Regular City Council Meeting                                                                                       April 17, 2007

City Council Chambers                                                                                                         7:00 p.m.

 

Present:  Mayor –                     Joyce Hudson                           Absent:  Council member Jeff Kennedy

               Council members       Jim Aden                                                         

                                                Roger Dudley

                                                Jeff Whiting

                City Administrator  Bruce Clymer

                City Clerk                Connie L. Dalrymple

                City Attorney          Mike Bacon

                Police Chief Randy Olson

 

Press:  Gothenburg Times - Beth Barrett                                  

 

Also present:  Including but not limited to Shane Gruber, Eppie Sisneros, CJ Poltack of West Central NE Development District, Deb Mayers, Robert Meyer, CPA, Keith Block, Don Abbott, Tim Miller, Anne Anderson, Angie Barkmeier, Sharyl Munster

 

Mayor Hudson opened the meeting and public hearings at 7:00 p.m.  Advance notice and a copy of the agenda were given to the Council and members of the press.  City Council meetings are conducted in accordance with the Open Meetings Act, a copy of which is available for public inspection on the north wall of the Council Chambers.

 

Deb Mayers has requested a special use permit for home occupation at 810 20th Street, Apt #33 to conduct an Internet sales business and receive orders for advertising on benches.  She has met the requirements of the Housing Authority and the Planning & Zoning Commission has recommended approval of the sales business.

 

Aden moved, Whiting seconded, to close the hearing at 7:03 p.m.  Roll call vote: Yea – Dudley, Whiting, Aden.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Kennedy.

 

Dudley moved, Aden seconded, to allow the special use permit for the internet sales business and soliciting orders for advertising benches.   Roll call vote: Yea – Whiting, Aden, Dudley.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Kennedy.  Placement of the benches downtown must be taken up with the Administrator and City Council and is not included in the special use permit approval. 

 

The public hearing regarding Senior Center renovation activities was taken up at 7:04 p.m.  CJ Poltack reported on the project:  $292,403 total project cost

                                           88,302 was local contribution

                                       $204,101  Community Development Block Grant  funds

 

There is $5597 remaining unpaid to vendors and is included in Drawdowns 14 and 15.  Records of the project must be kept for seven years after completion and additional three years for monitoring.

 

There was no public input or comment on the project or final documents and Whiting moved, Dudley seconded to close the hearing at 7:08 p.m.  Roll call vote: Yea – Aden, Dudley, Whiting.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Kennedy.

 

Dudley moved, Aden seconded, authorizing signature of Drawdowns 14 and 15 and approving all documents necessary to close the Senior Center project, including the Final Financial Report, Wage Compliance Report and Project Status Report.  Roll call vote: Yea – Whiting, Aden, Dudley.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Kennedy.

 

Aden  moved, Dudley seconded, to approve the consent agenda that included:

            City Council minutes – April 3 & 11

            Treasurer’s Report – March

            Planning & Zoning commission minutes - April 10

Roll call vote: Yea – Whiting, Dudley, Aden.  Nay - none.  Absent and not voting – Kennedy.

 

Dudley moved, Whiting seconded, allowing payment of the claims against the City, $33,463.79, except #1047; Public Works Division $207,597.82; and the April 5 payroll of $27,833.22.  Roll call vote: Yea – Aden, Whiting, Dudley.    Nay - none.  Absent and not voting – Kennedy.

 

Aden moved, Whiting seconded, allowing payment of claim #1047 to the Animal Hospital.  Roll call vote: Yea – Aden, Whiting.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Kennedy.

 

-         The Community Redevelopment Authority met April 13 and has provided 30 days notice of intent to enter into a redevelopment contract on the proposed Pamida store.  There will be a public hearing on May 15 to approve the plan.  May 4 is the tentative date for the groundbreaking with construction to begin the following week on a 33,000 square foot building.  The sale of the lot to Pamida on 4th Street will net $60,000 for the Sales Tax Fund.  Atty. Bacon recommends the money be used for the next bond payment on the infrastructure on 4th Street. The lot layout needs to be reviewed for accuracy and may be changed prior to that time.

-         There has been a request to hold a wedding in E G West Park on August 4.

-         RAE will meet with the GIC and City Council on Wednesday, April 25 at 3:00 p.m. for an information meeting on the ethanol plant.  Updated schedules will be available.

-         NPPD had proposed a 4% PCA to be added to utility bills but has reduced it to 2.6% of each bill.  It is a pass-through cost that is allowed in our rate ordinance.  It will be on the next billing.

-         The loader motor requires repairs anticipated at $16,000.

-         The Employee Relations Committee has put together a Relay For Life team and is soliciting team members.  Sandy Smith is the Chairman.

-         Deb Jensen of DAD has set a meeting for May 3 looking for landscape type ideas for a Transportation Enhancement Grant.  The northeast corner of Hiways #30 and #47 is a possibility.

 

Dudley moved, Whiting seconded, to pass and approve Resolution 2007-6 regarding LB564, the Recreational Liability Act.  Roll call vote: Yea – Aden, Whiting, Dudley.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Kennedy.

 

Nebraska Plastics submitted the only bid received for fencing along the south side of the cemetery:

 

Option A:  3-Rail PVC Fencing

            1 ½” by 5 ½ “ rail - $7.57 / foot.  Approximately 1200 feet is $9084

            2” by 6” rail - $8.66 / foot.  Approximately 1200 feet is $10,392

 

Option B:  Aluminum Victorian Spear Fencing

            Residential Grade Spear - $2.38 / foot.  Approximately 1200 feet is $31,656.

            Commercial Grade Spear is $31,19 / foot.  Approximately 1200 feet is $34,428.

 

The PVC fencing carries a 25-year warranty.  It will discolor if chemicals or water with high iron content come in contact with it.  It is also not guaranteed against acts of nature.  Posts will be set in concrete.  Construction can be complete by the end of June.

 

Aden moved, Dudley seconded, to approve the Cemetery Board recommendation for the two-inch fencing along the south side of the cemetery.  Roll call vote: Yea – Whiting, Dudley, Aden.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Kennedy.

 

The Cemetery Board is considering a donation program to complete fencing around the entire perimeter of the cemetery within 4 years.  They will also look into gates and make recommendation to the Council.

 

The bid includes the provision that the City removes the existing fence and concrete bases and do the grade work necessary for new installation. 

 

No bids were received for repair of the tree damaged Ehmen Park restrooms.  Ed Pelzer had provided a cost estimate for insurance purposes and Administrator Clymer was authorized to negotiate with Pelzer for the roof repairs and replacement of three doors and proceed with the approval of Mayor Hudson.

 

Two bids were received to paint the Ehmen park restrooms and shelters:

            Jill Jorgenson                $3289.00

            Tim Peterson                $1250.00

 

Dudley moved, Whiting seconded, to accept the Peterson bid for painting in Ehmen Park.  Roll call vote: Yea – Aden, Whiting, Dudley.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Kennedy.

 

Aden moved, Dudley seconded, to pass and approve Resolution 2007-7 regarding participation in the Nebraska Community Improvement Program.  Roll call vote: Yea – Whiting, Dudley, Aden.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Kennedy.

 

According to Anne Anderson the school has agreed to allow the Relay for Life event at the school in the case of weather issues and definitely for 2008.  She asked that the park shelters be painted prior to the July 28 event in Lake Helen and more electricity will be required.

 

The Tourism Committee would like to have round steel welcome ‘banners’ with the Pony Express rider placed on the power powers along Highway 47 from I-80.  If the State approves them, Tim Schmeeckle will make the banners for $50 each and the Tourism Committee will pay for them.  Council had no objection and will work with the sign committee.  Administrator Clymer will talk to Tim Peterson about painting the Lake Helen shelters in conjunction with his Ehmen Park work.

 

Robert Meyer reported to the Council that he has completed the 2005-06 audits and submitted an unqualified report.  The City accounts are in good shape with a slight increase in net assets over last year.  All debt payments are current and could be bought down.  All TIF receipts were on par at year-end.  One company has since filed bankruptcy but it’s anticipated the TIF will be paid.  All funds were within budget resulting in $310,000 revenue over expenditure. 

 

Council accepted the audit as presented.

 

Dudley moved, Whiting seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 7:52 p.m.  Roll call vote: Yea – Aden, Whiting, Dudley.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Kennedy.  The next regular meeting will be May 1 at 7:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

___________________________________                               _________________________________

Joyce Hudson, Mayor                                                                                 Connie L. Dalrymple, City Clerk