September 19, 2017
The Regular Meeting of Mayor and Council was held on September 19, 2017, in the Blue Springs City Hall, Blue Springs, NE.
PRESENT: Mayor Meyer, Council members Carmichael, Mewes, Neumann, Reedy
ABSENT;
OTHER ATTENDEES: City Employee Mike Pike, City Attorney Andy Carothers, Connie Mewes, Tiffany Henrichs and minor.
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.
Motion, second and vote (Mewes, Carmichael, 4-0 affirmative) to approve as sent minutes for the September 5, 2017 ---- 2017 -2018 Budget Hearing and Regular meeting.
After review -- motion, second, and vote (Neumann, Mewes, 4-0 affirmative) to approve claims as follow: Direct Payment: NE Dept. of Rev. (10) - $247.32; Salaries - $1,915.08; Abbott Portable Toilets (Municipal Publicity) - $575.00; Beatrice Iron/Metal - $10.28; Black Hills Energy - $23.28; Circle D Mfg - $37.60; Farmers Cooperative - $28.78; Verona Neumann (Reimb: Municipal Publicity) - $111.57; NE Public Health Environmental Labs - $15.00; Pickrell Lumber - (Cabin) - $24.16; Milton Pike (Postage Reimb.) - $23.75; Postmaster - $166.00; Gene (Radar) Reedy - (Reimb: Municipal Publicity) - $100.00; Nebraska Dept. of Revenue (Waste Reduction - #94) - $25.00; Security First Bank - (Pike - IRA) - $55.00; Temps Disposal Service (Municipal Publicity) - $35.00; Uhl’s Sporting Goods - (Municipal Publicity) - $1,678.00; Windstream - $70.42; City of Wymore - $138.19; Wymore Lumber - $997.63; TOTAL CLAIMS: $6,277.06 & from Keno Proceeds Account to City of Blue Springs Regular Checking (to correct clerical error) $561.00.
PAVEMENT BREAKUP (WALNUT AREA/INTERSECTION) GILMORE ADVISEMENT, CONTRACTOR CONTACTS: Options for approx. 25’X100’ (Pike) concrete were discussed: the previously submitted $24,495 Caspers - Beatrice - (details attached to the office copy of minutes, and /Per Gilmore email - 9 inch thick, anticipated to hold up well to grain truck traffic) = Stephens & Smith Construction - Lincoln - $21,550.00 (does not included bonding, testing, joint sealing, backfilling and R.L. Tiemann Construction - Beatrice $11,740.77 (does not include bonding or testing) with email attached to office copy of minutes. Employee Pike noted that he had discussed the problem area with other local contractors (Sullivan, Gowen), and that a possibility existed for them to participate in the project, with the City first preparing the area. Comments: Council member Carmichael stated preference for the Tiemann estimate. Mayor Meyer described the area as one that “needs to be fixed every year.” Reedy questioned as to when Tiemann’s might be able to do the work. Mewes told that “we will set the start date.” Mayor Meyer brought up concern about the upcoming harvest and the impact of that traffic on an area paving project. Members agreed that it was not the best time to address the issue, and reached consensus to wait until after harvest, or maybe even until next Spring.
PLANNING AND ZONING: No new applications.
EQUIPMENT: REVIEW OF OPERATIONS/NEEDS/BACKHOE INFO: Council member Carmichael shared information about a possible backhoe available for purchase. Reedy asked if Pike had the opportunity to discuss another unit with Petersen. Pike told that contact had not yet been possible, but suggested that “winter” is a better time to consider backhoe purchase options, since a time of “better deals. ”
PARK PLANS: SIDEWALK - GILMORE ADVISEMENT, GRANTS AND PREPARATIONS: Employee Pike indicated that water line work was taking priority over other issues at this time, but told of plans to remove the tree and to have Trauernicht grind out the stump within the next few weeks. Sidewalk measurements (Reedy & Pike) has not yet been documented, and lateness of the season could postpone the sidewalk replacement/addition project until Spring.
CITY BUILDINGS REPAIRS: RFP RESPONSE/ BID PROCESS: Attorney Carothers gave the overview, which included advertisement dates (Arbor State, this Thursday, and next), and also October 3rd - 5PM bid submission timeline, and opening of bids at the October 3rd Regular meeting. Carothers further noted that RFPs were sent to 4 spray-on roofing contractors, and 18 to local contractors.
MANDATORY TRASH PICKUP- SURVEYCONSIDERATIONS: Council member Carmichael spoke of administrative difficulties which would be created by mandatory trash pickup to the community, and he suggested removal of considerations from the agenda. Mewes agreed. Council member Reedy asked if he might still contact Shelby Temps to get answers to questions prior to removal of considerations from the agenda, and no objections were made to that proposed action.
PROVISIONS FOR WARD CHANGE/MAPS AND MEASUREMENTS: Carothers clarified that a change to “at-large instead of wards” does NOT change classification of Second Class City to Village. He further stated that there are two ways to make the change: City can put it on the ballot or interested people can petition to have it put on the ballot. On the issue of considerations for boundary changes to existing wards, Carothers advised that the County Clerk is the one who would re-do it, as based on information provided, as: not only on percentage of registered voters/ but on those in each ward who are “eligible” to vote. He cited statute provisions, which included determination that wards should be “substantially equal” and also provided information in reference restrictions that may/may not be imposed based on the timeline of census activities. Members discussed options, and partially based on the fact that Ward 1 is documented to have 78 registered voters, and Ward II - 93 and the fact that, in that comparison - though that is not a record of “eligible” voters in each ward, they appear to be “substantially equal,” there does not seem justification for further review for change. Of course, interested community members could petition that project as well. But for the time being, members were in consensus to remove the topic from the agenda.
ABATEMENT OF STORAGE UNIT: LEGAL ACTION: Attorney Carothers advised that set of a court date is upcoming, and the topic will be returned to the agenda as per need.
CAR/TRACTOR SHOW REPORT: At the time of the meeting, and with radio advertising statement and perhaps other bills yet outstanding, the cost of the Car/Tractor Show Celebration stands at $2,881.71.
ACQUISITION OF BROAD STREET PROPERTIES: Attorney Carothers summarized information he previously provided by email (email attached to office copy of minutes), and which included 3-year right of redemption factors, tax deed issues, delinquent taxes, provisions available and prohibitive factors, and options were discussed. Decision was made for Carothers (on behalf of the City) to contact one property owner to discuss “dilapidated” condition of the structure and to purchase interest in the property, and also to buy up the 2014 and 2015 back taxes to set the City in the best position for acquisition. Acquiring the property was described as providing sufficient space to facilitate construction possibilities for the City. Obtaining the second location under consideration was described as more difficult, what with activity noted on the property and no outstanding back taxes. It was determined that the City should delay any action to attempt to acquire the property until a future date when it is anticipated it might become available.
CLEAN UP which will include THOMAS FOUNDATION GRANT PREPARATIONS FOR DEMOLITION OF DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS, ONE PROPERTY AT A TIME INVOLVEMENT, as well as INOPERABLE/UNLICENSED VEHICLES: No one from the One-Property-At-A-Time group was in attendance to submit an “anticipated” list of dilapidated properties, nor was a list by members yet compiled. Application process for a Thomas Foundation grant was not activated. On another issue, one property needing clean up was noted to be partially improved but was determined to receive a courtesy letter to hasten the project.
NEXT AGENDA:
PLANNING AND ZONING
CITY BUILDINGS REPAIRS: RFP RESPONSE/ BID OPENING
MANDATORY TRASH PICKUP- REEDY/results of discussion with SHELBY TEMPS
CAR/TRACTOR SHOW REPORT
ACQUISITION OF BROAD STREET PROPERTY
CLEAN UP which will include THOMAS FOUNDATION GRANT PREPARATIONS FOR DEMOLITION OF DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS, ONE PROPERTY AT A TIME INVOLVEMENT, as well as INOPERABLE/UNLICENSED VEHICLES.
Motion to adjourn: By: Reedy - Time: 8:25 PM. No objections.
The minutes of the Regular meeting were read and approved October 3. 2017.
Mayor: Lonnie D. Meyer (Regular Session)
City Clerk: Katherine A. Roche (Regular Session)
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