentages and that licensing and permitting revenues were above budget because of large inspection permits. Roger told the council the general fund is in reasonable shape and noted that intergovernmental revenue timing (an FAA airport grant) is shifting some revenue and expense into the next fiscal year. He also reviewed how property tax, local-option sales tax and intergovernmental revenues support the general fund and explained the constraints created by state limits on revenue sources.

Fire Department staff proposed raising plan-review fees and adding fees for resubmissions and operational inspections that currently require staff time but are not charged. \"Current plan review for a $20,000 project is a $5 fee. With this proposal, it would be a $20 fee,\" the fire presenter told the council, describing a tiered schedule that would increase revenues for large projects significantly. The department provided four example projects and estimated that under the proposed schedule the department would collect approximately $36,805 compared with $1,857 under the existing fees for those same projects.

Fire staff also proposed new occupancy and operational-permit fees (for alarm systems, hood suppression systems and other required inspections) and late-submittal penalties for work started without permits. Presenters said current permit fees do not cover on-site inspector time: one multi-building site had generated $3,500 in permit fees while staff logged about 158 hours of inspector time — roughly $6,500 in personnel costs.

Council members expressed support for measuring permit costs against staff time and for bringing fee proposals through the formal budget process. No fee changes were adopted at the work session; staff said they will return with final fee language and estimates as part of the July budget proposal.

What happens next: Finance and department heads will finalize fee proposals and include revenue estimates in the draft fiscal 2026 budget scheduled for public presentation in mid-July; any fee or ordinance changes will return to council for formal action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hastings City Council Work Session - June 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City finance staff reported the general fund is on track through May; the fire department proposed raising plan-review and permit fees to better cover inspection and review costs, which would increase revenue if adopted during the upcoming budget process.","taxTitle","Hastings City, Adams County, Nebraska","taxId",52340,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6141231,"Council discusses utility cost-sharing, line-extension options and shifting pilot into a dividend fee",1747,8129000,9876000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576054-d6de23358c45d5b29c5764ad97827f0b&start=8129&end=9876","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576054-d6de23358c45d5b29c5764ad97827f0b/thumbnail_8129000.jpg","/articles/6141231/Hastings-City/Adams-County/Nebraska/Council-discusses-utility-cost-sharing-line-extension-options-and-shifting-pilot-into-a-dividend-fee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141231-68cf3b7e565ac1f56a396d75fda59e38/orig.mp4?Expires=1773033334&Signature=L5IKBATiandIX8fIZCTGQmuusnsIXPt05bzuluKbOm-G~tV6V91V-sgMrpIIeV3D69FjLBDkL06pohwJ7t3CQ07FNdPj2POakbxxI7P755PTmb9F2imotpsoO1wG7QAk4k0iWUFAc7hNsmbSdxBg6I3lMXN-PBLef4fxzv~6ExGPcbzk-YHm8q1-QFg2iu-uH9FfJnSvFTJyQMvPG5R~tyAJY9sjIBVko9kOwc8O7~-vuoUz25Xc8m3DtmL~bPQR9JorlKu47Z3-l6-nhYQMw9uNs8DzPa9XpeA52YLlD1geDcc6lniOU~1iglPoWc27Accx9Ixk98AgGPquZaOa4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hastings utilities staff presented preliminary options to the City Council for sharing the upfront costs of electric line extensions with developers and for moving existing utility payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (pilot) into a separate city dividend fee on utility bills.

\"Right now, it takes about 20 years for us to get a payback from that site if they maintain being an average customer and they stay for 20 years,\" said a utilities staff member, summarizing current line-extension economics for residential lots and showing how modest developer contributions could shorten municipal payback periods. Staff described sample cost-share tiers (for example, 10–25% developer contributions on average-lot infrastructure) and proposed drafting formal policy language after council feedback.

On commercial projects and larger power users, staff recommended a case-by-case negotiated approach that would calculate an ‘‘allowable investment limit’’ based on projected utility revenues (for example, two years of gross revenue) and credit that amount against capital costs the utility would otherwise absorb. For very large users, staff said a tailored payback analysis would be prepared and returned to council for approval.

Council members and staff also discussed the utility pilot — a percentage transfer from the utilities into city funds that had been set by past ordinances and temporarily adjusted by a prior resolution. Staff proposed moving the pilot out of embedded rates and into a separate dividend fee shown on customer bills; the dividend would be a city-set fee (separate for electric, water and gas) that could be adjusted by council without changing utility rate structures. Staff said moving to a dividend would increase transparency and give the council last-minute flexibility during the budget process.

\"If council is good with it, then we will proceed to put a budget together with this,\" the utilities presenter said. Staff also said they will present a final consultant report and proposed ordinance or fee schedule to the utility advisory board and then return to council for formal action in the coming months. No council vote was taken at the work session.

What happens next: utilities staff will finalize a consultant report, present options to the Utility Advisory Board, and return to council with recommended percentages or policy language for a line-extension cost-share and a city dividend fee for the pilot transfers.","City utilities staff proposed a draft approach to recover a share of electric distribution extension costs from developers, and discussed moving the utilities' payment-in-lieu (pilot) out of rates into a city-controlled dividend fee to give the council more flexibility over those transfers.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6141235,"HEDC: Hastings housing, site readiness and Hartwell Renewables updates highlighted",743,4573000,5316000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576054-d6de23358c45d5b29c5764ad97827f0b&start=4573&end=5316","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576054-d6de23358c45d5b29c5764ad97827f0b/thumbnail_4573000.jpg","/articles/6141235/Hastings-City/Adams-County/Nebraska/HEDC-Hastings-housing-site-readiness-and-Hartwell-Renewables-updates-highlighted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141235-0407ba376e091a607ae222caf9c62b7f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773033334&Signature=Vxl-tvo-kXOD-b0GJAtC8zagGEZCr4fBGn1O9AW5HzKZlVnmzuQZNr7iMFuAVd819PHIB3iAntMK6Wz9OUInKqWqwLaYTvHSYZragL0su3j7C7hUnVnh-4owe11E5P4cs7BMaSc64w~VK-PR9ds4b6aoqnapXSMWHNuZhwneo5Q35IBagNpmgkDhyY2powF3NkZwg4TexRNzDHXv7SV97Q5YI7gw1jnGg-HkZuhYgEgfzP1-bDUXwkmpum2ZGdg3IJBdLvI1O8VYYG~WzFcxelROHkElEpRhmDUdFx6JjRZ3tNcbtYE484Pz93arreBTdUkLy~GVBkVAI4Ih-wf9yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hastings Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) told the City Council that housing and site-development work are now top priorities for local economic competitiveness, and that the Hartwell Renewables project remains active despite vendor and contractor changes.

\"We will be looking to option property, and then we begin with some of the the due diligence,\" said Shannon, director of HEDC, describing ongoing work to identify and option potential industrial sites and to pay for phase-one environmental and utility studies. HEDC staff said a lack of shovel-ready land has blocked some recent recruitment opportunities and that creating 1–3 ready sites of varying sizes would improve Hastings' competitiveness.

Shannon described a range of local initiatives: a revolving loan fund (RLF) that will grow as existing CDBG-backed loans are repaid; Trailside Village housing moving quickly with land sold and \"the dirt is definitely moving\" on site preparations; and continued business retention and expansion (BRE) work with multiple manufacturers and downtown projects in progress. HEDC noted it has nearly $1 million in locally revolving funds and seven active RLF projects in the community.

On Hartwell Renewables, Shannon said the project is still expected to move forward despite recent contractor changes and that she has met with financial partners and cargo contacts. \"We just have some transition with some of the contractors and who the vendors are gonna be,\" she said, adding that HEDC remains confident the project is progressing.

Ron Tillery, director of the Phelps County Development Corporation, also spoke to the council earlier about Holdrege's LB 840 experience and reiterated that locally administered LB 840 funds can target workforce housing, down-payment assistance and gap financing for expansions. HEDC staff said they will coordinate site and housing work with city utilities and the comprehensive plan; the goal is to present more concrete site options to prospective employers.

Council members asked questions about land-optioning, the size and availability of industrial lots and whether HEDC would acquire land. Shannon said HEDC typically obtains option agreements to fix a price while performing due diligence and that land acquisition at scale is usually cost-prohibitive for the agency: \"Land acquisition is something we can't do. I can't say we never would. We frankly can't afford to go buy farm ground for industrial development.\" She said HEDC pays for option and due-diligence costs and aims to present multiple competitive parcels.

What happens next: HEDC will continue option negotiations, begin phase-one studies on prioritized parcels and coordinate with the city on utility capacity and funding options; staff said they will provide more details to council as negotiations and due diligence proceed.

","The Hastings Economic Development Corporation briefed the council on active industrial and housing projects, efforts to create shovel-ready industrial sites, and updates about the Hartwell Renewables project, while stressing the need for local site options to compete for new business recruitment.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6141240,"Hastings officials hear overview of LB 840 local-option economic development tool",4424,258000,4682000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576054-d6de23358c45d5b29c5764ad97827f0b&start=258&end=4682","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576054-d6de23358c45d5b29c5764ad97827f0b/thumbnail_258000.jpg","/articles/6141240/Hastings-City/Adams-County/Nebraska/Hastings-officials-hear-overview-of-LB-840-local-option-economic-development-tool","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141240-4aa752bce5cd7dc4374736154d0f79ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1773033334&Signature=jHnjcmWdUdCttS7v1syfWySe-NGF0cQEtsrE1V0rgEIQwF8ommudys04kw~Og2m-W63tk5BP2I4a4s5IanskNXZ1FvXrs8V7~hU5DP4-dN~RdysseEXPzxyuVRA5R0iHgiHAdMHjINizpuYQliHL3LFYWcqXozJot4P7XeANSaN6Yxh2W7FaqtPUOYKKvkTitiNTcSuMiB-EfHPhGZg-uJ0TRljVwourwq~tQ8kGKL2cmdYExCJoSf-pMH5ioCIs3B4CkQhLXAYydpyiJVy97DjAZdxtg0cAHM1n8gTou7oonTRV062bvPAHR2BpKqrQR0hJtRFqI6b7TzOlgh0KnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hastings City Council members on Monday heard a detailed presentation about LB 840 — formally called the Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act and commonly abbreviated LOMIDA — from Nebraska Department of Economic Development staff and local practitioners, who said the tool gives cities local control over economic development dollars if voters approve a plan and a funding source.

The state and local presenters told the council the law requires a voter-approved plan that defines eligible businesses and activities and a separate ballot approval of the funding source. \"It's the Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act. LOMIDA is what they call it too,\" said Kelly Giwicke, field representative for the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, introducing the program and its basic requirements.

The discussion matters because LB 840, first enacted in 1991, lets a municipality collect and hold funds for economic development projects specified in a locally approved plan. A plan must state the program's strategy, describe qualifying businesses and eligible activities, set revenue and budget limits, and create an oversight process including a citizen's advisory review committee (CARC). \"Voters must approve 2 ballot items. The first 1 is the plan. This needs to be a well written plan and includes how and where the funds will be spent and then the funding source,\" Giwicke said. Presenters and council members discussed revenue options including a local-option sales tax, diversion of existing sales tax, utility transfers, grants and donations. Presenters said property-tax-based funding is uncommon and politically difficult.

State and local officials described common eligible activities under LB 840: grants or loans to qualified businesses, public works needed to attract projects, job training, housing construction or rehabilitation, early-childhood care and education, and even film production or tourism. \"LB 8 40 funds must be kept separate from general funds,\" Giwicke told the council, and the statute requires public reporting and twice-yearly public hearings by the CARC.

Practitioners from Phelps County described how they use an LB 840 program in Holdrege to fund gap loans, down-payment assistance and other programs. \"LB 8 40 is a difference maker on a local level,\" said Ron Tillery, director of the Phelps County Development Corporation, who described matching and gap-financing practices and said his program has supported housing moves and private investment in his county.

Council members and staff asked practical questions about timelines, ballot language and the interaction of an LB 840 program with existing local sales taxes. Presenters warned that two ballot actions are needed: voters approve the plan and also approve the funding source. Giwicke said, \"If the sales tax passes but the plan does not, the Nebraska Department of Revenue will start collecting the tax, but they can't be spent until your plan actually passes the voters.\" Several council members pressed for a well-defined strategy and for early engagement of the Hastings Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) and local stakeholders to build public support.

Public comment began with resident Willis Hunt, who said he reviewed LOMIDA regulations and \"I support 8 40 and I hope that through your efforts it will come about in Hastings, Nebraska.\" The council did not vote on any ordinance or ballot language at the meeting; presenters and council members described the discussion as exploratory and requested more staff work on timing and plan development before putting matters on a ballot.

What happens next: staff and HEDC will continue researching plan options, funding scenarios and voter-education needs. Council members identified the coming months as an appropriate time to test public support and to align any LB 840 effort with an expiring local sales-tax authorization.

","City staff, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and area economic developers briefed the Hastings City Council on LB 840 (LOMIDA), explaining how voter-approved local plans and funding sources can be used to support business recruitment, housing, childcare and other eligible activities.","actionData","errors"]

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Finance and fire department present budget overview and proposed building-permit fee increases

Council discusses utility cost-sharing, line-extension options and shifting pilot into a dividend fee

HEDC: Hastings housing, site readiness and Hartwell Renewables updates highlighted

Hastings officials hear overview of LB 840 local-option economic development tool