Keno agreement approved by Clearwater village board

Clearwater village officials approved an interlocal agreement with Nebraska Cooperative Government to provide keno when the board met for its monthly meeting on Dec. 9.

Mike Tabbert, co-owner of Two Bills Steakhouse, contacted potential licensed lottery operators and informed village clerk Angie Hupp they chose to work with Nebraska Cooperative Government, which operates Lotto Nebraska, based in Columbus.

NCG has operated since 1989. According to NCG officials, "The system is managed by Lotto Nebraska and has raised $50,000,000 for local participating communities."

Ewing, Orchard and Royal currently are participating Lotto Nebraska communities.

Hupp initiated contact with the lottery group and presented an overview of steps necessary to bring keno to the village.

Voters approved added the game in the 2024 General Election, with 109 votes in favor and 37 against the ordinance.

"Nebraska Cooperative Government will be in charge of it (keno). Two Bills will just be a licensed outlet," Hupp said.

A licensed outlet is not required to have extra cash on hand to pay out wins. NCG will file required quarterly reports with the Nebraska Department of Revenue.

Hupp said "Any of their payments come directly from lottery funds. The village does not pay them directly," Hupp said. "They have an attorney who does all the work with it."

Trustees approved Resolution 2024-9, granting permission to join NCG to operate the lottery and authorizing board chairman Kelly Kerkman to sign the agreement.

Trustees also approved the signing of Form 33 Power of Attorney to NCG approved Two Bills steakhouse as a lottery sales outlet location, authorized Hupp to serve as lottery audit clerk and agreed to pay a $100 lottery license fee.

An interest-bearing checking account will be opened for lottery funds, according to Hupp.

Within each community, NCG establishes a Keno Community Day, where a $7,000 special jackpot will be available for any "Mark 7, Catch 7" bet of $1 or more. Typically, most entities working with Lotto Nebraska offer the bonus during community celebrations.

Chairman Kelly Kerkman said he wasn't sure if the bonus would entice people to play keno during Clearwater's annual celebration.

"I could be wrong," he said, asking for suggestions.

"The idea is when there are extra people in town, who would want to play and possibly win the extra money, you'd have more people playing," Hupp said.

Several dates were discussed before trustees tabled the item, to get input from Two Bills management.

In other business, trustees:

• Approved having village engineer create plans for a sewer addition to properties at 85130 515.5 Ave and 707 Nebraska Street.

• Reviewed one bid for 2025 street paving from Knife River Midwest, for four-inch milling and four-inch asphalt overlay of 15,000 square feet at $8.68 per square foot, totaling $130,200.

• Gave the nod to an economic development planning and housing study, based on a recommendation fro economic development director Lauren Sheridan

"Some of the projects we've talked about in town, public works - whether it be the library or streets - we need to start taking a step forward to do that. Part of that is planning," said Sheridan.

She suggested updating the comprehensive and housing studies. Sheridan said the village's portion of the studies would run $5,000.

• Approved an interlocal agreement with the Village of Ewing for shared water operator services when requested. Cost will be $100 per month and $50 per call after the initial monthly check.

Ewing officials held a special meeting in November to approve the rates and agreement.