Kearney Residents Give City High Marks in Latest Community Survey

Residents continue to view Kearney as a desirable place to live, while also pointing to shopping, dining, jobs, recreation and development quality as priorities for the future, according to results from the city’s 2026 National Community Survey.

The City of Kearney received the survey results July 29. The report is intended to help city leaders better understand residents’ experiences with local services and community life as they prepare to set priorities for the coming year.

Overall, the results show strong satisfaction with the community. Ninety percent of respondents rated Kearney as an excellent or good place to live, 88 percent said they expect to remain in the community over the next five years, 87 percent said they would recommend Kearney as a place to live, and 85 percent rated the city’s overall quality of life positively.

Compared with the city’s 2023 survey, 28 community ratings improved, 88 remained statistically similar and seven declined. City officials said the findings suggest residents continue to have a generally positive view of municipal services and the community as a whole.

Several of the improved ratings involved services residents encounter regularly, including traffic flow on major streets, traffic signal timing, ease of travel by car, snow removal, sidewalk maintenance, crime prevention, traffic enforcement and code enforcement.

Those gains follow strategic investments by the mayor and Board of Aldermen over the past three years in infrastructure, public safety and city services.

The survey also identified areas where residents would like to see continued progress. Respondents expressed interest in more shopping and dining options, additional employment opportunities, expanded recreation programs, more community events and continued attention to the quality of new development.

“The National Community Survey gives us an opportunity to measure whether the city’s priorities are reflected in residents’ everyday experiences,” City Administrator Sheila Ernzen said. “It’s encouraging to see many of the survey’s strongest improvements align with those priorities.”

Ernzen said the Board has focused on strengthening everyday services, investing in infrastructure, encouraging business investment, expanding housing choices and preserving the quality of life that residents value.

The mayor and Board of Aldermen are expected to use the survey results during their annual priority-setting session as they establish city goals for the next year.

The full National Community Survey report can be found HERE.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Primary Sets November Ballot for Commission, House Races

Clay County voters narrowed the field for several county commission seats Tuesday, August 4, while also helping decide a slate of statewide ballot measures that could affect local government operations.

Unofficial primary results show Jennifer Justus and incumbent Jerry Nolte advancing in the race for Clay County presiding commissioner, setting up a November contest for the county’s top commission post. In the Western Commissioner Seat 2 race, incumbent Jon Carpenter and challenger Theresa Leaming also moved on to the general election ballot.

The Eastern Commissioner race did not require a primary decision. Incumbent Jay Johnson and challenger Mark McAuliffe were already positioned to appear on the November ballot.

State House Matchups

Several Missouri House races that include Clay County voters also became clearer after the primary. In District 28, incumbent Democrat Donna Barnes will face Republican Steven W. Hinton. District 30 will feature Democrat Kevin Grover against Republican Jeff Martin, while District 39 will send Republican Mark Meirath into a general election race against Democrat Tanya Lakins. In District 56, Democrat Staci Czar will face Republican Steve Baker.

Statewide Measures Draw Local Attention

Clay County voters joined Missourians statewide in approving Amendment 1, which continues the existing soil and water conservation and state parks sales tax for another 10 years. Voters also approved Amendment 2, a change that requires Missouri charter counties, including Clay County, to elect a county assessor.

Two other proposed constitutional changes failed. Voters rejected Amendment 4, preserving the current simple statewide majority threshold for citizen-led initiative petitions, and turned down Amendment 5, which sought changes to state income and sales tax codes.

Complete unofficial primary summary data is available from the Clay County Board of Election Commissioners.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Allen Appointed New Kearney Police Chief

The City of Kearney announces the appointment of Captain Brian Allen as the City's next Chief of Police.  The Board of Aldermen unanimously approved Mayor Randy Pogue's appointment during its meeting on Monday, August 3, 2026.  Allen will begin serving as Chief of Police on September 3, 2026, following the retirement of Chief Mark Thomas.

Captain Allen was selected following a competitive hiring process. Throughout the process, he demonstrated the leadership, character and commitment to public service the City was seeking in its next Chief of Police.  Allen has served the Kearney Police Department for more than two decades, advancing through the ranks while building strong relationships with fellow employees, residents, and community partners.  His experience, institutional knowledge, and commitment to professional policing position him to lead the department into its next chapter.

"Brian has earned the trust and respect of our organization through his leadership, professionalism, and commitment to serving our community," said Mayor Randy Pogue. "I am confident he is the right leader to build upon the strong foundation Chief Thomas has established while continuing to move the department forward."

The leadership transition also marks the end of an era for Chief Mark Thomas, whose dedicated service has left a lasting impact on the Police Department and the Kearney community.

"I want to express my deepest appreciation to Chief Mark Thomas for his dedicated service to our community," Mayor Randy Pogue added. "His leadership has strengthened this organization in countless ways, and his legacy will have a lasting impact on the City of Kearney."

Residents and community members are invited to attend an Open House on Monday, August 17, from 5 - 6 p.m. to thank Chief Thomas for his service and congratulate Captain Allen as he prepares to begin his new role as Chief of Police.

School District Seeks Members for Great Schools Committees

Kearney School District is asking parents, guardians, staff members, students, residents, business leaders and community partners to help shape the future of local schools through two stakeholder committees connected to its Great Schools = Great Community initiative.

The committees are intended to help the district gather community input, study future needs and plan responsibly before major decisions are made about schools, facilities and student outcomes.

One group, the Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee, will review facility needs, consider priorities and provide feedback as the district develops a plan for maintaining and improving the buildings and spaces used by students, staff and the broader community.

District officials said the facilities committee will require the larger time commitment, with several meetings and activities expected this fall. Meetings are scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Kearney School District central office unless otherwise noted. Planned dates include Sept. 3, Sept. 28, Oct. 12, Oct. 19 if needed and Nov. 2 if needed.

The second group, the Portrait of a Graduate Committee, will focus on the skills, experiences and qualities the district wants every student to develop before graduation. That committee is expected to require a lighter commitment, likely one or two two-hour meetings this winter.

Both committees are part of the district’s broader public engagement effort, which is based on the belief that strong schools reflect the hopes, needs and voices of the communities they serve.

Anyone interested in serving is invited to complete a brief Committee Interest Form by the close of business on Friday, Aug. 21. Submitting the form does not obligate a person to serve, but it will help the district identify those who are interested and available.

Kearney School District plans to use the responses to form committees that include a broad mix of voices, experiences and perspectives from across the district.

The district also plans to host public engagement opportunities this fall for families, staff members, residents and community partners who want to ask questions, review information and share feedback. Additional details will be released as those plans are finalized.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday Returns for Missouri

Missouri's annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday will officially return from Friday, August 7, through Sunday, August 9, 2026.

According to the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR), the three-day tax-free weekend will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday and run until midnight on Sunday. During this window, all state and local sales taxes are waived on qualifying school supplies, clothing, and computers.

A state law implemented in 2023 mandates that all cities, counties, and special tax districts participate. This means shoppers will see a sales tax rate of exactly zero percent on eligible purchases across the entire state.

Qualifying Items and Price Limits

The tax exemption only applies to items falling under specific statutory price thresholds:

• School Supplies: Must not exceed $50 per purchase. This includes textbooks, notebooks, paper, pens, crayons, backpacks, and handheld calculators.

• Clothing and Footwear: Must be valued at $100 or less per item. This includes school uniforms and diapers, but explicitly excludes accessories like jewelry, watches, handbags, and ties.

• Personal Computers and Peripherals: Laptops, desktops, monitors, and hard drives are tax-free up to $1,500 per item.

• Software: Computer software with a taxable value of $350 or less per item qualifies.

• Graphing Calculators: Eligible up to $150 per item.

The timing of the holiday offers financial relief to parents navigating tight household budgets. Regional business organizations, including the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), are leveraging the weekend to encourage residents to shop small.

"The sales tax holiday is a great opportunity for Missourians to make the most of their budgets while investing in the local businesses that serve our communities," said Brad Jones, NFIB Missouri State Director.

The holiday is open to anyone. Shoppers do not have to be Missouri residents or students to qualify for the savings, making it a popular attraction for border-state travelers. Additionally, the DOR confirmed that qualifying online purchases will also be tax-free, provided the items are ordered and paid for in full during the three-day window, regardless of when they are shipped.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.