December 17, 2013

The Regular Meeting of Mayor and Council was held on December 17, 2013, in the Blue Springs City Hall, Blue Springs, NE.

PRESENT: Mayor Meyer, Council members Mewes, Neumann, Reedy, Wolf

ABSENT:

OTHER ATTENDEES: Employees Mike Pike, & Eldon Izer, City Attorney Andrew Carothers, Gilmore Representative John Berry, 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 Mewes, and followed by a 4-0 affirmative vote to approve as sent the December 3, 2013 Regular meeting minutes. After review of claims, a motion was made by Council member Neumann, seconded by Reedy, and followed by a 4-0 affirmative vote to approve claims as follows: Salaries: $2,039.40; Direct-Bank Payment - NE Dept. of Revenue - Sales Tax - $224.85; Behrens Meat Plant - (Employee Christmas) $200.00; Black Hills Energy - $50.05; Morris Used Cars - $114.47; Municipal Supply - $1,922.45; One-Call Concepts - $5.15; Milton Pike (Reimb.) - 25.67; Roehr’s Machinery - $53.16; Security First Bank (Pike - IRA) - $55.00; Windstream - $64.82; Wymore Arbor State - $81.00; Wymore Lumber - $136.01; TOTAL CLAIMS $4,972.03.



ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS, PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL, EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:

Motion was made by Council member Neumann, seconded by Mewes, and received a 4-0 affirmative vote to appoint the following:
PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL: Tom Wolf

Motion was made by Council member Wolf, seconded by Reedy, and received a 4-0 affirmative vote to appoint the following:
TEMPORARY CLERK: Gary Neumann

Motion was made by Council member Wolf, seconded by Mewes, and received a 4-0 affirmative vote to appoint the following:
CITY ATTORNEY: Andrew Carothers
DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY: Mike Willet
CITY PHYSICIAN: (No designee)
CITY ENGINEER & STREET SUPERINTENDENT:
Rick Bogus of Gilmore & Associates
-Class A - License (S-1424)
CITY AUDITOR: Brian Blobaum


Following discussion in which Council member Neumann suggested an “across the board 1.5% payroll increase to employees Pike, Izer, Roche, and Hohensee, (and he provided support information), Mayor Meyer suggested a 2% increase. A motion for a 2% increase was made by Council member Wolf, but it died from lack of a second. Mayor Meyer suggested to “split the difference.” A motion was then made by Council member Reedy, seconded by Neumann for a 1.75% payroll increase, and it received a 4-0 affirmative vote. Calculations from the approved motion to increase payroll are listed below. Other factors, as also listed below, remained unchanged.

STREET SUPERINTENDENT:
Milton Pike - Rate -$19.41- hourly.
Monthly Reimbursement for Health Insurance - approved at 80% of Policy Cost for him on wife’s policy.
Bi-monthly Retirement ($55.00) City Contribution
Vacation: 4 wk. paid vacation
No comp time. instead OT
Paid Holidays: (10) - New Years, Martin Luther King Jr., Presidents, Memorial, Independence, Labor, Columbus, Veterans, Thanksgiving, Christmas
48 HOURS REMAINING in previously-designated sick leave bank
CITY CLERK:
Katherine Roche - $816.99 monthly salary.
Office Hours 8:30AM - Noon - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
Holidays: Office may be closed: (10) - New Years, Martin Luther King Jr., Presidents, Memorial, Independence, Labor, Columbus, Veterans, Thanksgiving, Christmas
PART-TIME HELP:
Eldon Izer - $11.53 hourly. 10 paid holidays - New Years, Martin Luther King Jr.,
Presidents, Memorial, Independence, Labor, Columbus, Veterans, Thanksgiving, Christmas
Linda Hohensee -$9.43 hour
MISC. PART-TIME HELP: Wage set by Council as per circumstance


WATER RATE INCREASE/ORDINANCE #450: (Hellbusch recommendation: 16.50 basic, 1.50 per Thou. Gallons) & Effective date) Ordinance will be available for potential approval at the January 7th Regular session.


MFA/MFO: No current business.


ONE AND SIX YEAR PLAN - WORK-UP: Public Hearing set for 7:30 PM January 7th.


BLACK HILLS ENERGY FRANCHISE RENEWAL/ORDINANCE #449: Attorney Carothers continues communications with Black Hills Energy to arrive at a mutually acceptable renewal agreement/ordinance.


PLANNING & ZONING: No current business.


CLEAN-UP, CURRENT ISSUES: Employee Pike was requested to contact Robinson in reference to a lumber/brush pile now within a suitable timeline for burning.

CABIN (INTERIOR REPAIRS ESTIMATE): No current business.

ELEVATOR -WATER ISSUES, inc. BACKFLOW: Employee Pike updated members on liability issues (Water Operator/City) in reference to backflow issues. Attorney Carothers reviewed the present City ruling on backflow/cross connection. Spring was identified as a suitable “further address time” for the Elevator (by Pike) Correlation will continue within that timeline - between City, Elevator and State to assure compliance with safety measures.


NEXT AGENDA:


PUBLIC HEARING OF THE ONE & SIX YEAR PLAN (1 HR.)

followed by Regular Session:

WATER RATE INCREASE/ORDINANCE #450

MFA/MFO

BLACK HILLS ENERGY FRANCHISE RENEWAL/ORDINANCE #449

PLANNING & ZONING

CLEAN-UP, CURRENT ISSUES

CABIN (INTERIOR REPAIRS ESTIMATE)


Motion to adjourn: 8:17 PM - Mewes - No objection.


The minutes of the Regular session were read and approved January 7 , 2013.


Mayor: Lonnie D. Meyer (Regular Session
City Clerk: Katherine A. Roche (Regular Session)

December 3, 2013

The Regular Meeting of Mayor and Council was held on December 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 Andrew Carothers

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 Mewes, and followed by a 4-0 affirmative vote to approve as sent the November 19, 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: $5,841.23; Direct Bank Payment - Internal Revenue Service (941) - $2,158.68; Beatrice Concrete - $524.86; Eldon Izer (Tel. Comp.) - $5.00; Municipal Supply (Broad Street Main Project / from Fire Fund (Hydrants- MFO) - 5,455.40; NE Dept. of Rev. (501N) - $271.58; NE Public Health Environmental Labs - $49.00; Norris Public Power - $1,339.14; Milton Pike (Health Ins. Comp.) - $500.00; Milton Pike - (Tel. Comp.) - $25.00; Milton Pike (Reimb.) - $6.01; Postmaster - $112.00; Security First Bank (Pike - IRA) - $55.00; Shell - $134.00; Wymore Oil Company - $245.66; TOTAL CLAIMS: $16,722.56.

ANNUAL DISIGNATION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP: Determination of committee memberships was made by motion of Council member Neumann, second by Mewes, and a 4-0 affirmative vote for the following:

(Water System) - Reedy and Neumann

(Sewer Lagoon) - Wolf and Mewes

(Streets and Alleys) - Wolf and Neumann

(City Parks and Properties) - Reedy and Mewes

(Keno) - Reedy and Mewes

(Finance) - Wolf and Neumann;


BLACK HILLS ENERGY FRANCHISE RENEWAL/ORDINANCE # 449: Attorney Carothers informed members that nothing prohibits City from requesting a franchise fee. It is not known if Black Hills Energy pays a franchise fee to any other community served, but Carothers will research that aspect (Adams, NE. - a possibility for further information). He noted, “Rate regulations used to be approved by the City, but now are regulated by Public Service Commission.” He will contact the League to assist with information gathering, and will get in touch with Black Hills Energy to propose possibility of a franchise fee, possibly a “flat yearly fee to the City.”--- (Franchise was approved 2/7/89 - for 25 years).

PLANNING & ZONING: No new business.

CLEAN-UP, CURRENT ISSUES: Employee Pike asked where arrangements were in regard to a legal clean- up issue. Carothers indicated that the hearing should be in January/February. After the hearing, cleanup can be conducted by the City, followed by certification of cost with District Court (before the case is closed) for judgment /lien (good for 10 years) .

CABIN (INTERIOR REPAIRS ESTIMATE): Council member Reedy reported that VanLaningham is now open to scheduling an estimate for repairs. He will contact Wolf, and correlation will be made between parties to set the date.

MFA/MFO: No information yet available.

Other:

Members reviewed information from Randy Hellbusch of Nebraska Rural Water Association. Hellbusch conducted a Water Rate Study on 12/2/13, and suggested a Basic Rate of 16.50, and a price of $1.50 per thousand gallons. It will be placed on the next agenda. Carothers will prepare draft of Ordinance #450 for potential approval. Along with the new prices, the Ordinance will set an effective date.

Council member Reedy requested information from Carothers about the status of a “dangerous dog” incident. Further consideration will be given.

Pike reported the need for new electrical fixtures/work in the shop area. T8 and T5 lights were discussed, with possible cost $300-400 X 4 needed. Reedy suggested that Mike “shop around” (Beatrice) (Plymouth - mentioned by Neumann) for the best price for product and service provider. Mayor Meyer and Employee Pike will make contacts.

Pike familiarized members with “backflow prevention” measures intended at the Elevator. Check-valve cost would be approximately $1,300, if needed, but because of the distance of the water source from the tank, and elimination of backflow potential, it becomes necessary to check with the State as to specific needs for the situation. Pike will continue in joint efforts with the elevator to establish responsibility for device installation (if it is required by State).


NEXT AGENDA:

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND WAGES, MISC. DESIGNATIONS

WATER RATE INCREASE/ORDINANCE #450

MFA/MFO

ONE AND SIX YEAR PLAN - WORK-UP

BLACK HILLS ENERGY FRANCHISE RENEWAL/ORDINANCE #449

PLANNING & ZONING

CLEAN-UP, CURRENT ISSUES

CABIN (INTERIOR REPAIRS ESTIMATE)

HOLIDAY TREATS PROVIDED


Motion to adjourn: 8:13 PM - Wolf - No objection.

　

The minutes of the Regular session were read and approved December 17 , 2013.

Mayor: Lonnie D. Meyer (Regular Session)

City Clerk: Katherine A. Roche (Regular Session)