City of Blue Springs, Nebraska

December 17, 2019

The Regular Meeting of Mayor and Council was held on December 17, 2019, in the Blue Springs City Hall, Blue Springs, NE.
PRESENT: Mayor Meyer, Council members Carmichael, Mewes, Neumann
ABSENT: Council member Reedy
OTHER ATTENDEES: Employee Mike Pike, Attorney Andy Carothers, Connie Mewes, Carol Hughes, Lee/Dorothy Parrish

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 7:00 PM, Mayor Meyer called the Regular meeting to order and roll call was taken.

Motion, second and vote (Mewes, Carmichael, 3-0 affirmative) to approve as sent minutes for the December 3, 2019 Regular meeting.

After review -- motion (Neumann ), second (Mewes), and vote (3-0 affirmative) to approve claims as follow: Bank Direct - NE Dept. of Revenue (10) - $232.04; Payroll - $2,152.74; Beatrice Area Solid Waste (Annual Charge) - $1,489.50; Beatrice Iron & Metal - $61.11; Black Hills Energy - $48.49; Constellation Energy - $32.18; Farmers Cooperative - $14.98; Jerry’s Diesel - $1,617.27; Lauby Plumbing/Heating/Air - $40.03; Pickrell Lumber - (Cabin) - $300.96; Postmaster - $180.00; Security First Bank (Pike - IRA) - $55.00; Windstream - $82.26; Wymore Super Foods - $47.67; TOTAL CLAIMS: $6,354.23.

ONE PROPERTY AT A TIME PURCHASE/CITY OF BLUE SPRINGS DEMOLITION COST? (FORNEY PROPERTY): Attorney Carothers asked (Hughes) to have Rex Adams call him (again?) about property status concerns, and also told that a third roll-off is planned after Christmas.

PLANNING & ZONING: No pending applications; however, Lee and Dorothy Parrish inquired about the possibility of building a woodworking “hobby” shop (metal building, concrete floor, heating, plumbing) on 3 lots - (130 ft. wide - 2nd and Washington) Carothers explained that presently the City does not allow accessory buildings to be constructed/placed on residential property where there is no primary use (house) structure. Members discussed the pros and cons of changes in building/zoning policy, which included “low probability of new homes being built on all empty lots, and the desirability of “upping” the City tax base. Members came to agreement for Carothers to draft a proposal which would allow for “construction” of storage/shop structures where no primary use structure exists, and that will be reviewed first by the Planning and Zoning Commission (at the January 13th meeting), and secondarily by Council at the January 21st meeting.

CABIN PRESERVATION ISSUES: Work continues, and is held to budget.

CLEAN-UP/BUILDING INSPECTOR AGREEMENT (Mayoral Signature) : Mayor Meyer signed the Building Inspector Agreement. Letters have been sent to designated property owners. Inspection warrants will be activated in the event of “no response” from owners. Carothers indicated that an individual did not arrive for his second court date, but it is believed the individual is currently “in rehab” and not at this time living in violation of ordinance prohibiting residing in a structure without benefit of public utilities. A possibility exists for the proceedings to be cancelled. Carothers will contact a family member of the person involved in reference to the vehicle left on the property (flat tire) for a prolonged period of time.

ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS: which will include: COMMITTEES, PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL, SECONDARY COUNCIL PRESIDENT, TEMPORARY CLERK, CITY STREET SUPT (PROJECTS) - KEITH GILMORE - 697A (Jan.- Dec. - entire year), CITY ATTORNEY & DEPUTY ATTORNEY, AUDITOR, AND EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENTS AND WAGES AND BENEFITS
(Motion: Mewes, second: Neumann: vote: 3-0 affirmative) for following designations :
COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP: (Water System) - Reedy and Neumann;(Sewer Lagoon) - Carmichael and Mewes; (Streets and Alleys) - Carmichael and Neumann; (City Parks and Properties) - Reedy and Mewes; (Keno) - Reedy and Mewes; (Finance) - Carmichael and Neumann,
PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL: Carmichael
SECONDARY COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Neumann
TEMPORARY CLERK: Andrew Carothers
CITY STREET SUPERINTENDENT (Projects) : Keith Gilmore - #697A - of Gilmore & Associates - Columbus, NE. (Jan 1 - Dec 31)
CITY ATTORNEY: Andrew Carothers.
DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY: Mike Willet
CITY AUDITOR: Brian Blobaum
CITY PHYSICIAN: (No designee)
EMPLOYEE CONSIDERATIONS (with benefits as listed)
(Motion: Mewes, second: Carmichael, 3-0 affirmative vote to raise employee wages 3% across the board.
BS STREET/WATER/SEWER SUPERVISOR:
Milton Pike - Rate -$ 21.77 hourly wage.
Continuance of current policy regarding insurance.
Bi-monthly Retirement ($55.00) City Contribution
Vacation: 4 wk. paid vacation
No comp time. instead OT
Paid Holidays: (10) - New Years, Martin Luther King Jr., Presidents, Memorial, Independence, Labor, Columbus, Veterans, Thanksgiving, Christmas
CITY CLERK:
Katherine Roche -$ 915.49 - 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:
Milford Woutzke - Rate - $12.88 Hourly wage, with approval for overtime pay for days when over 8 hours are worked.
Paid Holidays: : (10) New Years, Martin Luther King Jr., Presidents, Memorial, Independence, Labor, Columbus, Veterans, Thanksgiving, Christmas
Linda Hohensee, $ 10.57 Hourly)
Other: To be established as needed.

Other: Mayor Meyer asked if the gasket has been replaced in the backhoe (old), and Pike replied, “Yes.”

NEXT AGENDA:
ONE PROPERTY AT A TIME PURCHASE/CITY OF BLUE SPRINGS DEMOLITION COST? (FORNEY PROPERTY)
PLANNING & ZONING
CABIN PRESERVATION ISSUES

Motion to adjourn: By: Neumann Time: 7:40 PM. No objections.

The minutes of the Regular meeting were read and approved January 7, 2020.

Mayor: Lonnie D. Meyer (Regular Session)

City Clerk: Katherine A. Roche (Regular Session)