Minutes of the Mayor and City Council Regular Meeting
The regular meeting of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Henderson, Nebraska, was held at 7:00 p.m. on September 9, 2025, at City Hall in Henderson, Nebraska. Notice of this meeting was posted at City Hall and published in the September 4, 2025, Henderson News.
Mayor Corbin Tessman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Tessman declared the meeting to be legal and properly advertised with all members having been informed of the nature of the meeting and having received related information. Mayor Tessman referred to the open meetings law poster and stated if a member of the public wishes to speak on matters not listed on the agenda, they may speak during the public forum period. The public may request the item to be placed on a future agenda for deliberation and/or action.
During the public forum period, speakers will be given five minutes to address the Board. The public should be aware that the Board is unable, by law, to deliberate or act on the items raised during the public forum period.
Roll call showed the following present: Mayor Corbin Tessman. Council members: Brian Hiebner, Kevin Friesen and Teri Pollet.
Minutes from the August 12, 2025 meeting were reviewed. Kevin Friesen made a motion to accept the minutes as presented. Teri Pollet seconded. Roll vote: Ayes – Kevin Friesen, Teri Pollet and Brian Hiebner. Motion carried.
Brian Hiebner made a motion to pay the claims as presented. Kevin Friesen seconded. Roll vote: Ayes – Brian Hiebner, Kevin Friesen and Teri Pollet. Motion carried.
One building permit was issued since the last meeting. Bethesda Preschool for a storage shed in playground area.
No one was present for the public forum.
Dennis and Diane Thieszen and Janice Epp (Jennie Friesen’s daughter) were present to discuss the sewer back up claims that have been submitted to the city’s insurance. Brian Hiebner made a motion to pay $5,000 to the Thieszens so the cleanup process can continue and to revisit the claim after the city’s insurance agent and the Thieszen’s insurance agent have had an opportunity to discuss the claim. Kevin Friesen seconded. Roll vote: Ayes – Brian Hiebner, Kevin Friesen and Teri Pollet. Motion carried.
Brian Hiebner made a motion to pay Jennie Friesen the current clean up invoice of $3,425 and to revisit the claim after she has more information on the remaining restoration costs. Teri Pollet seconded. Roll vote: Ayes – Brian Hiebner, Teri Pollet and Kevin Friesen. Motion carried.
Members of the community were present to continue the discussion of changing the current city ordinance concerning golf carts to be driven within city limits. Copies of ordinances from Sutton and Aurora were given to the council along with the current Nebraska Legislature statutes. This agenda item will be on a future agenda to allow the council members to review the information given to them. No formal action taken.
Reed Miller from Miller and Associates was present to give an update on the Highland Addition progress and to explain VanKirk Brother’s second pay application in the amount of $386,641.71. Kevin Friesen made a motion to approve the second pay request from VanKirk Brothers in the amount of $386,641.71. Brian Hiebner seconded. Roll vote: Ayes – Kevin Friesen, Brian Hiebner and Teri Pollet.
Reed Miller gave an update on Well #2 Replacement progress. Sargent Drilling has passed all the required testing and has put the well into commission. The generator will be delivered in September and the SCADA system will be installed when the back-ordered parts have been delivered. No formal action was taken.
The city clerk reviewed the major budget items with the council and will set the budget hearing for September 22 or September 29.
Teri Pollet left the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
Reports were given with no formal action taken.
Kevin Friesen made a motion to adjourn. Brian Hiebner seconded. Roll vote: Ayes – Kevin Friesen, Brian Hiebner and Corbin Tessman. Motion carried.
Corbin A. Tessman, Mayor
Connie Brown, City Clerk
Budget Hearing
A budget hearing of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Henderson, Nebraska was held at 12:15 p.m. on September 22, 2025, at City Hall in Henderson, Nebraska. Notice of this meeting was posted at the City Hall and published in the September 18, 2025 Henderson News.
Mayor Corbin Tessman called the budget hearing to order at 12:15 p.m. Mayor Tessman declared the meeting to be legal and properly advertised with all members having been informed of the nature of the meeting and having received related information. Mayor Tessman also referred to the open meetings law poster at the back of the council chambers.
Roll call showed the following present: Mayor Corbin Tessman. Council members: Teri Pollet, Brian Hiebner and Kevin J. Friesen.
Mayor Tessman declared the budget hearing open at 12:16 p.m. concerning the Budget Summary for 2025-2026 Fiscal Year.
Mayor Tessman closed the budget hearing at 12:59 p.m. as no public was present for discussion.
Kevin Friesen made a motion to adjourn. Brian Hiebner seconded. Roll vote: Kevin Friesen, Brian Hiebner and Teri Pollet. Motion carried.
Corbin A. Tessman, Mayor
Connie Brown, City Clerk
Minutes of Special Meeting of the Mayor and City Council
A special meeting followed immediately after the conclusion of Budget Hearing of the Budget Summary of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Henderson, Nebraska on September 22, 2025, at City Hall in Henderson, Nebraska. Notice of this meeting was posted at the City Hall, and published in the September 18, 2025 Henderson News.
Mayor Corbin Tessman called the special meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Mayor Tessman declared the meeting to be legal and properly advertised with all members having been informed of the nature of the meeting and having received related information. Mayor Tessman also referred to the open meetings law poster at the back of the council chambers.
Roll call showed the following present: Mayor Corbin Tessman. Council members: Teri Pollet, Kevin J. Friesen and Brian Hiebner.
At 1:01 p.m., Mayor Tessman opened the public hearing concerning the setting of the final tax request for the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year for the General Fund at $199,450 and the Bond Fund at $401,500.
At 1:05 p.m., Mayor Tessman closed the public hearing as no public was present for discussion.
Brian Hiebner made a motion to approve Resolution 2025-05, a resolution setting the 2025-2026 Property Tax Request at $199,450 for the General Fund and $401,500 for the Bond Fund. Teri Pollet seconded. Roll vote: Ayes – Brian Hiebner, Teri Pollet and Kevin Friesen. Motion carried.
Mayor Tessman made a recommendation to the council to consider 4% wage increase. Kevin Friesen made a motion to approve the 4% increase in wages for the full-time, seasonal employees and pool managers. The motion died for lack of second.
Teri Pollet made a motion to approve the mayor’s recommendation of a 4% wage increase for full-time, seasonal employees and pool managers with the stipulation on a new annual performance review policy implemented. Kevin Friesen seconded. Roll vote: Ayes – Teri Pollet, Kevin Friesen and Brian Hiebner. Motion carried. Wages for 2025-26 are as follows: Chief of Police – $77,312; City Clerk/Treasurer – $74,689; Deputy City Clerk – $45,760; Utility Supervisor – $72,705; Utility Supervisor Assistant – $57,960.
Kevin Friesen made a motion to adopt Ordinance #473, an ordinance known as “the annual appropriation bill of the City of Henderson, Nebraska; to adopt the budget statements pursuant to the Nebraska Budget Act for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026; to appropriate sums for necessary expenses and liabilities; to provide for publication and an effective date of this ordinance and to suspend the three readings on three different days. Brian Hiebner seconded. Roll vote: Kevin Friesen, Brian Hiebner and Teri Pollet. Motion carried.
Teri Pollet made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Kevin Friesen seconded. Roll vote: Ayes – Teri Pollet, Kevin Friesen and Brian Hiebner. Motion carried.
Corbin Tessman, Mayor
Connie Brown, City Clerk
