City of Beatrice: Local Government

City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer <ttempelmeyer@beatrice.ne.gov>

400 Ella Street
Beatrice, NE 68310
(402) 228-5211
Fax (402) 228-2312

City government is similar to a large corporation. The City of Beatrice has approximately 135 employees who work in the various departments to provide a variety of services to the citizens of Beatrice. It is the City Administrator's job to oversee all departments of the City.

The departments within the City of Beatrice include the police department with 29 full-time staff personnel, as well as a full-time paid fire department consisting of 24 employees. Both the city engineer's department and the inspection department employ two full time employees.

The Board of Public Works, a division of the City of Beatrice; owns and operates the electrical distribution system, buying all of their power from Nebraska Public Power District. The Board of Public Works also provides water and sanitary sewer to the citizens of Beatrice and maintains 110 miles of streets within the city limits.

For the past number of years, the City of Beatrice has been involved in economic development. The voting citizens have approved using one half of one half percent sales tax, which has provided the city with the opportunity to purchase 130 acres of ground, upon which they have built a railroad spur. The City of Beatrice is also in the process of negotiating with several other industries in support of this progressive development.

The City in cooperation with the County Board of Supervisors, provides most of the infrastructure to the 130 acre Industrial Park, which houses eight industries. Beatrice is also anticipating the development of an additional 80 acres adjacent thereto, for future economic development.

Through private and public cooperation, the city has constructed a public library, senior citizen's center, and most recently, the voters approved a new aquatic center.

A new Board of Public Works service center has provided for the relocation of most BPW departments to a new facility. This relocation has taken place without increasing rates and within the framework of decreasing the reliance on property taxes as a result of the city sales tax and the strong retail climate that exists within Southeast Nebraska.

All departmental budgets are built from a grass roots process, including a five year capital program and bi-annual goal setting sessions of the City Council.

U.S. Hwy 77 is now a four lane expressway between Interstate 80 and the City of Beatrice. This enhances further economic development and retail trade for the Beatrice area.