City of Blue Springs, Nebraska

December 5, 2023 The Regular Meeting of Mayor and Council of Blue Springs, Nebraska, was held starting at 7 PM, December 5, 2023, at the Blue Springs City Hall. Mayor Meyer called the meeting to order, and roll call was taken. PRESENT: Mayor Meyer, Council members Neumann, Reedy, Sedlacek ABSENT: Council Member Riensche OTHERS PRESENT: Employee Mike Pike, Attorney Andy Carothers, Ronnie Rainey, JEO Representatives Viv Novotny and Terry Meier, Verlyn Dodge Notice of the Hearing/meeting 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. Motion (Neumann), second (Reedy) , 3-0 affirmative vote to approve the minutes of the November 21, 2023 Regular meeting. Motion (Neumann), second (Reedy ) , 3-0 affirmative vote to approve claims as follow: Bank Direct : Internal Revenue (941) - $2,360.54; Security First Bank - (Box Rent) - $35.00; Payroll - $7,058.15; Fairbury Journal News - $66.07; League of Nebraska Municipalities, Utilities Section - (Pike Workshops) - $130.00; NE Dept. of Revenue (501N - Nov.23) $343.00; NE Public Health Environ. Labs - $15.00; One-Call Concepts - $4.38; Milton Pike (Tel. Comp.) - $25.00; Security First Bank - (Pike/IRA) - $55.00; Temps Disposal Service (Mandatory) - $2,639.33; Milford Woutzke - (Tel. Comp.) - $5.00; Wymore, City of - (Tower) - $1,331.32; TOTAL CLAIMS: $14,067.79. PLANNING & ZONING - APPLICATION FOR BUILDING PERMITS (as submitted): No new applications. DEMOLITION PROJECT: Carothers has sent another round of letters. Authorization has been received for two demolition sites. No authorization has been received for two others . Rex Adams may be asked to make contact with individuals who have not given authorization. Asbestos testing is planned for January. Inspection by Bockman is a possibility for one property and eviction proceedings as may prove necessary. An individual has shown interest in limestone, with some cleanup included from a burn site. OPAT has demolition of a trailer added to their list. ARRANGEMENTS FOR CITY ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY - 300 W 2nd St, Lot 38, Jacob Casebeers Addition #006872000, Final/closing arrangements: Property Owner has signed authorization for payoff amount of liens (against the property) resulting from a judgment search, but amount(s) have not been verified. Closing date is anticipated to be next week, with same day check for final amount of all liens. CLEAN-UP/VEHICLES: No new information was provided. CITY ENGINEER (REPLACEMENT)/ CES ENGINEERING, (DECISION?): No decision. JEO ENGINEERING (SEDLACEK): Viv Novotny - Client Relations Manager and Terry Meier, Community Development Specialist presented the overview and answered questions. Areas covered were: 85 years experience, based in Nebraska - 8 offices/Lincoln, Also in Iowa, Kansas. Charge state allowed amount for engineering/street superintendent for streets, water, sewer, trails, aquatic, flooding.; serve over 100 municipalities. Knowledgeable in USDA Rural Development, CDBG situations and variables. SIDEWALKS, FURTHER DISCUSSION AS REQUIRED: Has been arranged. CRACK-SEALING SUB-CONTRACTING: Arrangements are in place for Employee Pike to meet with Jerry Hosfelt to discuss/arrange/plan/troubleshoot. ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS: which will include: COMMITTEES, PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL, SECONDARY COUNCIL PRESIDENT, TEMPORARY CLERK, CITY ATTORNEY & DEPUTY ATTORNEY, AUDITOR, AND EMPLOYEE WAGES AND BENEFITS: (Completed at 11/21/23 meeting: CITY STREET SUPERINTENDENT (for Projects) : motion (Riensche), second (Neumann), followed by reading and 4-0 affirmative voteto to approve Keith Gilmore - S697A -/License #5721 of Gilmore & Associates - Columbus, NE. (Jan 1 - Dec 31- 2023) per: (RESOLUTION 2023-3 (read by Clerk) AND approved BY a 4-0 AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, thereby approving/authorizing Mayoral signature for the Year-End Certification of City Street Superintendent. Other: APPOINTMENTS: COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP: Motion (Neumann ), second (Reedy ), 3-0 affirmative vote for the following designations to remain the same.: (Water System - Reedy/Neumann) (Sewer Lagoon - Sedlacek/Riensche) - (Streets and Alleys - Sedlacek/Neumann) - (City Parks and Properties - Reedy/Riensche) (Finance- Sedlacek/Neumann) (Keno - Reedy/Riensche) Included in the above motion ---which was: Motion (Neumann), second (Reedy) , 3-0 affirmative vote for approval of the following: PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL: Tim Sedlacek Included in the above motion -- which was Motion (Neumann ) , second (Reedy ) 3-0 affirmative vote for approval of the following: SECONDARY COUNCIL PRESIDENT - (Neumann) TEMPORARY CLERK (Carothers) CITY ATTORNEY (Carothers) DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY (Willet) CITY AUDITOR: (Brian Blobaum) CITY PHYSICIAN: (No designee) EMPLOYEE CONSIDERATIONS (with benefits as listed) Motion (Sedlacek ), second (Reedy) , followed by 3-0 affirmative vote to keep employee benefits (excluding payroll) the same, and as listed below, and to apply an 8% increase to payroll for Milton Pike, Milford Woutzke and Linda Hohensee, resulting in the following amounts: Milton Pike $27.09 hourly and continuance of $25.00 monthly telephone compensation, Milford Woutzke $17.28 hourly and to increase his monthly telephone compensation to $25.00 , Linda Hohensee $64.80 monthly, and Katherine Roche monthly salary was increased to $1,356. Benefits remain as listed below: MILTON PIKE - Continuance of current policy regarding insurance. Bi-monthly Retirement ($55.00) City Contribution Vacation: 4 wk. paid vacation, existing earned sick leave Comp time or OT Paid Holidays: (10) - New Years, Martin Luther King Jr., Presidents, Memorial, Independence, Labor, Columbus, Veterans, Thanksgiving, Christmas KATHERINE ROCHE Office Hours 7:30AM - 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 MILFORD WOUTZKE - Vacation - 3 wk. paid vacation., 96 hr. annual sick leave Paid Holidays: : (10) New Years, Martin Luther King Jr., Presidents, Memorial, Independence, Labor, Columbus, Veterans, Thanksgiving, Christmas OTHER To be established as needed. NEXT AGENDA: APPROVAL OF MINUTES APPROVAL OF CLAIMS PLANNING & ZONING - APPLICATION FOR BUILDING PERMITS (as submitted) DEMOLITION PROJECT ARRANGEMENTS FOR CITY ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY - 300 W 2nd St, Lot 38, Jacob Casebeers Addition #006872000, Final/closing arrangements. CLEAN-UP/VEHICLES CITY ENGINEER (REPLACEMENT)/ Options to date: CES , JEO CRACK-SEALING SUB-CONTRACTING There being no further business, a motion was made by Neumann at 7:55 PM to adjourn. The minutes of the Regular meeting were read and approved December 19 , 2023. Mayor: Lonnie D. Meyer (Hearing/Regular Session) City Clerk: Katherine A. Roche (Hearing/Regular Session)