HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) – The city of Hastings could see some changes to their city council by January of 2025, and on Friday voters got the chance to talk to the candidates running to represent ward two on the city council.
Two people are running to represent Hastings City Council Ward Two, they are incumbent Butch Eley and Larry Consbruck. A third person, Katie Schroder, filed to run but as since suspended her campaign.
While voters sipped coffee, the candidates made their case for why they should be elected to the position. Local4 spoke with them both on property tax relief, economic growth, and the need for housing.
Q: “How important is property tax relief for the city’s next four years?”
Butch Eley: “I think it’s probably the most important thing we have to work on. The city hasn’t raised the levy for over eight years. In fact, a couple times we have dropped it. But with valuations, that also makes the property taxes still go up. So we need to try and trim our budget because valuations are going to continue going up.”
Larry Consbruck: “When you look at our city, a fair amount of young families, but a lot of retired people, where does that money come from when you have, when you get your tax bill in the mail and it’s increased several hundred dollars for the young family that has to come out of their groceries or gas. Heaven forbid, maybe a family vacation. Or the retired folks, where does that come from? When you’re on a fixed income?”
Q: “What are your thoughts on the economic development for the next four years?”
Larry Consbruck: “If anyone came to town with a major manufacturing or, or a large business, I would do my very best to court those people and to encourage them and explain the benefits of Hastings. Great small town to raise a family in, that brings employees to town.”
Butch Eley: “A council person, even the mayor, doesn’t go out and say, ‘Hey, Costco, would you come to Hastings?’ Or, ‘hey, Red Lobster, would you come to Hastings?’ That’s not how it works. We have HEDC, CRA, and the chamber, that’s what they do. We just support them in their endeavors and try and pass on what we would like to see happen.”
Q: “How important is having enough affordable housing to the future of Hastings.”
Butch Eley: “There’s a lot of people that have good jobs, but they’re not into that area where they can buy a $250,000 house, which is what we’re building. So we need to try and develop, you know, kind of like what we did out at Menards, but, you know, maybe at a little cheaper area.”
Larry Consbruck: “Do folks have good enough jobs to afford that nicer home, or do we need to be looking at stuff that’s in that $150,000 price range to make it affordable for the young families? That’s a question mark.”
As mentioned, Katie Schroder has suspended her campaign, but because of when she did that, her name will still be on the ballot in May. If all goes as expected Eley and Consbruck will face each other in November.
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