City of Blue Springs, Nebraska

August 1, 2017


The Regular Meeting of Mayor and Council was held on August 1, 2017, in the Blue Springs City Hall, Blue Springs, NE.


PRESENT: Council members Carmichael, Mewes, Neumann, Reedy


ABSENT; Mayor Meyer


OTHER ATTENDEES: City Employee Mike Pike, Dan Disney, Fred Laber, Gladys Cary, Connie Mewes

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, Council President Carmichael called the Regular meeting to order and roll call was taken.


Motion, second and vote (Mewes, Neumann, 4-0 affirmative) to approve as sent minutes for the July 18, 2017 Regular meeting.


After review -- motion, second, and vote (Neumann, Mewes, 4-0 affirmative) to approve claims as follow: Direct Payment - Internal Revenue Service - (941) - $1,623.70; Salaries $ 3,002.81; Circle D Mfg - $292.50; Constellation Energy - $3.51; Lucille Salts (Met. Dep. Ref.) - $63.59; Municipal Supply - $387.10; NE Dept. of Rev. - (501N) - $201.06; NE Public Health Environmental Labs - $15.00; Norris Public Power - $1,239.92; Milton Pike (Tel. Comp.) - $25.00; Postmaster - $166.00; Security First Bank (Pike/IRA) - $55.00; Shell - $513.06; Tractor Supply - $149.91; Milford Woutzke (Tel. Comp.) - $5.00; Wymore Oil Company - $86.95; TOTAL CLAIMS: $7,830.11.


PAVEMENT BREAKUP (WALNUT AREA/INTERSECTION) - CONCRETE WORK ADVISED (CARMICHAEL): Following discussion of options (Carmichael, Mewes, Neumann, Reedy) motion, second, and vote (Reedy, Neumann, 4-0 affirmative) to request Gene Casper to make on-site assessment and provide estimate for concrete repairs (Walnut to Broad - approx. 30’, or contractor advisement - both directions).


HALL RENTAL OPTIONS: ZUMBA EXERCISE GROUP (MONICA SEDLACEK): Members expressed certain wishes to accommodate the request (Motion by Mewes - died from lack of second) but “use-definition” fell into the category of a “private” group rather than a “public-interest/service” group, so members “in all fairness and so as not to set undesirable precedent,” approved rental (if still wanted) by the group - (bi-weekly sessions (starting August 12) for 12-wk duration, but did NOT reduce or waive rental fees.


PLANNING AND ZONING: No new applications or other business.


EQUIPMENT: REVIEW OF OPERATIONS/NEEDS: Council member Reedy requested a status report from Employee Pike. Pike advised that parts (belts) for the sewer machine would be in Friday, and everything else was running satisfactorily.


PARK SIDEWALK/REMOVAL OF TREE: (Sidewalk): Council member Reedy asked that a $1,000 Park grant be researched on the Gage County website. (Tree): Employee Pike told that plans were to remove the tree in the fall.


CITY BUILDINGS/ REPAIR WORK - BID LETTING PROCESS: From information provided for members to review at the meeting, it was advised by Attorney Carothers that he would work up (for the next meeting) “some simple specs” for a bid process for roof repairs. “Something that could be sent out to certain people, and advertised.”


MANDATORY TRASH PICKUP- TEMPS CONTRACT/ BALLOT CONSIDERATIONS: From information provided for members to review at the meeting, it was advised by Attorney Carothers that there was nothing prohibitive to “sending out a letter, perhaps with next utility billing, and including stamped envelopes” to solicit community positive-or-negative reaction to mandatory trash pickup. Carothers further noted that “if members want to go forward with it as a ballot issue (2018 primary), the whole ordinance must be included on the ballot, and that would be pricey.” Topic was tabled until the next Regular meeting.


WARD TO AT-LARGE BALLOT DETERMINATIONS: Within documentation provided for discussion of members at the meeting, Carothers advised members “to decide if they want to go forward,” and also, if not, “any individual still wanting to change it to At-Large could on their own get signatures on an initiative petition. Topic was tabled until the next Regular meeting.


ABATEMENT OF STORAGE UNIT: LEGAL ACTION: Tabled until the next Regular meeting.

ONE PROPERTY AT A TIME - PROJECT # 1/MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS (PAINTING/SPRUCING UP -- AND Including, ONE PROPERTY AT A TIME - (DAN DISNEY) - PROPOSAL - NEW DOORS (CITY BUILDING) (Ref: Blue Valley Door, with partial pre-pay condition) : As stated by Dan Disney, arrangements for refreshing City Hall are going smoothly, (siding to arrive Friday; arrangements made for walk-in door - $290.00 - Wymore Lumber; and he praised a “volunteer base” of “experts”- outside the OPAAT group base as: contractors: Daryl Mailahn (start-up assistance), Don Sullivan (measurements), Circle D Mfg (sandblasting/powder coating Cemetery sign). Great appreciation was expressed to all volunteers. Disney also provided a spec sheet and two quotations for new doors (no windows, no openers - including installation). By motion, second, and vote (Reedy, Mewes, 4-0 affirmative) both quotations for doors (installed) - $895 + $1, 061 a prepayment stipulation of 1/3 or $652.- to be activated by Mayoral signature on the check (ASAP),were approved. Necessary arrangements will be made to activate the project.
Copies of spec sheet and quotations are to be attached to the office copy of the minutes, and available for public review.


ANNUAL CELEBRATION DAY - FOLLOWUP REVIEW AS MIGHT BE NECESSARY: Full participation and impact for the “eclipse” event on the annual celebration can not be known, or fully anticipated, but Council member Reedy expressed concern regarding food concessions at the Car/Tractor Show, and has “raised by 75, and possibly more” the serving count for the chicken concession. Concern was expressed by Council member Neumann about Tractor Show set up in the park, and how a significant influx of eclipse followers into the community might hamper, even prevent set up.


LEVY SETTING DISCUSSION: Members (Carmichael, Mewes, Neumann, Reedy) discussed the current levy and came to agreement to leave it unchanged from the previous year.


1% INCREASE IN RESTRICTED FUNDS AUTHORITY FOR 2017-2018 BUDGET: Motion by Council member Mewes, second by Neumann, and vote: Carmichael - Yes; Mewes -Yes; Neumann - Yes; Reedy - Yes - approved 1% increase in restricted funds authority for 2017-2018 Budget.



CLEAN UP which will include INOPERABLE/UNLICENSED VEHICLES. Relocation of certain vehicles for which a letter has been sent, was noted, and it was also stated that the vehicles are in “sale” process and should shortly be moved outside the community. Another vehicle infraction reported to owner by correspondence with 8/1 deadline remains unchanged. No action was taken at this time. Accumulated trash situation and legal address (court again (follow-up) - August 22nd) was reviewed.


A Broad Street property was discussed, and determination was made to request Attorney Carothers to check for liens against the property, and to initiate purchase option action for City acquisition of the property (for purpose of clean-up/tear-down, and putting up a new City storage building).


NEXT AGENDA:
PAVEMENT BREAKUP (WALNUT AREA/INTERSECTION) - CASPER ADVISEMENT/QUOTE
PLANNING AND ZONING
EQUIPMENT: REVIEW OF OPERATIONS/NEEDS
PARK SIDEWALK/$1,000 GRANT APPLICATION
CITY BUILDINGS/ REPAIR WORK - BID LETTING PROCESS (CAROTHERS)
MANDATORY TRASH PICKUP- TEMPS CONTRACT/ BALLOT CONSIDERATIONS
WARD TO AT-LARGE BALLOT DETERMINATIONS
ABATEMENT OF STORAGE UNIT: LEGAL ACTION
ONE PROPERTY AT A TIME - PROJECT # 1/MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS (PAINTING/SPRUCING UP PRIOR TO ANNUAL CELEBRATION DAY - FOLLOWUP REVIEW AS MIGHT BE NECESSARY
CITY CAR/TRACTOR SHOW - ANY FINAL ARRANGEMENTS TO BE ADDRESSED
STREET FUND - PRE-BUDGET DEFICIT FUND TRANSFER/OR CASH CDs
ANNUAL KENO OPERATOR CONTRACTOR RENEWAL (TO ADDRESS IF CHANGES NEEDED)
CITY ACQUISITION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY (BROAD STREET)
CLEAN UP which will include INOPERABLE/UNLICENSED VEHICLES.



Motion to adjourn: By: Mewes - Time: 8:10 PM. No objections.


The minutes of the Regular meeting were read and approved August 15. 2017.



Mayor: Lonnie D. Meyer (Regular Session)


City Clerk: Katherine A. Roche (Regular Session)