The three groups include the City of Kearney that employs 12 full time and 12 part time positions, the Suburban Fire Protection that provides fire protection for Buffalo and Kearney County, which doesn’t include the City of Kearney and the KVFD, which is its own private organization consisting of the membership and the Reserve Company.
Fire Chief Aaron Jameson appeared during the city council meeting and introduced the newly elected officers, who would have their badges pinned by family members.
The current fire officers of the KVFD are as follows:
Battalion Chiefs
Tyler Vlasin
Seth Lunbery
Fire Captains
Bryan Chase
Chris Hellerich
Clint Smith
Rescue Captain
Nate Toof
Fire Lieutenants
Braxtin Clement
Liam Killion
Mike Treadway
Rescue Lieutenant
Robin Reeder
Dive Lieutenant
Adam Graizer
Following the ceremony, Kearney city council vice-president Randy Buschkoetter thanked the firefighters and their families for all they do to protect the city and the sacrifices family members make.
His sentiment was echoed by the other council members.
During the regular agenda, there was a presentation of the Nebraska Public Power District’s energy report for Kearney, which was given by Grant Flamig.
Flamig said he is stepping into the role that Kearney Mayor Stan Clouse has held at NPPD as Clouse transitions to part time work.
For himself, Flamig said he has 17 years with NPPD and four years ago, took the step to do more of the line design for areas throughout central and southwest Nebraska.
He said another part of his new role will be to serve as a liaison between the area communities and NPPD.
Moving to the energy report, which covered 2023, Flamig said that around $10 million has been remitted to the City of Kearney from NPPD.
Flamig said NPPD is proud to have some of the lowest rates in the United States, but did note that there will be a retail rate increase of two percent in 2025, reflecting the increasing demand for electricity as more businesses locate in Nebraska due to the cheaper energy costs, among other factors.
During the public hearings, the council conducted a public hearing on an application submitted by SMJ International, doing business as American Tower and T-Mobile for American Tower for a conditional use permit to co-locate telecommunications equipment on an existing tower located at 6204 2nd Ave.
The permit had been withdrawn from the last city council meeting due to an incomplete application but returned to the council Tuesday night.
It was noted that T-Mobile is looking to expand their reach and wishes to co-locate their equipment on an existing tower, rather than build a new one. The council approved the conditional use permit.
During the report period, City Manager Brenda Jensen said that the pool at Harmon Park reopened on Monday, July 22 after its equipment had been damaged by vandalism.
Buschkoetter said outside of a few outliers, another successful and safe Cruise Nite was hosted in Kearney and he thanked the Central Nebraska Auto Club for organizing the event again.
KEARNEY — Aaron Jameson was recently elected to serve as the 28th fire chief of the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department.
Jameson started his fire service career with the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department in 2004, where he served for one year before moving to Lincoln.
While in Lincoln, he joined the Southwest Rural Fire Department, where he served suburban Lincoln and surrounding towns of southwest Lancaster County for five years as a firefighter and EMT-B. He was named the 2009 Firefighter of the Year for SWRFD. He also served as Lieutenant for Southwest Rural Fire Department for one year before returning to Kearney.
Upon moving back, Chief Jameson rejoined KVFD in 2010. In addition to volunteering with KVFD, he works full-time for Kearney Public Schools in the technology department as a technology support administrator.
He’s married to Emily and together they have four children. Over the years, Chief Jameson has served KVFD as vice president, president, lieutenant, captain and battalion chief prior to being elected chief.
Also elected during the April 6 meeting was Gene Beerbohm to an additional term as KVFD President.
The Kearney Volunteer Fire Department is comprised of the City of Kearney Fire Department, Suburban Fire Protection District No.1 of Buffalo and Kearney counties and the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department Corporation.
During the annual meeting and election of officers, KVFD elected corporate officers to lead the organization as well as fire officers. Corporate officers are asked to ensure membership requirements are met, all bills are paid, fundraisers and social events are organized, as well as being required to set all membership-based policies.
