Gretna voters have seemingly approved a key measure for a new tourist district, despite some last-minute challenges.

The unofficial count shows it passed by a slim margin, 1,044 to 1,029. There might be a few more votes coming in, but they need to show valid IDs by January 21.
Rod Yates, the businessman behind the project, had a vision for this area, which includes the Nebraska Crossing mall right off Interstate 80 and Highway 31. Mayor Mike Evans mentioned that the close vote reflects some confusion among the public about the project and the state incentives involved. He believes they need to clarify things as they move forward to create this exciting tourist destination.
Evans is optimistic about the potential here. He thinks if everyone works together, they can really make something great happen. The city now has the go-ahead to set up an economic development program. This will let them collect a portion of the reduced state sales tax to help build the district.
Lawmakers had previously approved a cut in the state sales tax within these districts, which is a big deal. To tap into that funding, they needed voter approval, and now they can use that money for retail and entertainment venues.
However, there’s been some drama lately. Yates had to pull his application for the state-approved district after city officials rejected his latest terms for a big youth sports campus he wanted to develop. They felt his demands were too risky for taxpayers.
Despite this setback, Yates is still looking for ways to fund his vision. He’s been working on this for three years and has some connections with state lawmakers. Meanwhile, other developers are showing interest in the district, and the city is open to new proposals.
Even though Yates’ decision to back out doesn’t automatically end the district, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development will be looking into whether the project can still move forward. So, it’s a bit of a waiting game now, but there’s still hope for Gretna’s future.