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Lexington City Council votes to reappoint Pepplitsch as city manager
Jessica Kennedy
LEXINGTON — The Lexington City Council voted 4-0, with Jared Jacob absent, to reappoint Joe Pepplitsch as the city manager.
At Tuesday's meeting, the council voted to suspend the reading of the ordinance on three separate occasions before voting upon the final reading to approve it.
The salary for city manager office is $180,000 per year, beginning March 30.
Lexington Public Library Director Jennifer Norton and Library Board member Alexis Fierro were in attendance to present the library report.
Norton provided the council with highlights of the 2025 year.
"More than statistics, the stories of the past year help to define the services and resources the library provides to the community," she began.
Norton gave the following highlights:
Weekly story time has become a favorite of families and staff.
A six-week program, Creative Aging Arts program, ran in May and June and was taught by Rose Mapel with an art show at the end.
The library was awarded a $5,000 grant from the National Endowment of the Arts' Big Read that was matched by the Lexington Community Foundation's library initiative; the grant subsidized a variety of programs, book clubs and a community art project around the book "The Grapes of Wrath."
The library had 31,425 visits in 2025, circulated 25,376 items and held 363 programs, which 6,974 people attended.
The staff stepped up to help the community in various ways after the Tyson Foods closure was announced.
The Lexington Chamber of Commerce recognized the library with the 2025 Friend of Tourism award.
The Carnegie Foundation of New York provided a $10,000 gift as part of its America 250 celebration. Norton said Patrons and Friends of the Library wants to use the fund to create a "story walk" in a local park.
More programs and workshops for the Big Read project will be held this spring, along with several America 250 programs.
"The library will continue to serve the community's needs to the best of its ability," Norton said. "The Lexington Public Library is driven to be a vital resource and a place for everyone — because our sign, 'Welcome to the library. We're glad you're here,' isn't just a slogan, it's who we are."
The council went into executive session for 35 minutes to discuss contractual negotiations. With no action taken and no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Courtesy of Godinez family, via Nebraska Examiner
Carlos Godinez hugs younger sister Rose Godinez when she
graduated from law school. Despite training as an expert in
immigration, civil rights and nonprofit law, Rose said she feels
somewhat powerless in a current predicament that has her older
brother facing deportation proceedings. He’s been in the U.S. since
age 10 and owns a longtime Kearney business.
Page A3
Courtesy of Godinez family, via Nebraska Examiner
Carlos Godinez hugs younger sister Rose Godinez when she
graduated from law school. Despite training as an expert in
immigration, civil rights and nonprofit law, Rose said she feels
somewhat powerless in a current predicament that has her older
brother facing deportation proceedings. He’s been in the U.S. since
age 10 and owns a longtime Kearney business.
Courtesy Photo, Dawson County Farm Bureau
The Dawson County Farm Bureau deliver and unload fencing
supplies to assist livestock producers with recovery efforts after
the Cottonwood fire raged through land in southwest Dawson County.
Pictured (left to right): Kerry Barnes, Kayle Barnes and Clay
Patton, Dawson County Farm Bureau president.
Page A3
Courtesy Photo, Dawson County Farm Bureau
The Dawson County Farm Bureau deliver and unload fencing
supplies to assist livestock producers with recovery efforts after
the Cottonwood fire raged through land in southwest Dawson County.
Pictured (left to right): Kerry Barnes, Kayle Barnes and Clay
Patton, Dawson County Farm Bureau president.
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