City of Blue Springs, Nebraska

December 3, 2019

The Regular Meeting of Mayor and Council was held on December 3, 2019, in the Blue Springs City Hall, Blue Springs, NE.
PRESENT: Council members Carmichael, Mewes, Neumann, Reedy
ABSENT: Mayor Meyer
OTHER ATTENDEES: Employee Mike Pike, Attorney Andy Carothers, Connie Mewes, Carol Hughes

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, 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 November 19, 2019 Regular meeting.

After review -- motion (Neumann), second (Reedy), and vote (4-0 affirmative) to approve claims as follow: Bank Direct - Security First Bank - Box Rent - $35.00; Bank Direct - (Internal Revenue Service - 941) - $2,205.43; Payroll - - $6,099.96; 888-Log-Guys, LLC - (Cabin) - $5,044.28; NE Dept. of Revenue - 501N - $308.50; NE Public Health Environmental Labs - $30.00; Norris Public Power - $1,272.93; One-Call Concepts - $1.92; Milton Pike (Tel. Comp.) - $25.00; Milton Pike (Reimb.) - $12.04; Milton Pike (Postage Reimb. - Water Sample) - $25.60; Gene (Radar) Reedy (Municipal Publicity - Reimb. Van’s Chicken) - $120.00; Katherine Roche (Reimb - W-2/W-3 software) - $64.00; Security First Bank - (Pike/IRA) - $55.00; Ullman Auto Sales (Keith Weyer) - $3,000.00 (Cabin); Wex Bank - $318.98; Willet & Carothers - $1,170.00; Williams Midwest Housemovers, Inc. -(Final/Cabin) - $7,250.00; Milford Woutzke (Tel. Comp.) - $5.00; Wymore, City of - $42.24; Wymore Oil Company - $213.95; TOTAL CLAIMS - $27,229.83.


ONE PROPERTY AT A TIME PURCHASE/CITY OF BLUE SPRINGS DEMOLITION COST? (FORNEY PROPERTY): Progress continues, per Carol Hughes - “ 2nd dumpster, completion timeline unknown at this time.”

PLANNING & ZONING: No new applications.

CABIN PRESERVATION ISSUES: (Note: Thomas Foundation Grant 18,500 (paid); Tourism Grant $19,000 (unpaid) to be awarded upon presentation of applicable bills. To this date spent $26,820.94, with $3,900.00 committed to grading/sidewalks, and with Pickrell Lumber bill - amount still outstanding from the remaining balance of $6,779.06. ) Discussion included: Remaining processes per Reedy - Work on floor (Ullman); bricklaying (chimney), comments: “Nice job, Sits nice. Getting closer” to completion. At the Tourism meeting (12/3), April-May was given as project finish date.

CLEAN-UP/BUILDING INSPECTOR AGREEMENT: Carothers noted that an individual did not keep his court date, and it was continued until December 17th. Probation revocation is anticipated to be the primary focus and altering factor for this individual. Carmichael inquired as to the scope of property owner responsibility, and Carothers responded that, in accordance with the ordinance, no owner responsibility was indicated, only that of the individual in violation of the ordinance by “squatting/residing” in the dwelling without the benefit of public utilities. Copies of the Building Inspection Services Agreement were circulated to members. Discussion followed on various aspects of the agreement, with primary focus on Section 4. a. per, Except as provided in this paragraph 4, the City shall compensate the Company in the amount of One Hundred Twenty-Five Dollars ($125) per hour for inspection work. Inspection work shall include the Company’s travel time, time in completing the inspection, compiling evidence, and completing the inspection report and Notice and Order. If the Company is requested to complete one inspection, the Company shall be compensated for a minimum of four (4) hours. If the Company conducts two or more inspections on the same trip, the Company shall be compensated in the amount of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per hour for inspection work with no minimum time requirement (and ) b. - For all other services performed under this Agreement by the Company, the City shall compensate the Company at Seventy Dollars ($70.00) per hour with a one hour minimum. A copy of the complete agreement (Nebraska Code Consulting and Inspections, LLC - one year contract, with automatic renewal for another year, and provision that either party may cancel with a 30-day notice) is attached to the office copy of the minutes and available for public review. Connie Mewes inquired as to the determination of order of address for structures under review. A priority list was provided to Carothers (by Reedy) (a copy of which is also attached to the office copy of the minutes. Carothers will prepare inspection warrants. It was noted that, once in place, a 10-day timeline will be in effect. A motion was made by Council member Reedy, seconded by Neumann, and approved by a 4-0 affirmative vote to accept/approve/authorize Mayoral signature on the agreement, which is slated to be signed by Mayor Meyer at the December 17th meeting. Reedy asked if the process will go forward from this point, pending applicable signatures, and Carother’s response was, “Yes.” Carothers also advised members of the Legislative requirements (as of September) that municipalities must adopt (and buy) a building code (or if not, must enforce the State code. Carothers will be in contact with the League of Municipalities in reference to the mandate, and timeline (Carothers suggested Jan.-Feb. municipal decision) and for determination of versions - as, commercial, residential, mechanical, uniform building code, property maintenance. Carmichael inquired about the cost to buy codes, and it was described by Carothers as minimal, “the cost of the books.” Reedy inquired as to if the end result might be that the City would need to have it’s own building inspector, and Carothers replied that it was likely, and that the agreement approved tonight could be revisited with “changes” as circumstances dictate. Structural indications of properties neglected to the point of demolition consideration (per Carothers) are damaged shingles, windows, eaves, gutters. Carothers suggested addressing vacant structures first, and because it came up in discussion - later addressing occupied structures.

PLAYGROUND RUBBER MULCH INFORMATION/WYMORE PARK BOARD INQUIRY: Considerations delayed until Spring.


NEXT AGENDA:
ONE PROPERTY AT A TIME PURCHASE/CITY OF BLUE SPRINGS DEMOLITION COST? (FORNEY PROPERTY)
PLANNING & ZONING
CABIN PRESERVATION ISSUES
CLEAN-UP/BUILDING INSPECTOR AGREEMENT (Mayoral Signature)
ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS: which will include: COMMITTEES, PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL, SECONDARY COUNCIL PRESIDENT, TEMPORARY CLERK, CITY STREET SUPT (PR0JECTS) - KEITH GILMORE - 697A (Jan.- Dec. - entire year), CITY ATTORNEY & DEPUTY ATTORNEY, AUDITOR, AND EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENTS AND WAGES AND BENEFITS

Motion to adjourn: By: Mewes Time: 7:45 PM. No objections.

The minutes of the Regular meeting were read and approved December 17, 2019.

Mayor: Lonnie D. Meyer (Regular Session)

City Clerk: Katherine A. Roche (Regular Session)