Regular City Council Meeting                                                                                        June 5, 2007

City Council Chambers                                                                                                         7:00 p.m.

 

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

               Council members       Jeff Kennedy                                           City Attorney Mike Bacon

                                                Jim Aden                                                 Police Chief   Randy Olson   

                                                Roger Dudley

                City Administrator  Bruce Clymer

                City Clerk                Connie L. Dalrymple

 

Press:  Gothenburg Times - Beth Barrett                                  

 

Also present: Shane Gruber, Jack Moore, Joe Staroska of Weathercraft Roofing, Lynn McMichael

 

Mayor Hudson opened the meeting 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.

 

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

            City Council minutes – May 15

            Police Report - May

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

 

Dudley moved, Kennedy seconded, allowing payment of the claims against the City, except #1920, $93,377.64; Public Works Division $245,243.48; the May 17 payroll of $29,171.43 and the May 31 payroll of 32,790.96.  Roll call vote: Yea – Aden, Kennedy, Dudley.    Nay - none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Aden moved, Dudley seconded, allowing payment of claim #1920 to Kennedy Landscape Services.  Roll call vote: Yea - Dudley, Aden.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Open Forum

-         The Bond Attorney is preparing documents for the creation of the paving district for 22nd Street.

-         As of 5 a.m. today, E911 calls were routed to North Platte and then back to us for dispatching.  Thursday’s civil defense siren test will be set off from North Platte and by Friday all dispatching will be from North Platte.  Brady’s E911 service is already off ours.  So far the transition is smooth.  Chief Olson will meet with the firemen tomorrow to discuss the change and field questions and procedures.

-         Lynn McMichael wants to have her annual program at Lafayette Park.  She has made arrangements for electricity from the Boy Scouts storage at the depot and will include other local talent in her show.  Council had no objection to the program from 3 – 5 p.m. on July 3 and 4.

 

Dudley moved, Kennedy seconded, to advance Ordinance 816 establishing an administrative plat process, to third and final reading.  Roll call vote: Yea – Aden, Kennedy, Dudley.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Aden moved, Kennedy seconded, to advance Ordinance 817 that will rezone an area on 4th Street, to third and final reading.  Roll call vote: Yea – Dudley, Kennedy, Aden.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Joe Staroska of Weathercraft roofing reviewed a proposal and discussed options for the repair of city owned roofs damaged by hail.  Damage totaled $92,505.75.  He will work with the insurance company on any issues that may arise such as cost overruns.  Discussion was had on wood vs. asphalt shingles on some park buildings.  His company can also take are of interior repairs caused by leaking roofs.  If approved, repairs can begin next week or later if the City requests.  He anticipates 3 – 4 weeks work time to finish and is willing to do the pool and Pony Express Station after they close in the fall.  All work includes removal and disposal of existing shingles, site clean up, fascia and soffit installation where needed. Weathercraft is licensed, insured, and bonded.

 

Aden moved, Dudley seconded, to approve the roof repairs as proposed by Weathercraft Roofing.  Presidential TL Shingles will be installed on Lake Helen buildings, medium wood shingles on the restroom in Ehmen Park and heavy wood shingles on the Pony Express Station.  Roll call vote: Yea – Kennedy, Dudley, Aden.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

EMC Insurance conducted an audit of our playground equipment and recommends the merry-go-round and big slide in Lafayette Park and the animal swings in Ehmen and EG West Parks be replaced.  The surface areas under equipment should be cushioned. 

 

Administrator Clymer’s proposal is to install plastic fun timber and pea gravel under the equipment and move all play equipment in Ehmen Park to one area, keeping with the ‘old fashioned’ style of the park.   The Women’s Club is willing to donate funds for equipment replacement and there is some funding through the Tourism Committee.  The Peter Kiewit Foundation has a grant of 25% of the cost.  Applications are due by October 1.

 

The animal swings in Ehmen Park will be replaced and the slide and merry-go-round in Lafayette Park will be removed.  Cushioning will be added to all play areas.

 

Aden moved, Kennedy seconded, approving Mayor Hudson’s appointment of Cindy Soller to replace Kelly Trotter on the Housing Authority Board.  Roll call vote:  Dudley, Kennedy, Aden.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Dudley moved, Kennedy seconded, approval of a one-day license to sell beer, wine, and distilled spirits at the Firemen's Ball on July 21, 2007 and to block the street at the Fire Hall for the duration of the event, 1:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.  Roll call vote: Yea – Dudley, Aden, Kennedy.  Nay - none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Dudley moved, Aden seconded, approval of a one-day license to dispense beer, wine, and distilled spirits at a Business After Hours event sponsored by Pony Express Chevrolet on June 8, 2006 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 420 S Lake Avenue in Gothenburg.  Roll call vote: Yea –Dudley, Aden, Kennedy.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Aden moved, Kennedy seconded, allowing payment of $43,156.92 to the Redevelopment Authority for payment of interest on porject loans at the Gothenburg State Bank.  Roll call vote: Yea – Dudley, Kennedy, Aden.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Administrator Clymer submitted a survey to communities of similar size regarding park care and maintenance.  Gothenburg is the only community that contracts those services.  If the Park Dept was reestablished, some of the cost could be offset by the reduction in police department dispatch employees and park staff could be used in other departments during the off season.  Discussion was had on estimated cost, savings, and requirements.

 

Jack Moore, current park maintenance contractor, said that his fuel and related costs have increased 125% from three years ago.  When his contract expires on September 30 he will submit a bid at least 25% higher.

 

No action was taken and Council will revisit the issue at the June 19 meeting.

 

Kennedy moved, Dudley seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 8:29 p.m.  Roll call vote: Yea – Aden, Dudley, Kennedy.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.  The next regular meeting will be June 19 at 7:00 p.m.

 

 

 

___________________________________                               _________________________________

Joyce Hudson, Mayor                                                                                 Connie L. Dalrymple, City Clerk