06/02/2026 Regular Meeting
MINUTES-REGULAR MEETING
June 2, 2026
Council President Milton and City Council met in regular session on Tuesday June 2, 2026. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. The appointed method for giving advanced notice of the meeting was given by publication in The Sentinel. All proceedings shown were taken while the meeting was open to the attendance of the public.
Council President Milton presided and City Clerk/Treasurer Amie Underwood recorded the proceedings. The following Members were present: Kristen Milton, David Sladek, Phyllis Schwab, and Jeremy Collier, councilmembers; Trent Roesler, public works director. Mayor Judith Knoke was absent. A quorum being present, the meeting was duly convened.
Council President Milton led everyone in attendance in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Moved by Collier, seconded by Schwab to approve May 7, 2026, minutes.
Roll Call: Ayes: Collier, Milton, Sladek, Schwab.
Nays: None. Motion carried.
Moved by Sladek, seconded by Schwab to approve Treasurer’s report.
Roll Call: Ayes: Sladek, Collier, Milton, Schwab.
Nays: None. Motion carried.
Approval of Hospital Financial was tabled until July 7, 2026, as none was received.
Moved by Collier, seconded by Sladek to approve the claims.
Roll Call: Ayes: Collier, Schwab, Sladek, Milton.
Nays: None. Motion Carried.
Claims approved were May Net Payroll $22,940.41; General & Utilities - $890,005.15 as follows: Ameritas, retire -$1,654.20; Aqua-Chem Inc., su -$2,402.20; BOK Financial bond & int pymt -$168,690.00; Barco Municipal Products, su -$257.07; Beaver Hardware, su -$87.98; Bill Bruntz, reimb -$1,044.99; Black Hills Energy, se -$633.67; BCBS, ins -$16,896.90; Brothers Equip, su -$509.97; Bruning Law Group, se -$4,691.50; Cengage Group, su -$102.00; Center Point Large Print, su -$98.28; Jacob & Johnathan Clouse, rnt -$850.00; CRA, tax -$9,117.91; Country Compost LLC, se -$2,000.00; Crete Ace Hardware, su -$178.97; Culligan Water Service, su -$132.00; Depository Trust Corp, bond pymt -$3,593.75; EFTPS, p/r tax -$4,886.14; Eakes Office Solutions, su -$552.30; Exeter Milligan Friend Schools, fe -$370.00; Friend Fire Department, reimb -$35,000.00; Friend Community Health Care, se -$1,217.17; Farmer’s Union COOP, su -$849.97; Guardian Life, ins - $935.01; H & S Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, se -$275.00; Hampton Commercial Construction, fire hall bldg -$589,797.41; Heather Black, reimb -$177.82; Junior Library Guild, su -$1,282.00; MMC Consulting, se -$8,927.90; MacQueen Equip, su -$670.00; Mastiff LLC, se -$786.25; Midwest Laboratories Inc, se - $302.52; NDWEE Fiscal Svs, ln pymt - $6,595.45; NE Child Support, se -$46.16; NE Dept. of Revenue, sales tax -$2,372.45; NE Dept of Revenue SWH, p/r -$803.87; NE Public Health Environmental Lab, se -$30.00; Norris Public Power District, se -$6,125.00; Diane Odoski, reimb -$54.47; One Billing Solutions, LLC, se -$324.96; One Call Concepts, Inc., se -$18.78; Paynes Auto, se -$1,488.96; Postmaster, se -$660.97; Principal Mutual Life Ins. Co., dental ins -$368.03; Qwik 6, su -$1,323.81; Saline County Clerk, se -$159.00; SCI, se -$367.89; Summit Fire Protection, su -$384.99; Sweet Tea Marketing, su -$375.00; US Cellular, se -$313.57; Visa, su -$1467.76; Waste Connections, se -$6,079.83 and Windstream, se -$1,673.32.
Mayor Comments: President Milton commented about the 4th of July celebration, final changes are being made to the fliers. Celebration will be on July 2-5, 2026.
Public Comments: None.
Communications: None.
Moved by Collier seconded by Sladek to approve Subdivision of Lots 36-42, E Whitcomb’s First Addition to the City of Friend, Saline County, Nebraska for Mark & Gretta Stutzman.
Roll Call: Ayes: Schwab, Collier, Milton, Sladek.
Nays: None. Motion Carried.
Moved by Collier seconded by Schwab to approve Employee Health Insurance package with BCBS keeping it the same as before and adding voluntary vision Insurance being offered to employees at their expense.
Roll Call: Ayes: Schwab, Milton, Collier, Sladek.
Nays: None. Motion Carried.
Brent Milton spoke about the Public Safety Building Sprinkler Alarm System Agreement from Midwest Alarm Services. He is asking for approval of the agreement, Midwest Alarm Services will install the system, monitor the building, and provide annual inspections over a 3-year period.
Brent also spoke about the contract for the generator, which is a Kohler KG180 for the Public Safety Building provided by Electrical Engineering & Equipment Company. The generator was installed on 5/26/2026.
Moved by Sladek seconded by Collier to approve the contracts for the sprinkler system and generator for the Public Safety Building as presented.
Roll Call: Ayes: Milton, Collier, Sladek, Schwab.
Nays: None. Motion Carried.
Moved by Collier seconded by Sladek to approve getting the Fancy Porta Potty Rentals with the City of Friend and the Community Club splitting the cost.
Roll Call: Ayes: Sladek, Schwab, Milton, Collier.
Nays: None. Motion Carried.
Moved by Schwab seconded by Collier to approve American Legion SDL Permit for July 3, 2026.
Roll Call: Ayes: Schwab, Collier, Milton, Sladek.
Nays: None. Motion Carried.
Looking at Employee Pay for Budget is tabled until later when council goes to executive session to discuss employee pay.
Discussion on bids for remodel of City Hall, need to discuss more of a scope of what is needed, no action taken at this time.
Discussion of results of May 19, 2026, Health Board Meeting, 6th & State Street home – no update, no action at Health Board meeting. Collier recommends declaring property a nuisance and safety concern at next Health Board meeting on 6/8/2026. 503 Cherry St, Mary Jo Weber was here to report the progress or lack of progress. Collier recommended the Health Board steps in and helps Weber with her property; this will be on the agenda for the June 8 meeting. No action taken today.
Moved by Collier seconded by Schwab to accept bid for Pool Heater from Carrothers Construction Company, pending insurance bid/denial.
Roll Call: Ayes: Schwab, Milton, Sladek, Collier.
Nays: None. Motion Carried.
Discussion on Town Hall Meeting for Police, date has been set for July 20, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., at Community Center to discuss Saline County taking over Police Duties.
Ann Bruntz of the POND ANGELS came to present a plan to the city council that they want to develop and turn into a Native Perennial Garden Bed at the Friend City Pond. The city council thanked them for keeping the area beautiful and for all their hard work.
Moved by Collier seconded by Schwab to approve the native garden at the city pond.
Roll Call: Ayes: Sladek, Schwab, Milton, Collier.
Nays: None. Motion Carried.
Looking at Deputy Clerk Applications is tabled until executive session.
NDOT sent an email that City Clerk Amie Underwood read about the US HWY 6 project happening in 2032, now has a new Pedestrian and Bicycle Infrastructure Policy, which provides guidance to consider constructing sidewalks as part of applicable resurfacing and reconstruction projects in applicable urban areas and it appears Friend meets most of those factors. NDOT will pay for the cost of the construction of the sidewalks, local agencies will retain responsibility for the maintenance of these facilities within their corporate limits.
No Friend Community Healthcare Systems Report.
No Building Inspector Report.
Brent Milton, Fire Chief gave Fire report. No Action taken. Public Safety Building will be open during July 3-4 for people to come in and take a look.
No Rescue Squad Report.
No Police Report.
Kristine Milton gave the pool report for Heather Black. Swim Lessons start the week of June 8-12th and will have them again in July. A motion was made to have Free Swim on 4th of July from 1pm to 5pm by Sladek, seconded by Collier.
Roll Call: Ayes: Schwab, Sladek, Collier, Milton.
Nays: None. Motion Carried.
Trent Roesler, Public Works Supervisor, gave Public Works report. No action taken. Dump is fixed, they will be getting a new gate for the dump, and they are currently spraying for mosquitos.
Amie Underwood, City Clerk, gave Clerks report, handed out information on 1to1Technolgy asking the council to look at a new IT company many other cities use. Also asking if we can outsource payroll as it is becoming more difficult with all the rules pertaining to it. No action taken.
No Library Report.
Moved by Milton, seconded by Collier to invite Katie Spohn and Brent Milton to enter Executive Session for budget planning.
Roll Call: Ayes: Schwab, Milton, Collier, Sladek.
Nays: None. Motion Carried. Entered Executive Session at 8:11p.m.
Moved by Schwab seconded by Sladek to exit Executive Session.
Roll Call: Ayes: Milton, Collier, Sladek, Schwab.
Nays: None. Motion Carried. Exited Executive Session at 9:51p.m.
No further business to come before the City Council, moved by Milton seconded by Schwab to adjourn.
Roll Call: Ayes: Milton, Sladek, Collier, Schwab.
Nays: None. Meeting adjourned at 9:52 p.m.