July 1, 2014
The Regular Meeting of Mayor and Council was held on July 1, 2014, 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 Carothers, Gage County Law Enforcement Officer Ernst, Ashley and Brandon Calkins (& 3 minors), 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 a 4-0 affirmative vote to approve as sent the June 17, 2014 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: $3,481.13; Direct Bank Payment - Internal Revenue Service (941) - $2,221.55; Black Hills Energy - $21.30; Constellation Energy - $4.98; Doug Harms (Met. Dep. Refund) - $39.86; Eldon Izer (Tel. Comp.) - $5.00; More Than Games - $160.00; NE Dept. of Revenue (941N) - $206.49; Norris Public Power - $1,347.63; Milton Pike - (Tel. Comp.) - $25.00; Security First Bank (Pike - IRA) - $55.00; Shell - $437.75; T.L. Excavation - $1,200.00; Tractor Supply - $183.90; Wegner Hillside Farms - $688.75; Wymore, City of (Tower/Individual) - $3,764.23; Wymore Country Club - $80.00; Wymore Oil Company - $242.53; TOTAL CLAIMS: $ 14,165.10.
BERLIN “GUY” CHAMBERLIN MEMORIAL: FINANCIAL ASPECTS; DEDICATION CEREMONY, OTHER: In support of a timeline for memorial placement and the dedication during annual celebration events (August 16th) , a motion was made by Council member Neumann, seconded by Mewes, and received an affirmative 4-0 vote to authorize Jan Morris to make purchase arrangements for the monument ($3,900 expected to be all inclusive), with the City to designate thru Municipal Publicity the unresolved balance after final tabulation of donations. Other designation included: Gratitude to Jan Morris and formal acknowledgment of her as facilitator, allowing her to make arrangements for the Memorial, memorial inscription, timely multiple-facet setup: Memorial Dedication plans, including speaker, sound system, misc. aspects. Morris was contacted by telephone during the meeting (by Council member Reedy) and was asked if the School Board has given approval for the placement of the memorial on school property. Reedy conveyed, that “a green light has been given the project by the school,” with an official vote to be taken at the meeting the 2nd Tuesday of July. Bob Widick inquired if Chamberlin biographical information is available at the school and was told by Reedy that information is provided (Hookstra - 4th Graders) within the topic of Nebraska history. Widick asked if Jan Morris knows of an existing volume about Chamberlin (or including him), or if something could be compiled for the presentation and future reference. Reedy agreed to ask Morris to research it.
ANNUAL CELEBRATION DAY: DATE, BUDGET CONFIRMATION, EVENTS, LETTER TO LIQUOR COMMISSION FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL EVENT LICENSE, OTHER: Designations included: Date of Event: August 16th. Motion was made by Council member Wolf, seconded by Mewes, and received a 4-0 affirmative vote to place lid spending for Municipal Publicity for the event at $5,000, which has been allowed in previous years, but with actual figures coming in at around half of that amount. A motion was made by Council member Mewes, seconded by Reedy, and received an affirmative 4-0 vote for the Mayor to sign a letter for the Fire Department wherein the City asserts approval for the Fire Department to be allowed a Special Event License for a Beer Garden. (The Fire Department also has plans for brats, horseshoes.) City events will include: Car Show (Gene Radar Reedy - Facilitator); Tractor Show (Gary Neumann - Facilitator); Bounce House for kids; Food Vendors as thus far arranged- Van Laningham (chicken), Phillips (shaved ice, chocolate cheese cake). Other aspects: Tourism organization will provide (to many small communities) $200 for advertising, reducing anticipated cost from $1,500 to $1,300. Flyers (1,000) expected to run about $180. Council member Neumann plans to have signs for the Tractor Show (Mosaic - $11.00 each - if sized and priced the same as cabin signs purchased through them). Car Show trophies will be purchased through Uhl’s again this year, as will the plaques for the Tractor Show. Farmers Cooperative is again credited for an area of sponsorship (tractor show).
EQUIPMENT (TOPKOTE): Nothing available for review.
PLANNING & ZONING: No new applications.
CABIN, MISC. CONCERNS: Council member Reedy credited contractor for a “fantastic job” on the interior work, and was given credit himself for correlation of cabin needs and, for “unloading contents,” so the work could be done, and “loading” goods back after completion. Gene Reedy Sr. was also credited for his generous contribution of time and effort to the current project (and past projects, totally 4 times), and he will be formally thanked by letter. Council member Reedy volunteered to set up scaffolding and cap the chimney, donating his time, and also materials. Reedy reported that Steve Behrens of Diller Electric provided a bid of $816.56 to rewire the cabin, including light and outlet, and installation of a two-space panel on meter pole, etc. Reedy reported that the cabin had 54 visitors during Sam Wymore Day activities, proving again that there is renewed interest in the cabin. Members discussed the electrical bid, and no objections were made to doing the work. According to Reedy, Behrens further advised (after reviewing the electrical setup at the tennis court) that nothing of the current electrical network there could be utilized in modernization and upgrade. Total replacement would be necessary. Members will conduct an over-time review of volume of activity at the court to determine if replacement cost would be justified.
CLEAN-UP: Deadline was not met by one property owner - concerns: fire damaged structure, sub-standard trailer. Conversation of property owner with Attorney Carothers resulted in extension of deadline to July 15, with determining factor being timeline for asbestos testing prior to anticipated action of knockdown /controlled burn by Fire Department. Carothers was asked to send another letter to a property owner with a sub-standard trailer/nuisance situation. It was noted that some vehicles and misc. materials have been removed from another property, and considerable progress has been made. Review will continue. Courtesy letters were requested for another property owner .
GENERAL DISCUSSION: Ashley Calkin addressed members regarding neighborhood dogs, and incidents (starting October 2013) and circumstance still considered to have strong potential of an ‘at-risk’ situation. She reviewed the October 2013 incident during which she and members of her family were trapped in their house by pit bulls, an officer was called, a firearm discharged, but no citation was issued. Mayor Meyer, Council members Mewes, Neumann, Reedy and Wolf, and attendees - Connie Mewes, Bob Widick, and Attorney Carothers and Law Enforcement Officer Ernst contributed to discussion of the most recent incident involving dogs. For that event, family ownership relevance (same as the October incident) was established, if not the same dogs identified, in which a pet dog on a leash was attacked by a pit bull at large. It was noted that a citation was written for ‘no rabies license.’ By most in attendance, that was not acceptable as a solution. Officer Ernst explained that the situation did not meet criterion of a “dangerous dog” incident. He provided State information, essentially --- A dog is classified as dangerous if it kills a human; attacks a human, resulting in injury and requiring medical attention; kills a domestic animal; or has been previously identified by an animal control authority as a dangerous dog. Officer Ernst explained that even (by State) to cite an owner for a dog at large the dog must be at large for ten consecutive days, without a collar. Attorney Carothers outlined another avenue of action, one that utilizes City mandate and requires cooperation with the Sheriff (since necessitating court appearance of responding officer). He will meet with Gustafson to ask that City “potentially dangerous/dangerous dog” reports be forwarded to him so he can follow up with a long-form claim and legal action. He assured the Calkin family that they would receive a report on what relates to their ongoing neighborhood problem. Officer Ernst stressed that it is important and imperative that as much documentation as possible be made available for enforcement action, as proof by video, pictures, willing witnesses.
On another topic, Council member Neumann thanked Gage County Law Enforcement for the Speed Trailer recently in place by the Fire Hall.
NEXT AGENDA:
AUGUST 16TH CITY CELEBRATION: FURTHER PLANS, CONCERNS, EXPENSES
CHAMBERLIN MEMORIAL: DONATION STATUS, FURTHER PLANS, CONCERNS
1% INCREASE IN 2014-2015 RESTRICTED FUNDS LIMITATION
EQUIPMENT (TOPKOTE)
PLANNING & ZONING
CABIN, MISC. CONCERNS)
CLEAN UP:
Motion to adjourn: 9:03 PM - Wolf - No objection.
The minutes of the Regular meeting were read and approved July 15, 2014.
Mayor - Lonnie D. Meyer (Regular Session)
City Clerk - Katherine A. Roche (Regular Session)
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