By Allison Peck
Listen to the full interview with Mayor Brandon Kelliher on our Kubota Podcast
North Platte Mayor Brandon A. Kelliher said the City Council moved quickly through a short agenda this week, approving a key piece of street-maintenance equipment and taking steps tied to clearing another deteriorated property.
“It was pretty short,” Kelliher said during a radio interview with Allison Peck. He said the meeting included “about 10 minutes of council,” followed by “a relatively short executive session,” and council members were leaving “by about six o’clock.”
One of the main items was approval to purchase a Cimline crack seal kettle, a tool used during street maintenance to keep sealant hot while crews fill cracks in pavement. Kelliher said the city’s current unit “was not functioning very well,” and that was the reason it needed to be replaced. He added the existing kettle was “somewhere around 10 years old,” though he noted he was not certain of the exact age.
Council members also held a public hearing related to a purchase agreement for property at 3111 W. 19th St. Kelliher said it is another location the city plans to address using state grant funds.
“This is another home or property that we’re using the state grant funds to purchase and demolished,” he said. Kelliher described the structure as “a rather old mobile home somehow connected with a house structure,” adding that it has “fallen into disrepair.”
Kelliher said the city expects to move forward with the purchase, then clear the site. “Most likely the city will proceed with this purchase agreement and then we’ll clear the property at some point in the next couple of months,” he said. He said the lot should be “available for sale sometime this fall.”
The interview also turned to elections and civic participation, with Kelliher encouraging residents to register, learn about candidates and vote. “It’s an election year, pretty important for people to vote,” he said.
Kelliher discussed turnout trends and why local races can be decided by a relatively small share of voters. He said participation in federal elections is “usually around 53% somewhere in that vicinity,” and in non-presidential years like 2026, turnout is often lower. He urged voters to take time to learn about candidates. “If you’re going to vote, please take the time to educate,” Kelliher said.
He also pointed to key election dates. Nebraska’s statewide primary election is May 12, and the general election is Nov. 3, according to the Nebraska Secretary of State’s elections calendar. Early voting is also part of that timeline. The Secretary of State’s office notes that regular early voting ballots are not sent or voted until at least 35 days before a primary or general election.
Kelliher said 2026 is also a milestone year nationally, noting the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. He said a calendar of local events tied to the anniversary is being developed in cooperation with the Lincoln County Visitors Bureau.
Kelliher, who has served as North Platte’s mayor since 2020, said he expects to revisit election issues often in the months ahead.