Broken Bow council hires city administrator, approves catering endorsement and prom street closures

BROKEN BOW, Neb. — The Broken Bow City Council on June 23 approved a package of routine and personnel actions, including hiring a new city administrator, granting a catering endorsement to a hotel liquor license and authorizing street closures for the local prom.

Mayor Rod Sonnichsen called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Broken Bow Municipal Auditorium and announced availability of the open meetings law. The council approved the consent agenda, which included the minutes from prior meetings, the May treasurer report and the Bills to Date. The bills read into the record totaled $118,319.21.

The council introduced and later approved a contract with Dan Knoell for the position of City Administrator. The motion to approve the contract was moved by Councilmember Schmidt and seconded by Councilmember Holcomb; the roll-call vote was recorded as Myers, Holcomb, Schmidt and Miller voting aye. Dan Knoell was formally introduced to the council during the meeting.

Police Chief Steve Scott announced that Police Officer Shane Fiorelli had been promoted to sergeant; the promotion was entered on the record. No vote was recorded for the promotion in the minutes provided.

Council members opened and immediately closed a public hearing at 6:13 p.m. on a catering endorsement to be added to the liquor license for Cobblestone Hotel and Suites. The council approved the catering endorsement in a subsequent motion moved by Councilmember Miller and seconded by Councilmember Holcomb. The roll-call vote was Miller, Holcomb and Schmidt voting aye; Councilman Myers recorded an abstention. The motion carried.

The council also approved the use of the Square and the blocking of parking stalls on the west and north sides of the Square for the Broken Bow Prom Grand March scheduled for July 24, 2020. That motion, moved by Holcomb and seconded by Miller, passed on a unanimous roll-call vote (Schmidt, Myers, Miller and Holcomb voting aye).

The meeting adjourned at 6:17 p.m.; the minutes were attested by City Clerk Stephanie M. Wright.

Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda (minutes, bills, treasurer report): Moved by Miller, seconded by Holcomb — Aye: Holcomb, Schmidt, Miller; motion carried.
- Cobblestone Hotel and Suites catering endorsement: Moved by Miller, seconded by Holcomb — Aye: Miller, Holcomb, Schmidt; Abstain: Myers; motion carried.
- Use of Square for Broken Bow Prom Grand March (July 24, 2020): Moved by Holcomb, seconded by Miller — Aye: Schmidt, Myers, Miller, Holcomb; motion carried.
- Contract approval for City Administrator Dan Knoell: Moved by Schmidt, seconded by Holcomb — Aye: Myers, Holcomb, Schmidt, Miller; motion carried.

(Reporting based on meeting minutes; no verbatim public comments or extended discussion were recorded in the provided transcript.)