September 3, 2013
The 2013-2014 Budget Public Hearing and the Regular Meeting of Mayor and Council was held on September 3, 2013, in the Blue Springs City Hall, Blue Springs, NE.
PRESENT: Mayor Meyer, Council members Mewes, Neumann, Reedy, Wolf
ABSENT:
OTHER ATTENDEES: Employee Mike Pike, City Attorney Andy Carothers, Jennifer Busboom (Blobaum/Busboom), Bill Demuth( NGage), Shelby Temps (Temps Disposal) , Kevin Redfield and Jerry Hosfelt (River of Life Church), Bob Widick, Connie Mewes, Gladys Cary
Notice of the meeting/hearing was given in advance by posting in at least three public places as shown by the certificate of posting placed on file. Notice of the hearing/meeting was simultaneously given to the Mayor and all members of the City Council and a copy of their acknowledgment of receipt and agenda are placed on file. Availability of the agenda was communicated in the advance notice and in the advance notice to the Mayor and City Council of the hearing/meeting. Proceedings hereafter shown were taken while the convened hearing/meeting was open to public attendance.
At 7:30 PM, Mayor Meyer called the Regular meeting to order and roll call was taken. A motion was made by Council member Wolf, seconded by Reedy, and followed by an affirmative vote of 4-0 to approve as sent the August 20, 2013 Regular meeting minutes. After review of claims, a motion was made by Council member Mewes, seconded by Neumann, and followed by a 4-0 affirmative vote to approve claims as follows: Salaries - $3,009.07; Direct Bank Payment - Internal Revenue Service -(941) - $2,195.09; Blobaum/Busboom - $1,060.00; Eldon Izer (Tel. Comp.) - $5.00; Municipal Supply $2,012.83 & $90.00; NE Dept of Revenue (501N) - $273.58; NE Dept. of Revenue - Waste Reduction/Recycling - (#94) - $25.00; Norris Public Power - $1,370.51; Outdoor Power Pros - $531.68; Milton Pike (Tel. Comp.) - $25.00; Milton Pike (Reimb. - Grapple) - $200.00; Milton Pike - (Health Ins. Comp.) - $500.00; Milton Pike - (Reimb/Parts) - $24.00; Postmaster - $112.00; Security First Bank - (Pike - IRA) - $55.00; Shell - $471.48; Wymore Arbor State - $346.29; Wymore Super Foods - $19.43; TOTAL CLAIMS: $12,325.96.
At 7:35PM, Mayor Meyer called for a motion to open the 2013-2014 Budget Hearing. The motion was made by Council member Wolf, seconded by Mewes and received a 4-0 affirmative vote. Mayor Meyer called for comments and questions from Council and others in attendance and turned summarization over to Jennifer Busboom. Busboom covered points from the Budget Notes:
2013-2014 Budget Notes: The City appears to be continuing to produce revenues in excess of regular operating expenditures. The General All-Purpose Fund is producing roughly $19,000 per year (an increase from last year), and the Keno Fund is producing roughly $60,000 per year (increased from previous). These funds produced are held in reserve available for capital outlays (paving, new equipment, water lines, etc.)... It is estimated that as of October 1, 2013, you will have cash reserves of about $145,000 General and $420,000 Keno. This compares to the prior year amounts of $125,000 General and $357,000 Keno... For the year 2013-2014, proposed budget property tax has been left at the levy limit of 45 cents, which increases the tax request from $27,901 to $28,712. This increase (of approx. 2.91%) is due to higher total assessed valuation for the City from $6,200,294 to $6,380,478... Of this amount, $99,095 (approx. 1.6%) is attributable to new growth… Other operating revenues have been estimated conservatively at $120,000 based on the prior year amounts for the general funds. $475,000 has been included in other operating revenues based upon prior years’ estimated Keno game gross proceeds... $620,000 has been budgeted as potential capital outlay in the General All-Purpose Fund and no capital outlay has been budgeted in the Keno Fund beyond your normal operating expenditures. However, $490,000 has been budgeted to be transferred from the Keno Fund to the General All-Purpose Fund to assist in financing potential capital outlay projects. Normal operating expenditures have been budgeted liberally at $247,000 for the General All-Purpose Fund and $403,750 (includes game winner payoffs) for the Keno Fund at 85% payout... The budget process and document perform two legal functions: 1. Sets the property tax request-budgeted at $28,712. 2. Establishes an overall expenditure limit-budgeted at $1,760,750.... The budget must be adopted by September 20. The property tax requested in the budget will be final; however, the expenditure limit may be amended, if needed, throughout the year...The expenditure limit included in the proposed budget allows for expenditure of nearly all cash reserves which are expected to be available. Since some cash reserves will be necessary, we don’t expect, nor do we recommend, that the full amount budgeted of $1,760,750 be spent.
GENERAL BUDGETING NOTES: The lid law is assigned to limit the growth of non-utility government revenues to inflationary increases. Exceptions are allowed for revenues required to pay off bonded debt, real estate improvement capital outlays, and interlocal agreements... Due to the Lid Law restrictions, it continues to be advantageous to pay real estate capital outlays, pay off of bonded debt, and participate in interlocal agreements from funds where property tax, sales tax, and state pass-through revenues are deposited (i.e. General and Street). This will help keep this law from limiting your non-utility source revenues...The lid law has become a significant factor for future budgets. Although you have adequate unused budget authority at this time, this is a factor that should be monitored.
GENERAL BUDGETING NOTES: The lid law is assigned to limit the growth of non-utility government revenues to inflationary increases. Exceptions are allowed for revenues required to pay off bonded debt, real estate improvement capital outlays, and interlocal agreements... Due to the Lid Law restrictions, it continues to be advantageous to pay real estate capital outlays, pay off of bonded debt, and participate in interlocal agreements from funds where property tax, sales tax, and state pass-through revenues are deposited (i.e. General and Street). This will help keep this law from limiting your non-utility source revenues...The lid law has become a significant factor for future budgets. Although you have adequate unused budget authority at this time, this is a factor that should be monitored.
It was noted that the motion, vote, and approval to accept a 1% allowable additional increase in the Restricted Funds Authority was made at the August 6, 2013 Regular meeting.
No changes were required to the Budget, and a motion to adopt the Budget as proposed/published was made by Council member Mewes, seconded by Wolf and carried by majority vote -- Mewes - Yes; Neumann - Yes; Reedy - Yes; Wolf - Yes.
At: 7:45 PM, Mayor Meyer opened a Special Budget Meeting within the Budget Meeting, and a motion was made by Council member Wolf and seconded by Mewes to approve Resolution #2013-3. Resolution #2013- 3 was read. (WHEREAS, Nebraska Revised Statute 77-1601.02 provides that the property tax request for the prior year shall be the property tax request for the current year for the purposes of the levy set by the County Board of Equalization unless the Governing Body of the City of Blue Springs passes by a majority vote a resolution or ordinance setting the tax request at a different amount and WHEREAS, a special public hearing was held as required by law to hear and consider comments concerning the property tax request, and WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the City of Blue Springs that the property tax request for the current year be a different amount than the property tax request for the prior year.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Governing Body of the City of Blue Springs by a majority vote, resolves that-- 1. The 2013-2014 property tax request be set at $28,712.00. 2. A copy of this resolution be certified and forwarded to the County Clerk prior to October 13, 2012. Passed and approved…..) The majority vote was Mewes - Yes; Neumann -Yes; Reedy - Yes; Wolf - Yes to adopt Resolution #2013-3 for a property tax amount different than that of the previous year, and the dollar amount ($28,712.00) was noted.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Governing Body of the City of Blue Springs by a majority vote, resolves that-- 1. The 2013-2014 property tax request be set at $28,712.00. 2. A copy of this resolution be certified and forwarded to the County Clerk prior to October 13, 2012. Passed and approved…..) The majority vote was Mewes - Yes; Neumann -Yes; Reedy - Yes; Wolf - Yes to adopt Resolution #2013-3 for a property tax amount different than that of the previous year, and the dollar amount ($28,712.00) was noted.
The Budget Hearing was closed at 7:55 PM, by motion by Council member Wolf, second by Reedy, and received a 4-0 affirmative vote--- which returned proceedings to Regular session.
TEMPS: Shelby Temps notified members that Temps has in the works “a recycling compactor at the Wymore shop.” Such activity would benefit Blue Springs since recyclables could be taken to Wymore instead of Beatrice. Though members expressed satisfaction in regard to the Blue Springs recycling trailer (which underwent update, tires, repairs not long ago), a possibility exists for trailer/equipment exchange if deemed necessary in the future, or (Temps) -“even curbside service” for recyclables.DANGEROUS DOGS/ORDINANCE # 448: City Attorney Carothers provided the initial draft of Ordinance #448, and read aloud through sections. Mayor Meyer (based on determination that the same was already built into State Statute and by inclusion in the ordinance could lay future groundwork for assessed enforcement fees to the Municipality), preferred elimination of the 6-119 portion which designated the Gage County Sheriff’s Office as the Animal Control Authority for the Municipality. A discussion of pros and cons followed. It was noted by Carothers that Gage County Sheriff enforcement would increase penalties (Class I Misdemeanor -up to $1,000 fine and 1 year jail time), and therefore “would put more teeth in the ordinance.” Bob Widick asked what provision would be in place to let public know if a dangerous dog was in the Municipality. The response was: Property posted with a sign. Dog restrained, and not allowed off property. Dangerous dogs are being “chipped,” as identified, and a data base set up for follow-up. Carothers said that although not perfect, and based in part on the honesty of the dog owner, the program moves in the right direction to better assure community safety. Council member Reedy provided a copy of the Beatrice Ordinance that covered not only dogs, but other animals (exotic). Carothers indicated that this ordinance was designed for dangerous dogs only. Anything else could be addressed should indications for such arise. Council member Wolf made a motion to suspend the rule of three readings of Ordinance #448. It was seconded by Neumann, and received a 4-0 affirmative vote. A motion was made by Council member Mewes and seconded by Reedy to approve Ordinance # 448, and the ordinance was read. (Ordinance #448 - Available for public viewing in the City office as well as on the City Website.) The vote that followed was 4-0 affirmative, and Ordinance #448 was passed, approved, and signed by Mayor Meyer.
RIVER OF LIFE CHURCH - PROPERTY DIVISION: Jerry Hosfelt and Kevin Redfield addressed members to clarify plans for property division. Intent is to divide the property N-S - down the middle (5.9 per side). There is a post at the north and south ends (orange). The property has been surveyed (L&S), and lot description is pending. Carothers clarified that the streets and alleys have been vacated, but not the plat - (Hills Addition). He suggested vacating Hills and coming up with new descriptions and that Ruth Sims (Register of Deeds) be provided with advance support documentation so she can look over it to “avoid surprises.” Hosfelt and Redfield agreed to make documentation available for her (through Carothers).
PLANNING & ZONING: No new business.
CLEAN-UP, CURRENT ISSUES: Several properties were removed from the current list - due to resolution of issues, with one commended for improvement. Three others will remain for further review.
OTHER:
Bill Demuth of NGage addressed Mayor and Council and gave an overview of organizational objectives: To improve job market, increase tax base, improve housing options, in summary: “to reverse the population trend.” He stated that 1970-2010 - Beatrice “maintained population.” Gage County “lost 13%”, and job opportunities decreased 2000-2010. NGage seeks to promote and improve workforce, places to live, and provide strategic focus for not only businesses with many employees, but also mom and pop operations, “to market Gage County more.” “Let people know what’s offered in the way of land, business opportunities.” “Municipal cooperation is encouraged. Opportunities generated.” Demuth asked if the City might be interested in membership ($1,000 year/3-yr commitment) Andy Carothers (attorney for NGage) joined the presentation, and noted that local businesses can contact Bill since he has a data base of funding options (grants, etc.) and property opportunities. When asked by Council member Wolf about local contacts made, Demuth noted he had contacted Circle D, the Wymore Locker, and the Wymore Agency, and has had contact with Pickrell Lumber that owns half of the Armory. NGage membership will be on the next agenda.
Gladys Cary reported that the public restrooms were in unsatisfactory condition. Mayor Meyer asked that Pike make plans to paint them and cleanup/repair as necessary to bring them up to standard.
Upon suggestion of Bob Widick, members discussed dissatisfaction in regard to contracted mosquito spraying. It was suggested that the method was not effective, coverage not total, and possibly another type of equipment/application might be pursued next season.
Wolf asked Pike if there were any equipment problems. Pike reported that a new head was needed on the mower (included in current claims).
Wolf suggested disposal of the mattress and bed at the cabin (No objections) . He also suggested that VanLaningham be contacted (by Wolf) for a bid for tuck pointing the interior of the cabin (No objections.). He noted there is a possibility of another grant (Nebraska Tourism). He recommended that: Following necessary interior repairs, some materials could be taken back to, and some removed from the cabin and some pictures hung --- prior to next year’s visitation program.
NEXT AGENDA:
NGAGE MEMBERSHIP
RIVER OF LIFE CHURCH - PROPERTY DIVISION (CONTINUED)
PLANNING & ZONING
CLEAN-UP, CURRENT ISSUES
Motion to adjourn: 9:10 PM - Neumann - No objection.
The minutes of the Regular session were read and approved September 17, 2013.
Mayor: Lonnie D. Meyer (Regular Session) -- City Clerk: Katherine A. Roche (Regular Session)
