Discussion of Keno in Callaway took up the first half of the monthly meeting of the Callaway Village Board on Sept. 9.

Michael Nevrivy, president of Nebraska Keno Inc., presented the request for digital Keno on behalf of Sand Creek Bar, LLC. Clint Robinson, owner of the bar, was present with Nevrivy. Following Nevrivy’s presentation, the board approved the two ordinances permitting Sand Creek Bar to serve as a Keno sales outlet location and allowing the use of digital Keno in the Callaway village limits.

The board also approved an agreement establishing Callaway Keno LLC as the official lottery operator in the village. In conjunction with that, Village Clerk Lori Bonde reported that a checking account for the Keno funds will be opened.

Also present at the meeting was Carla Kimball, Director of the Central Nebraska Economic Development District. She was present to discuss a potential partnership between the village and CNEDD to address nuisance and abatement issues within the village.

“CNEDD is going to be rolling out a nuisance abatement program on a very limited basis in 2026. We have not done this for a very, very long time,” Kimball shared. “I wanted to come and talk to you just to get the ball rolling. It is an endeavor both for us and the community. It will require this board and your staff to be fully on board.”

She explained that the program will divide the community into quadrants, and one particular area will be the focus during the first year. “Typically, that is not the worst part of town. I have been told it is best to

Cont. PAGE 7: Village Board choose an area where one of you lives,” Kimball told the board.

With this program, CNEDD will be doing the drivebys and taking pictures, and making initial contact with the property owners. She suggested the Village send out letters to all of its residents beforehand, letting them know that the program is being initiated.

“We will be at board meetings showing you pictures and telling you what we find, and sharing what the next steps are that the board will need to approve us doing,” Kimball explained. “Abatement is the very last step. We want the homeowners to do the work themselves. It does take time. We’re not going to go right in and haul off their stuff - that’s not the way this goes.”

Kimball also warned the board that initially, the Village may meet some resistance from the public. “It may be bumpy that first year,” she added.

She said Callaway is far from the only community facing this issue. “CNEDD is always focused on communities, but I think this is one of the things that we really need to focus on in the next year,” Kimball said. “We never know what state and federal funds are going to be available, so unfortunately, communities are going to have to do what they can for themselves. But we are going to help our communities all that we can.”

Board Chairman Mark Kimball reiterated the fact that everyone on the board needs to buy into the program and that he feels this is something the Village really needs to do.

“I hope when we start this that people look at it as a positive, something that is for the betterment of our community and not as negative because we are trying to pick on somebody personally,” said board member Dan Lewandowski. “That’s not what we are trying to do. This should be a positive for everyone. We are trying to keep Callaway clean.”

Kimball explained that this is just an initial conversation and that she will return with more details should the board decide to move forward with the program. There will also be ordinances that will need to be drafted and approved to align with the program, meaning any action is still a few months away.

Economic Developer Kacee Gillis presented her monthly report to the board, which included the purchase of two new 8-foot picnic tables for Morgan Park with specified memorial funds. She also presented an application from a community member for the use of LB840 funds to help purchase the building that his business is currently located in.

“This is a request for a $33,000 loan to acquire an existing owner-occupied commercial building in the community,” Gillis explained.

The board unanimously approved the LB840 application.

The next meeting of the Callaway Village Board will be held on Oct. 14 at 7 p.m.