Sustainable Beef has met the requirement of two forgivable incentive loans and won’t have to repay them, the North Platte city council unanimously agreed Tuesday.

Sustainable Beef’s payroll has reached at least $20 million a year, the threshold required to forgive that loans that were issued through the city’s Quality Growth Fund and the Northwestern Energy Economic Development Fund. Each loan was for $500,000, according to documents presented to the council.

North Platte Chamber and Development Corporation President Gary Person said the forgivable loans were part of a package in 2021 to incentivize Sustainable Beef to build its independent packing house in North Platte. Like some other quality growth loans, the loans were set up to be forgiven once payroll targets were met.

With Tuesday’s vote, the council declared the repayment obligations to be satisfied and cancelled the promissory notes.

Security cameras

In other action, the council authorized the mayor to sign agreements with Kidwell to access the doors of city buildings and upgrade the city’s camera systems. 

The total cost of the project is $811,810. An initial payment of $167,890 will be made using Municipal Light and Water funds, with the remaining $643,920 to be financed.

City Administrator Layne Groseth said the project had previously been approved in January using a Sourcewell contract through Motorola at 0% interest. However, Motorola could not honor the initial financing terms the company initially proposed, so the city contracted directly with Kidwell. 

The council unanimously approved the contract, authorized the initial payment, and agreed to finance the remaining balance at 3.95% interest over five years, with annual payments of $142,151.89 each October beginning this year.

The upgrades will be made at City Hall, the Public Library, Fire Stations 2 and 3, the Animal Shelter, Cody Park facilities, Public Transit, the Water Plant, the Wastewater facility, the Transfer Station, RSVP & Senior Center, and other city buildings.

The council also approved a lease-purchase agreement for the Parks Department to acquire one Bobcat UW56 and one E60 R2-Series Bobcat excavator with extended warranties.

Equipment

Groseth said the city has historically leased similar equipment each year from Bobcat, but the cost of those programs has increased. After reviewing equipment usage, it was determined it would be cost-effective to buy the machines and keep them for 12–15 years.

The equipment will be financed through U.S. Bancorp Government Leasing and Finance, Inc. at 4.23% interest rate over seven years. After a $20,000 down payment, the remaining $144,814.42 will be financed with annual payments of $23,921.49, with the first payment due in October. 

Bus service with the hospital

The council also approved an updated service contract between North Platte Public Transit and Great Plains Health. 

The agreement runs from Feb. 1 through Jan. 31, 2028, to continue transportation services for hospital patients within the city plus a 30-mile service area. 

Under the contract, Great Plains Health will continue to pay a monthly fee of $3,858.75 — the same as the previous agreement.

Financial report

Council members placed the January 2026 Treasurer’s Report on file.

According to the city’s unaudited financial summary, General Fund revenues for January totaled $2.91 million, while expenditures totaled $3.38 million. Year-to-date revenues stand at just over $11 million, while expenditures are about $14.03 million. 

Also, two items were pulled from the agenda before action was taken. The first was an amendment related to the new paving district along E. Francis Street. Mayor Brandon Kelliher said the item was removed because it required additional work and would return to the council.

The second item was a claim from Suhr Enterprises concerning approximately $45,000 in sewer charges tied to the property formerly known as Gary’s Grocery Store on West A St. Kelliher said the claimant requested that the item be removed from the agenda.

In other business, the council approved:

• Two mayoral appointments — James Conner to the Historic Preservation Commission and Tami Kaschke as an alternate member of the Board of Adjustment. 
• A special designated liquor license for Skyline Liquor for an April 3 Business After Hours get-together at First National Bank, 201 N. Dewey St. 
• The minutes of the Feb. 17 meeting.
• Payment of claims.

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