Regular City Council Meeting                                                                                        May 20, 2008

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, Chase Dachtler, Tyler Buesing, Mike Houchin

 

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 6

            Treasurer’s report - April

            Cemetery board minutes – May 5

            Library Director’s report – March - 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 #1047, $67,441.40; Public Works Division $222,869.20; and the May 15 payroll of $30,627.41.  Roll call vote: Yea - Aden, Kennedy, Dudley.    Nay - none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

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

 

Open Forum:

- Chase Dachtler and Tyler Buesing asked Council to consider a skate board park.  They suggested the basketball court north of the swimming pool as a possible location.  There are several skaters in town and they usually go to Lexington to use their park.  Lexington has two half-pipes, rails, a fun box, and stairs.  The boys are willing to assist with fund raisers toward the cost. 

 

Council had no plans to install such a park and will check with other communities as to how their parks work or why they were discontinued if they were, and the liability impact on the City.  The boys will gather more information for the Council such as space requirements, pictures of equipment and any other pertinent information.

 

- We received two bids for old wire, one from Lonnie Warner and the other from Mike Houchin.   Warner had the high bid of $1.80 / pound for insulated copper and $.60 / pound for scrap aluminum.

 

The administration and members of the Employee Relations Committee met with agent Dan Yancy regarding the June 1 renewal of the employee health insurance.  The company is projecting a 43.9% increase based on the size of our group (27), the recent large claims history, and the low balance in the side fund.  Discussion was had on various options that included increasing deductibles, reducing funding to the side fund, and raising co-pays.

 

Dudley moved, Aden seconded, to renew the employee modified self-funded health insurance policy June 1 with Corporate Plan Management.  The deductible will be $500 single / $1000 family and co-pay 80 / 20 in network.  Roll call vote: Yea – Kennedy, Aden, Dudley.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Dudley moved, Kennedy seconded, to under fund the health insurance side fund by 25%.  Roll call vote: Yea – Aden, Kennedy, Dudley.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

The issue of trash rates was first discussed at the May 6 meeting and since that time fuel costs have risen another 50 cents.  Dudley moved, Kennedy seconded, to introduce Ordinance 834 increasing trash rates $1.00 per month.  Roll call vote: Yea – Aden, Kennedy, Dudley.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Dudley moved, Aden seconded, to advance Ordinance 832 creating Paving District 101, 22nd Street, Avenue G – H, to third and final reading.  Roll call vote: Yea – Kennedy, Aden, Dudley.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Aden moved, Kennedy seconded, to advance Ordinance 833 creating Paving District 102, 23rd Street, Avenue G – H, to third and final reading.   Roll call vote: Yea – Dudley, Kennedy, Aden.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

The establishment of a hiking / biking trail is estimated to cost $519,240 - $625,356.  We can apply for a grant for up to 80% of the project cost.  Kennedy moved, Aden seconded, to submit our intent to apply to the Nebraska Department of Roads for a Transportation Enhancement Grant of $500,000 to establish a hiking / biking trail from Lake Helen area to the southeast neighborhood of Wild horse Golf Course.  Roll call vote:  Yea – Dudley, Aden, Kennedy.  Nay- none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Aden moved, Kennedy seconded, to allow a grant of $16,000 sales tax funds to Gothenburg Improvement Co for interest on their loan that purchased the RAE industrial site.  Roll call vote: Yea – Dudley, Kennedy, Aden.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

The bonds for the 2001 downtown sidewalk improvements can be refunded and reissued at a lower interest rate, saving approximately $33,000. 

 

Council member Dudley introduced ordinance 835 entitled:

 

An ordinance authorizing the issuance of general obligation refunding bonds of the City of Gothenburg, Nebraska, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $700,000; prescribing the form and details of such bonds; providing for the levy and collection of an annual tax for the purpose of paying the principal of and interest on such bonds as they become due; and authorizing certain other documents and actions in connection therewith

 

and moved that the statutory rule requiring ordinance to be read by title on three different days be suspended.  The motion was seconded by Council member Aden and on roll call vote, the following Council Members voted “Yea”: Kennedy, Aden, Dudley.  “Nay” – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

The motion to suspend the reading was agreed upon by three-fourths of all Council Members, the rule was suspended for consideration of Ordinance 835 which was the read by title whereupon Council Member Dudley moved that the ordinance be passed and adopted.  Council member Kennedy seconded the motion and on roll call vote, the following voted “Yea”: Aden, Kennedy, Dudley.  “Nay”: none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting. 

 

Mayor Hudson declared Ordinance 835 adopted and signed it in the presence of the Council and the Clerk attested the signature.

 

Dudley moved, Kennedy seconded, allowing payment to Miller & Associates of $8,446.21 Associates for Jefferson Street construction observation, and $17,300 for Jefferson Street design.  Roll call vote: Yea – Aden, Kennedy, Dudley.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.

 

Aden moved, Dudley seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 p.m.  Roll call vote:  Yea – Kennedy, Aden, Dudley.  Nay – none.  Absent and not voting – Whiting.  The next regular meeting will be June 3, 2008 at 7:00 pm.

 

 

 

 

___________________________________                               _________________________________

Joyce Hudson, Mayor                                                                   Connie L. Dalrymple, City Clerk