LISTEN TO FULL INTERVIEW WITH MAYOR
By Derek Beck | North Platte Post
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (June 18, 2025) — North Platte’s City Council held a brief but productive meeting Tuesday night, highlighted by community recognition and a handful of routine agenda items. Mayor Brandon Kelliher joined FM 98.1 and Z93.5 Country Wednesday morning to recap the meeting and discuss ongoing city initiatives.
Among the highlights of Tuesday’s meeting was the swearing-in of a new fire department lieutenant, Lt. Archuleta, and recognition of North Platte’s 42nd consecutive year as a Tree City USA. The annual Tree Board presentation emphasized the city’s commitment to tree maintenance and sustainability.
The Council also honored community mentor Steven Heinzle, who recently received the State of Nebraska’s Mentor of the Year award for his work with youth through Community Connections.
On the business side, the Council approved updates to the city’s snow removal program to better align with city ordinances. Council members also approved board appointments and reappointments to the Board of Adjustment — including Sonya Voycheske, Jarid Childers, and Tanner Pettera — and discussed the importance of their role in handling zoning variances.
Mayor Kelliher described the Board of Adjustment as a kind of “last resort” for zoning appeals. “Sometimes people have extenuating circumstances, and this board provides a fair, thoughtful process to determine if an exception is warranted,” he said.
The Council also approved annual grant applications for the North Platte Public Transit system and a small grant through the Nebraska State Historical Society, which could support city-led or third-party historic preservation efforts.
Looking ahead, Mayor Kelliher spoke about a potential temporary four-way stop at Philip and Buffalo Bill Avenue when school resumes, in response to local traffic concerns. “It’s something we’re considering as a test,” he said. “We’ll get public feedback and see if it makes sense long-term.”
The mayor also promoted Thursday morning’s Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, a long-standing Nebraskaland Days tradition. This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Ron Titus, an educator, author, and North Platte native. The event begins with breakfast at 7am at Venue 304, with tickets available online at Nebraskalanddays.com or at the door.
In the closing portion of the interview, Mayor Kelliher emphasized the importance of transparency and public communication in city government. “It’s an important part of living in a democracy to be able to watch and pay attention to what your government’s doing,” Kelliher said. “We try to make it easy — through our website, live YouTube streams, social media, and community media like the North Platte Post and local radio.”
He encouraged residents to stay informed and to reach out with feedback. “When people are informed, they can contact their representatives, call them, email them, or even run into them at the store,” he said. “We love hearing from the public — it helps us make better decisions.”
One future challenge on the city’s radar: downtown parking. With more businesses thriving and second-story apartments filling up, parking demand is growing.
“It’s a great problem to have,” said Kelliher. “Ten years ago, you didn’t have trouble finding a place to park downtown — now, it's a regular concern, especially with events at places like Venue 304, the Fox Theatre, and local restaurants. We’ll have to look at long-term solutions, and we’ll need public input as we do that.”
Mayor Kelliher closed by encouraging residents to enjoy the many events happening during Nebraskaland Days. “It’s a great time to be in North Platte,” he said. “Get out and enjoy it.”