Fremont council approves $450,000 economic award, insurance renewal and several routine items; holds utility rate readings

The Fremont City Council met July 14 and voted unanimously on a slate of routine and substantive items, approving a $450,000 Local Option Economic Development Fund award to Quad County Property Management LLC and renewing the city’s property and liability insurance for $1,094,805.

Mayor Dev Sookram called the meeting to order at the City Council Chambers and the council recorded six members present, establishing a quorum. Members removed item 10 (a proposed hangar-lease waiver for temporarily displaced tenants) from the agenda by unanimous vote before adopting the amended agenda.

The council consented to the mayor’s appointment of Stan Darling to the Board of Adjustment, approved claims and minutes, and authorized routine licenses and special-event permits including a recommendation for an Archbishop Bergan event and a Rotary Club fly-in breakfast at the municipal airport. A package of consent-agenda items was approved 6-0.

In separate votes, the council approved:
- A $450,000 Local Option Economic Development Fund award to Quad County Property Management LLC (Resolution 2026-145), approved 6-0.
- A one-year renewal of the city’s property and liability insurance policy for $1,094,805 (Resolution 2026-181), approved 6-0.
- A services agreement with Keep Fremont Beautiful for $16,000 per year (Resolution 2026-183), approved 6-0 via motion on the consent agenda.
- A 4-year uniform rental services agreement with Cintas at $78,374 per year (Resolution 2026-179), approved via the consent agenda.
- A 36-month fiber lease agreement with Great Plains Communications and a related $12,500 construction purchase order for the John C. Fremont Park Amphitheater (Resolution 2026-180), approved via the consent agenda.
- Ratification of a staff signature to a contract with Thiele Geotech, Inc. for ground-penetrating radar services in the amount of $5,915 (Resolution 2026-184), approved via the consent agenda.
- Authorization for the Fremont Rotary Club to use a portion of the municipal airport for a Fly-In Breakfast on Aug. 22–23, 2026 (Resolution 2026-158), approved via the consent agenda.

The council continued Resolution 2026-153, a street-closure and special-designated-license request from Five-0-Five Brewing Co. for its proposed Oct. 3 Fall Festival, at the applicant’s request; the continuation passed 6-0.

Councilmembers also held second readings for four ordinances that set utility rates for the Fremont Department of Utilities for 2026–2027: Ordinance 5743 (electric), Ordinance 5744 (natural gas), Ordinance 5745 (sewer) and Ordinance 5746 (water). Each second reading was conducted and motions to hold the second reading carried unanimously; the City Clerk provided the second readings. The council held first reading of Ordinance 5749 (amending Chapter 6, Articles 1 and 2 relating to Animal Control) contingent on receipt of a redline version of the ordinance at the next meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 7:50 PM.

Votes at a glance: all formal motions recorded in these minutes carried 6-0 with Councilmembers Ganem, Lathrop, Jensen, Horner, Peterson and Vaughan voting yea; Councilmembers Marsh and Von Behren were absent.