Talmadge Jam, LLC, is considering the construction of a two-story golf venue building, located at 101 11th Ave. (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — The Kearney city council approved a project which would result in a two-story golf venue on 11th Ave. on the southwest side of the community in the Younes Center Seventh Addition.
Talmadge Jam, LLC, is considering the construction of a two-story golf venue building totaling 19,000 square feet on around seven acres. The building will be located at 101 11th Ave.
Craig Bennett with Miller & Associates appeared on behalf of Talmage Jam and said that in addition to the driving range, the facility will also feature pickleball courts and a cornhole area.
Council member Jonathan Nikkila quipped when he asked if the range would be able to accommodate his slice. Bennett noted with a smile that the range will feature a “very tall net.”
Talmadge Jam was requesting $1,150,000 in tax increment financing (TIF) that would go toward site development, public parking, storm sewer, utilities, landscaping, sprinklers and exterior lights.
City of Kearney staff recommended approval of the project and the council voted to approve the project.
Another TIF project that came before the council was a project that would result in the construction of two three-story 24-unit apartment complexes at 1011 W. 3rd St. in the Younes Center Tenth Addition. The project is being considered by Peanut Butter & Jelly, LLC.
Kayla James, Director of Finance, noted that on April 14, 2024, she presented to the Community Redevelopment Authority a TIF application for a single 24-unit apartment complex, but this was later rescinded by Peanut Butter & Jelly and replaced with the current application.
Each complex will consist of 12 one-bedroom units, six two-bedroom units and six three-bedroom units. The total square footage of each complex is around 25,128 and both will be located on two parcels that total 2.64 acres.
Peanut Butter & Jelly is requesting $1,920,000 in TIF for site development, utilities, public parking, lighting, landscaping, sprinklers and fencing.
The city staff recommended approval of the project and the city council voted to approve the project.
A third TIF project that came before the council was for Rutt’s Heating and AC, Inc. is considering the construction of two buildings at 4215 Patriot Blvd.
The first building will be a shop/office with two levels of finished office space. The shop will be home to the company’s manufacturing operation of custom-made sheet metal projects.
The second building will be heated warehouse space.
The TIF request was for $684,950 and would cover site development, utilities, public parking, site concrete, exterior signage, civil engineering, fencing, land acquisition, concrete, landscaping and exterior lighting.
City staff recommended approval and the council voted to approve the TIF project.
The last item on the regular agenda was a combined utilities revenue bond.
On April 12, 2022, the City Council passed Ordinance 8567 approving the Combined Utilities Revenue Bond in the amount of $34,000,000 for the purpose of paying the costs of improvements at the City’s Wastewater Treatment Facility.
On July 12, 2022, the City Council awarded the bid for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Phase II Improvements – Water Resource Recovery Facility to John T. Jones Construction in the amount of $35,218,367.
As a result of unexpected cost escalation for the materials needed for the project, construction bids came in significantly higher than anticipated and the $34,000,000 bond was no longer able to cover the total cost of the project.
As the initial bond’s proceeds are approaching depletion, it will be necessary to issue a $5,000,000 Combined Utilities Revenue Bond to fund the remaining costs of the project, according to city staff.
“The new bonds will have a twenty-year maturity schedule. The City will be required to include
appropriate funding in its annual budget (Water and Sewer Bond Funds) to pay the principal and
interest on the Bonds during the twenty-year life of the bonds,” city staff noted.
Staff recommends the approval of the ordinance authorizing the issuance and sale of $5,000,000 of Series 2024 Combined Utilities Revenue Bonds of the City of Kearney to pay for the additional costs of the wastewater treatment plant program. The council voted approval.
One public hearing that was postponed form the May 14 meeting was taken up again regarding an application submitted by Jestin Clinch with Clinch Storage, LLC for the preliminary plat and final plat for property generally located east of 625 East 1st Street, a vacant parcel.
The final plat for Clinchs Tech Park Subdivision contains one 3.578-acre lot.
The Planning Commission and staff recommended approval and the council followed suit.
