City of Blue Springs, Nebraska

August 4, 2020 The Regular Meeting of Mayor and Council was held on August 4, 2020, in the Blue Springs City Hall, Blue Springs, NE. PRESENT: Mayor Meyer, Council members Neumann, Reedy, Sedlacek. Seeman (pending Oath of Office) ABSENT; OTHER ATTENDEES: City Attorney Andy Carothers, Employee Mike Pike, Connie Mewes, Derrie Seeman, Roland Hardin and associate, Gladys Cary, Rex Adams 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. OATH OF OFFICE: KANDI E. SEEMAN, WARD 1 COUNCIL: Attorney Carothers administered the Oath of Office for Kandi E. Seeman, Ward 1 Council. Motion (Neumann), second (Sedlacek) and vote (4-0 affirmative) to approve as sent minutes for the July 21, 2020 Regular meeting. After review -- motion (Sedlacek), second (Neumann), and vote 4(-0 affirmative) to approve claims per: Bank Direct - Internal Revenue (941) - $2,430.24; Payroll $3,814.08; Abbott Portable Toilets - $125.00; Arbor Ink - $131.30; Constellation Energy - $2.73; Bear Graphics - $227.34; Lauby Plumbing/Heating/Air - $490.00; League of Ne Municipalities (Membership) - $263; NE Dept of Rev. (501N) - $365.00; Norris Public Power - $1,127.91; One-Call Concepts - 5.76; Milton Pike (Tel. Comp.) - $25.00; Milton Pike (Supplies Reimb.) - $185.26 & $75.52; ; Rewound Power Motors - $47.77; Security First Bank - (IRA/Pike) - $55.00; Tractor Supply - $1,831.04; Ullman Auto Sales (Cabin Door work) - $200.00; Wex Bank - $473.60; Milford Woutzke (Tel. Comp.) - $5.00; Wymore Oil Co. - $637.00; TOTAL CLAIMS: $12,517.55. DESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL: Motion (Neumann), second (Seeman,) 4-0 affirmative vote designated Gene Radar Reedy President of the Council. Arrangements will be made for signature authorization on City accounts at Security First Bank. SETTING THE LEVY FOR THE 2020-2021 BUDGET: All members participated in discussion that led to consensus to leave the levy unchanged from the previous year, this based on minimal increase/percentage advantage as pointed out by Carothers from the previous budget. DEMOLITION PROJECT/AND RELATED CLEAN-UP ISSUES ): Seeman requested a copy of a courtesy letter with 7/21 deadline which was sent to individual with custodial responsibility so she could give to the property owner. Seeman proposed the sending of six other courtesy letters, which will have 8/18 deadlines. In regard to enlisting the services of an Ordinance Enforcement Officer, several suggestions were made. Since Gustafson reported no interest from his email to officers, he will resend an inquiry. All members provided input: possibly to consider soliciting a Beatrice City officer or Wymore reserve officer/ or someone not an officer, a choice whereby the adoption of Uniform Property Maintenance Code comes into play/ or utilizing available SENDD Ordinance Enforcement Officers (even Building Inspector - at $350? Hr.), with Carothers stressing the importance of the person being able to take pictures (Seeman volunteered), send nuisance notices, follow-up, and appear in court. Decision was made to contact SENDD (Carothers to invite T. Bliss/-- a representative to 8/18 meeting), and report back to the City prior to that on his findings and determination of procedure. Carothers reported that building inspections warrants will come before Judge Thimm next week, with results/information to be available to members at the next Regular meeting. Entering into an agreement for demolition equipment, as used by Wymore ($325?), was noted, with Carothers indicating he could draw up a similar contract for Blue Springs. It would reduce previously estimated demolition costs, and hopefully, roll-off availability can be correlated with equipment use. CAR SHOW/TRACTOR SHOW: ANY REMAINING ISSUES, AS FROM FIRE DEPT: Reedy asked if the flags might be put up for the event, and the street cleaned. PLANNING AND ZONING: No new applications. STREET CLOSING (WHERE FOUTS AND WASINGTON COME TOGETHER): Carothers provided a draft of Ordinance # 464 which will come before the Planning and Zoning Commission 8/17, and (with recommendations of the P& Z) before the Mayor and Council at the 8/18 meeting. Carothers plans to be in attendance for both meetings. ARMOR COATING/ANALYSIS/ BID LETTING: Employee Pike is to initiate a cost analysis (chipped/seal coated - approx. a $50,00 project - from contractors) on the following potential streets: E/W past School, E/W past Preschool, N/S - 2 blocks off Walnut, 1st Street going E, River Road to Walnut on 1st, 2nd Street - west of A. Pike also advised of fall plans for crack sealing. UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: MANDATORY GARBAGE & WATER SERVICE EXEMPTION (HARDIN): Hardin and an associate addressed members, relating hardship imposed by church inclusion in the mandatory garbage removal program, which included: financial, someone needs to come in to town to set it out, minimal waste material, and he also asked if consideration might be given to exemption from water/sewer charges. Discussion followed, resulting in the members agreeing not to grant any exemption because a precedent would be set that would have a damaging effect on the program. Members were, however, not without empathy for the situation, with Reedy and Neumann indicating they would pay for short-term removal of trash at the church, possibly a year. BURN PILE (INFORMATION REGARDING RELOCATION): Pike noted that contact has been made to inquire about the purchase of property near the old site (owned by Wymore), or Cherry Street might be a possibility. Sedlacek questioned why a site could be found from the existing empty lot locations in town. SEWER LINE (SCHEIDELER) - ANY PERTINENT INFO: Pike provided information from Gilmore & Associates, that indicated that the surveying cost could be anywhere from $3,500 to $10,000, and the project itself at least in the neighborhood of fifty thousand or sixty thousand dollars, probably higher. Without the incentive of an already planned development in the area, the project was determined to be “not feasible, not cost-effective at this time.” Other: Meyer asked that members check out the alley that runs from behind the Keno Lounge to Walnut street, as he feels the markers/rods are not in true alignment, and so the alley not clearly identifiable. He stated that it should be fine for the property owners to use it to get to the back of their properties, but that semi traffic is not recommended due to turning difficulty and potential damage to the new surface of Walnut Street. Members were in agreement. NEXT AGENDA DEMOLITION PROJECT/AND RELATED CLEAN-UP ISSUES/ORD. ENFORCEMENT OFFICER PLANNING AND ZONING STREET CLOSING (WHERE FOUTS AND WASINGTON COME TOGETHER) ORD. # 464 ARMOR COATING/ANALYSIS/BID LETTING BURN PILE Motion to adjourn - Reedy - 8:30 PM. No objections. The minutes of the Regular meeting were read and approved August 18, 2020. Mayor: Lonnie D. Meyer (Regular Session) City Clerk: Katherine A. Roche (Regular Session