KEARNEY, Neb. — When Brenda Jensen started working at the Kearney city offices six years ago, she didn’t foresee that she would one day hold the top non-elected post in the city.

Jensen started as development services director with a community planning background. The city manager job wasn’t on her radar.

“I didn’t realize I’d have so much of a passion working in local government," Jensen said. "I know I like communities, but to me, those were a little different. In my six years here, I’ve learned that no they’re not.”

Jensen is originally from Iowa, drawn to Central Nebraska by her now-husband Dalton Jensen, UNK’s national championship-winning wrestling coach.

“It’s just truly become our home," Jensen said. "I don’t know how else to say it other than we can’t imagine leaving. Kearney’s such a special place.”

The version of Kearney that Jensen knows took shape largely under the direction of her predecessor, 19-year city manager Mike Morgan. He left her with a message before he retired at the start of the year.

“I didn’t have to be him, but I could make this my own, I could make this role my own," Jensen said. "He always said, ‘take the good and leave the bad.’”

Now Jensen plans to implement one of those good ideas in order to help shape the next version of Kearney. When he first started, Morgan hosted a series of listening sessions called Kearney Tomorrow.

"I think the listening sessions were probably the most important thing we did over the 19 years," Morgan said in a 2023 interview.

He compiled a book of 1500 suggestions from residents that guided him for almost two decades.

Jensen plans to initiate a new crop of listening sessions this winter.

“I think we’ve crossed off a lot of things on the list and so I think we need to go back and say, ‘hey Kearney community, what is next? What do we want the next 10-20 years of Kearney to look like,’” Jensen said.

A series of major projects will reach completion in 2025. The Kearney SportsPlex will open, as will two hotels, part of the Younes Landing, the Museum of Nebraska Art expansion and a pair of cancer centers.

The first-year city manager says it’s not time to rest on Kearney’s accomplishments.

“I don’t think you catch your breath," Jensen said. "I think that’s how Kearney’s been successful, is it’s always been ‘what’s next?’ I think it’s important that we keep the foot on the pedal.”