BLAIR, NEBRASKA (2025 February 12, Wednesday)
Staff Writer / Editor
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The Blair City Council tabled a proposed employee wellness program and moved forward with a river development initiative during its February 11 meeting.
A proposed $35,000 annual wellness contract with the Blair Family YMCA was postponed after council members requested more detailed information. The two-year program would serve 68 city employees and their families, going beyond basic membership to include additional wellness services. Blue 365 insurance benefits were noted as part of the existing employee benefits package.
During discussions, Anytime Fitness owner Kristie Nichols expressed concerns about the proposed arrangement, arguing that city employees should have freedom to choose their fitness providers. Nichols pointed out that local businesses like The Healthy Human and Anytime Fitness offer services such as yoga classes and gym memberships, and suggested the city should maintain neutrality rather than favoring a single facility.
Blair Family YMCA Chief Volunteer Officer Travis Radnor discussed programming for both youth and seniors, noting the organization’s decreased donor support and need for outside contracts to remain viable. Blair Police Officer, Chad Ferrari, indicated FOP support for the YMCA agreement.
Council members Holly Hafer and Brent Clark, along with the Finance Committee, echoed concerns about employee choice and requested more specifics about how the $35,000 annual allocation would be spent over the two-year period.
In other business, the council considered a $263,000 Rural and Tribal Assistance grant project for river barge access. The project, initially approved 18 months ago, will be managed by Gateway Development Corporation. Mike Rooks expressed a positive outlook on the project’s current status.
The meeting also included the introduction of Angel Clements as Deputy City Clerk and Tom White as the new IT director.
