Tuesday, December 17, 2024

December 17, 2024 The Regular Meeting of Mayor and Council of Blue Springs, Nebraska, was held starting at 7 PM, December 17, 2024, at the Blue Springs City Hall. Mayor Sedlacek called the meeting to order, and roll call was taken. PRESENT: Mayor Sedlacek, Council members Neumann, Reedy, Riensche ABSENT: OTHERS PRESENT: Employee Milton Pike, Attorney Andrew Carothers, Rex Adams, Jared Epp, Gene Reedy Sr. 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 (Riensche) , second (Neumann), 3-0 affirmative vote to approve the minutes of the December 3, 2024 Regular meeting of Mayor and Council. Motion (Neumann), second (Riensche), 3-0 affirmative vote to approve claims as follow: Bank Direct - NE Dept. of Revenue - Sales Tax - $101.00; Security First Bank - Automatic- (Safe Deposit Box ) - $35.00; Payroll: $3,019.15; black Hills Energy - $28.30; Fairbury Journal-News - $44.37; Farmers Cooperative - $17.75; Lauby Plumbing - $19.47; Municipal Supply - $153.49; NE Dept. of Revenue - Charitable Gaming (51C Penalty) - $42.95; Norris Public Power - $1,008.72; One-Call Concepts - $1.98; Postmaster - $258.00 - Security First Bank - (Pike/IRA) - $55.00; Visa - $950.31; Windstream - $102.83; City of Wymore (Tower) - $1,216.49 - Wymore Super Foods - $205.99; TOTAL CLAIMS: $7,260.80 & FROM CDBG account -- SENDD - (DD#6) - $3,094.00 (Admin/Housing/LBP & Henning Carpentry (Housing Rehab.)- $46,599.00 = Total: $49,693.00. . DECLARE VACANCY ON COUNCIL/ SEDLACEK TO BRING FORWARD CANDIDATE’S NAME: Mayor Sedlacek declared a council vacancy, and advised that, despite many contacts being made, a candidate has not yet been determined. A notice of vacancy will be posted directly. OATH OF OFFICE/COUNCIL MEMBER (IF APPLIES): Non-applicable at this time. JOHNSON SERVICE COMPANY (ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS NECESSARY): No new information. PLANNING & ZONING: APPLICATIONS FOR BUILDING PERMITS AS SUBMITTED: No new applications. DEMOLITION PROJECT: One house/garage has been demolished (controlled burn). Ashes will not be removed for 45 days. Epp will make his excavator available (3 hrs. minimum time, $200 per hr.) for the project. Pike will get metal out. Reedy offered his trailer to assist with the project. Carothers will call NRD for potential determination of sources for the demolition (limestone- bank stabilization) materials. Another controlled burn is planned for January, and another when all signatures are obtained - potentially for February or March. CLEAN-UP/VEHICLES: Court hearings scheduled for 2nd Tuesday in January. Carothers will draft a letter for a trailer that needs to be removed. County Court order to follow for occupied trailer on 1st Street. CITY PARK GRANT APPLICATION RESULTS (IF AVAILABLE): No new information. PROBLEMATIC WATER LINE EVALUATION BY PIKE: Pike to evaluate line for rust. CATTLEMEN’S BALL//WELCOME: Adams suggested possibility of lighting (blue lights) the Blue Springs bridge. Electrical connection variables were discussed. Reedy suggested a “Welcome to Blue Springs” banner across the street between poles (Radar will contact Priority Printing, also ask Langdale for pricing) for a banner and possibly a 4x8 sign at the site of the Blue Springs sign. Flags will be replaced as is determined necessary. CABIN TREES/REPLACEMENT: (Gene Reedy Sr.): Members expressed no opposition to Gene Reedy Sr.’s plan to replant trees where they had been before (bigger trees), but it was decided that Radar Reedy would contact the grant facilitator (Cole) to determine what plans were already in place within the grant program. OTHER: Sedlacek asked if equipment was working OK. No problems were reported. NEXT AGENDA: APPROVALA OF MINUTES APPROVAL OF CLAIMS SEDLACEK TO BRING FORWARD CANDIDATE’S NAME OATH OF OFFICE/COUNCIL MEMBER PLANNING & ZONING: APPLICATIONS FOR BUILDING PERMITS AS SUBMITTED DEMOLITION PROJECT CLEAN-UP/VEHICLES CITY PARK GRANT APPLICATION RESULTS (IF AVAILABLE) PROBLEMATIC WATER LINE EVALUATED FOR RUST BY PIKE CATTLEMENS’ BALL/WELCOME/ BANNER ACROSS STREET, 4x8 SIGN AT CITY STONE SIGN PAPA B’S EASEMENT (WITULSKI’S NARRATIVE)/ORD # 478 There being no further business, a motion was made by Neumann at 7:25 PM to adjourn. The minutes of the Regular meeting were read and approved January 7 , 2025. Mayor: Tim Sedlacek (Hearing/Regular Session) City Clerk: Katherine A. Roche (Hearing/Regular Session)

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

December 3, 2024 The Regular Meeting of Mayor and Council of Blue Springs, Nebraska, was held starting at 7 PM, December 3, 2024, at the Blue Springs City Hall. Mayor (Previous: Council President) Sedlacek called the meeting to order, and roll call was taken. PRESENT: Mayor (Previous: Council President), Sedlacek, Council members Neumann, Reedy, Riensche ABSENT: OTHERS PRESENT: Employee Milton Pike, Attorney Andrew Carothers, Rex Adams 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 (Riensche), 3-0 affirmative vote to approve the minutes of the November 19, 2024 Regular meeting of Mayor and Council. Motion (Riensche), second (Neumann ), 3-0 affirmative vote to approve claims as follow: Bank Direct - Internal Revenue Service - (941) - $2,456.67; Payroll $7,522.76; Fairbury Journal News - $98.13; NE Dept. of Revenue (501N) - $363.00; Milton Pike -(Tel. Comp.) - $25.00; Milton Pike - (Postage Reimb. - Water Sample) - $31.55; Security First Bank (Pike/IRA) - $55.00; Temps Disposal Service (Mandatory) - $2,482.00; Milford Woutzke - (Tel. Comp.) - $25.00; TOTAL CLAIMS: $13,059.11. OATH(S) OF OFFICE:NEUMANN/SEDLACEK: Attorney Carothers administered the Oath(s) of office. COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP: Motion (Reedy), second (Riensche ) , 3-0 affirmative vote for the following designations: (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) Motion (Neumann), second (Riensche) , 3-0 affirmative vote for: PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL: Gene (Radar) Reedy Motion (Riensche) , second ( Reedy) , 3-0 affirmative vote for approval of the following: SECONDARY COUNCIL PRESIDENT - Neumann Motion (Riensche), second (Neumann) 3-0 affirmative vote for the following designations: 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 (Riensche), second (Reedy) , followed by 3-0 affirmative vote to keep all employee benefits (excluding payroll) the same, and as listed below. Motion (Reedy) , second (Neumann), followed by 3-0 affirmative vote for 4% increase across the board for the following totals: Milton Pike - Rate - $28.18 hourly wage. Continuance of current policy regarding insurance. Bi-monthly Retirement ($55.00) City Contribution Vacation: 4 wk. paid vacation Comp time or OT $25.00 monthly telephone allowance. Paid Holidays: (10) - New Years, Martin Luther King Jr., Presidents, Memorial, Independence, Labor, Columbus, Veterans, Thanksgiving, Christmas Katherine Roche City Clerk - Rate is $ 1,410.24 monthly 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: Rate is $17.98 hourly Vacation - 3 wk. paid vacation., 96 hr. annual sick leave $25.00 monthly telephone allowance Paid Holidays: : (10) New Years, Martin Luther King Jr., Presidents, Memorial, Independence, Labor, Columbus, Veterans, Thanksgiving, Christmas Linda Hohensee - Rate is $67.40 monthly OTHER To be established as needed. JOHNSON SERVICE COMPANY 2025 CIPP QUOTE/ (utilizing existing AARP Funds): Members discussed the Johnson Service Company (sewer lining) estimate #1055484802 (11/13/24) which included - Mobilization (LS) - Based on coming from Burchard project. $5,000 Mob will apply if timing of work is not flexible to our schedule: Install 6” CIPP (per LF) MH#s 4 to 5, 7 service reinstates, Install 6” CIPP (Per LF) MH#s 1 to 2,4 service reinstates, Install 6”CIPP (per LF) MH#s 6 to 7, 8 service reinstates, Install 6” CIPP (Per LF) MH#s 3 to 4, 7 service reinstates, Install 6” CIPP (per LF) 2 to 3,7 service reinstates, Install 6: Cipp (Per LF) MH#s 8 to 9,3 service reinstates, Install 6” CIPP (per LF) MH#s 5 to 6,5 service reinstates; Install 6” CIPP (per LF) MH#s 7 to 8, 7 service reinstates - repair work must be performed by the city prior to liners being ordered, with Service Reinstatement (per each)-- Resulting in an estimate total of $120,368. A motion by Reedy, second by Neumann, and a 3-0 affirmative vote approved Johnson Service Company to activate 7 of the 8 options based on their needs assessment and input by Employee Milton Pike, and which will exceed the $56,459.09 , (bringing the total project to over $80,00) received under the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program under the American Rescue Plan Act, thereby obligating that $56,459.09 funds prior to the December 31st, 2024 deadline to the Johnson Service Company project. PLANNING & ZONING - APPLICATION FOR BUILDING PERMITS (as submitted): No new applications. DEMOLITION PROJECT: New dates (replacing those postponed due to drought conditions) were scheduled for “controlled burn)“of one property -- December 14, alternate December 21. If possible without causing destruction to house, the garage will be pushed up to the house for a single burn situation. Another property was pushed back a month. Carothers was authorized by members to send a letter to other property owners including notification of indicating “court order” might be a course of action if they do not provide necessary signatures for the burn/demolition project to move forward. Another property has been pushed back to a February “controlled burn” scheduling. CLEAN-UP/VEHICLES: Court dates are set for three situations. PAPA B’S (BORGMAN) VACATING A PORTION OF THE ALLEY, EASEMENT/ORDINANCE #478: Chris Witulski is refining the narrative for a “utility” easement (sewer/power lines) on property he previously marked. When all is in place, signed copies of the easement will forward consideration for approval of Ordinance # 478 CITY PARK RESTROOM/APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS: Jarod McKeever has completed a Morris Foundation grant application ($70,000) on behalf of the City to be used with the $28,579 funds already committed to the project (Wymore/Blue Springs Area Fund). PROBLEMATIC WATER SERVICE LINE PLANS; Since the entire project is cost prohibitive at this time, members have asked Employee Pike to “evaluate the situation at the very end of the line.” There is no current indication that a “rust” situation is problematic throughout the line, but appears to be an isolated situation which might be addressed within a more minimal repair plan. Other: Adams asked for considerations for a welcoming effort (perhaps banners) for the Cattlemen’s’ Ball in June of ‘25. NEXT AGENDA: APPROVALA OF MINUTES APPROVAL OF CLAIMS DECLARE VACANCY ON COUNCIL/ SEDLACEK TO BRING FORWARD CANDIDATE’S NAME OATH OF OFFICE/COUNCIL MEMBER (IF APPLIES): JOHNSON SERVICE COMPANY (ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS NECESSARY) PLANNING & ZONING: APPLICATIONS FOR BUILDING PERMITS AS SUBMITTED DEMOLITION PROJECT CLEAN-UP/VEHICLES CITY PARK GRANT APPLICATION RESULTS (IF AVAILABLE) PROBLEMATIC WATER LINE EVALUATION BY PIKE 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 17, 2024. Mayor: Tim Sedlacek (Hearing/Regular Session City Clerk:Katherine A. Roche (Hearing/Regular Session)