The Broken Bow City Council met in regular session Tuesday evening, September 22. Mayor Rod Sonnichsen called the meeting to order in the Broken Bow Municipal Building at 6:00 PM. Council member Joe Wamsley was the single absence from the meeting.
In-town Animals Generate More Discussion
The bulk of the meeting was spent in open discussion of the proposed Ordinance 1323 regulating livestock and poultry within city limits. City Administrator Dave Schmidt presented an updated version showing changes made in response to comments in the prior meeting, as well as conversations he has had with Broken Bow citizens the past two weeks.
Updates include specified pen sizes for specific breeds of livestock, as well as the ability to retain a grandfathered status if a property is sold.
Broken Bow resident Steve Weatherly brought a number of additional recommendations for the council to consider. Among these were a requirement to notify neighbors as a part of the approval process to have temporary animals for 4H or FFA, and to closely regulate the total number of animals that could be kept in in-town pens. Weatherly also noted that some fowl allowed in the ordinance – geese and guinea fowl both make quite a bit of noise, which may run afoul of nuisance provisions.
Citing concerns about other nuisance issues, in particular runoff from animal waste, Weatherly stated, “I think Broken Bow is a up and coming town, and this makes it look like we don’t want that when … that drains into a city street. Some of the way it can be addressed is to limit numbers to where it can be easily managed. If you’re working with a wheelbarrow and a pitchfork, it’s different.”
Resident Taylor Gonzalez noted she keeps a pair of dairy goats and a covey of quail in town to help feed her family, and was concerned that limiting her flock to 6 birds would not allow for a sufficient number of the smaller eggs for that purpose. Gonzalez asked if other safety, abuse or neglect laws could also be used to address nuisance properties, noting that limiting numbers does not prevent people from not taking care of the animals they have.
Schmidt noted that nuisance laws are difficult to enforce long-term, as they may temporarily address waste issues, but not necessarily the presence of the animals creating more waste.
Sonnichsen stated the city is trying to meeting in the middle, with a number of complications, including several legal issues still to resolved. The Council requested a finalized ordinance be presented at the next meeting October 13th, but all felt a full three readings of any ordinance would be in order.
In the meantime, Schmidt encourages anyone with comments, concerns or suggestions to contact the city offices, even dropping in for a conversation in person.
Other Council Actions
At the beginning of the meeting, Custer County Emergency Manager Mark Rempe reported that the emergency dispatch center would soon be moving from its current location at the Police and Sheriff’s offices on South B Street to larger accommodations in the Custer County Courthouse.
Rempe stated this would allow for an upgrade to communications equipment used for emergency and law enforcement activities, as well as a full third station for an additional dispatcher to operate from. The move and upgrades are to be funded by Custer County and the Communications Department, with no cost to the City.
The Council approved designation of two new handicap parking spots. The first will be on the west side of South 10th Avenue, between the old Carnegie Library building (the Steffens Law offices) and the Custer County Chief building. The second will be on the north side of South D Street, in front of Legends Neighborhood Grill.
A new shoulder patch was approved for Broken Bow Police Officers. Police Chief Chris Anderson indicated his team had been working on a new patch for some time, and that the new insignia was designed entirely in-house, with no city money spent on the project to this point.
The Council approved a contract with JEO Consulting to spend $100,000 from funds left in the 2025-2026 budget on concept and design planning to update the entry lobby of the Municipal Building, including the installation of an elevator. Schmidt noted the project would be stretched over the next couple of years to minimize impact on budgeting and tax ask.
Ending the meeting, Mayor Sonnichsen and the Council praised the recent bicycle safety event on the square, calling it a huge success and congratulating the Broken Bow Area Rotary and Jeremy Walton in particular for their efforts. Sonnichsen stated at least 135 people attended the first of three hours of the event, noting, “I have noticed all the new bicycle helmets. They are in use – I have seen several, which is a great thing.”
The Broken Bow City Council adjourned at 6:40 PM. The next meeting of the City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13 at 6:00 PM in the Broken Bow Municipal Building.
