07/07/2026 Regular Meeting
MINUTES-REGULAR MEETING
July 7, 2026
Mayor Judith Knoke and City Council met in regular session on Tuesday July 7, 2026. The meeting was called to order at 7:01 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.
Mayor Judith Knoke 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. A quorum being present, the meeting was duly convened.
Mayor Knoke led everyone in attendance in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Moved by Collier, seconded by Schwab to approve the June 2, 2026, regular meeting minutes and the June 30, 2026, special meeting minutes.
Roll Call: Ayes: Collier, Milton, Sladek, Schwab.
Nays: None. Motion carried.
Moved by Milton, seconded by Sladek to approve the June 30, 2026, Treasurer’s report.
Roll Call: Ayes: Sladek, Collier, Milton, Schwab.
Nays: None. Motion carried.
Approval of the Hospital Financials was tabled until August 4, 2026, as none was received.
Moved by Schwab, seconded by Collier to get the April, May and June hospital financials for the city council meeting on August 4, 2026.
Roll Call: Ayes: Milton, Sladek, Schwab, Collier.
Nays: None. Motion carried.
Moved by Collier, seconded by Sladek to approve the claims.
Roll Call: Ayes: Collier, Schwab, Sladek, Milton.
Nays: None. Motion Carried.
Claims approved were June Net Payroll $34,116.57; General & Utilities - $118,827.92 as follows: 34 Electric, se -$767.55; Ameritas, retire -$1,739.05; Aqua-Chem, su -$9,127.15; Architectural Design Assoc, se -$2,400.00; Kevin Barnard, reimb -$12.36; Beaver Hardware, su -$80.75; BelCon Refuse Service (city wide cleanup days), se -$893.89; Birds & Blooms, su -$13.95; Black Hills Energy, util -$2,639.40; Brothers Equip, su -$45.19; Bruning Law Group, se -$5,350.50; Cengage Group, su -$102.00; Center Point Large Print, su -$98.28; Jacob & Johnathan Clouse, rnt -$850.00; Consumer Reports, su -$41.93; Core & Main, se -$5,857.04; Corporate Warehouse Supply, su -$1,119.75; Country Compost, se -$2,000.00; Crete Ace Hardware, su -$34.99; Culligan Water Service, su -$4,871.60; Danko Emergency Equip, su-$390.00; EFTPS, p/r tax -$7,893.01; Eakes Office Solutions, su -$732.75; EMS Connect, se -$214.50; Farmer’s Union COOP, su -$1,083.78; Feld Fire & Security, su -$85.00; Heartland Sales & Pest Control, se -$85.00; Hometown Leasing, se -$269.00; Johnson Pharmacy, su -$28.45; Lichti’s, se -$504.70; MMC Consulting, se -$11,520.10; MacQueen Equip, su -$1,548.73; Mastiff, se -$1,011.25; Chris Michl, se -$438.90; Midwest Labs, se - $315.90; Miller & Assoc., se -$11,625.00; Mussman Excavating, se -$4,830.00; NE Child Support, se -$46.16; NE Dept. of Rev., sales tax -$836.75; NE Dept of Rev., SWH, p/r -$1,026.69; NE Public Health Environmental Lab, se -$30.00; NE Statewide EMS Conference, se -$200.00; NMC Exchange, se -$1,921.83; Nebraska Life Magazine, su -$30.00; Nick’s Farm Store, su -$153.52; Norris PPD, se -$6,315.00; Diane Odoski, reimb -$230.63; One Billing Solutions, se -$83.88; One Call Concepts, se -$23.70; Paper Tiger Shredding, se -$75.00; Pepsi Cola, su -$385.88; Postmaster, se -$308.66; Qwik 6, su -$2,096.14; RL Tiemann Const, su -$1,486.75; Reader’s Digest, su -$10.00; Saline County Clerk, se -$159.00; Sargent Drilling, se -$1,505.00; Ruth Schrunk, reimb -$117.32; SCI, se -$182.90; SE NE Development Dist., du -$1,861.00; Southern Living, su -$23.00; Southern Seven Clerk’s Assoc, du -$10.00; Aliscia Stutzman, reimb -$330.56; Stutzman Digging & Excavating, se -$8,965.00; Summit Fire Protection, su -$1,242.50; The Friend Sentinal, su -$55.00; US Cellular, se -$264.30; Amie Underwood, reimb -$86.39; Visa, su -$3,764.90; Vyhnalek Ins Agcy, ins -$1,802.64; Waste Connections, se -$800.00; Doug Welch, reimb -$81.94; Windstream, util -$1,692.07; and Young’s Welding, se -$2.36.
Mayor Comments: Mayor Knoke commented about the 4th of July celebration and how outstanding it was to see the community of Friend come together to celebrate.
Public Comments: Mr. Jerald Sauer stated if city grants permission to Norris Public Power they will install a light pole at 113 Spring St, Friend, NE.
Communications: None.
Discussion regarding nuisance property located at 503 S Cherry St, Friend, NE.
Moved by Milton, seconded by Collier to give the owner seven days to present an itemized bid to the city for remediation of the property located at 503 S Cherry St, according to the requirements listed in the letter from the city code enforcement officer.
Roll Call: Ayes: Schwab, Collier, Milton, Sladek.
Nays: None. Motion Carried.
Rex Roberts with Kinetic/Windstream was present regarding the permit request for fiber internet at 514 S Chestnut St. Moved by Schwab, seconded by Milton to approve the permit for Kinetic/Windstream to install the fiber internet.
Roll Call: Ayes: Schwab, Milton, Collier, Sladek.
Nays: None. Motion Carried.
Mayor Knoke read Resolution 26-04 to abate the nuisance at 302 Second St, Friend, NE.
Moved by Milton, seconded by Schwab to approve Resolution 26-04 to abate the nuisance located at 302 Second St and to post a notice in newspaper for 10 days accepting bids for items stated in nuisance letter.
Roll Call: Ayes: Milton, Collier, Sladek, Schwab.
Nays: None. Motion Carried.
Resolution 26-04
BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Friend, Nebraska:
WHEREAS, Mario Tobar was given notice of the City of Friend Board of Health’s finding declaration of a public nuisance on the property located at 302 Second Street, Friend, Nebraska on or about October 8, 2025 and ordered to be condemned on or about June 22, 2026;
WHEREAS, the Board of Health ordered the nuisance to be abated on or before October 14, 2025, and ordered to be condemned on or about June 22, 2026;
WHEREAS, Mario Tobar was given notice of said public nuisance finding required by law;
WHEREAS, after consideration of all the evidence received, the City Council finds that the condition of said property is a public nuisance and due to the overall condition of the property, said nuisance should be remedied.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Friend, Nebraska as follows:
- That Mario Tobar is ordered and directed to remedy the public nuisance at once on the property described above;
- Upon failure to comply by July 17, 2026, the above party may be subject to a fine not exceeding $500 for every day the nuisance is not abated pursuant to Section 98.99;
- Upon failure of the above parties to comply with this order by July 17, 2026, the City shall proceed to cause the abatement of the described public nuisance;
- Costs and expenses of abatement shall be paid by the owner and, if unpaid for 30 days after such work is completed, the City Council shall proceed with levy and assessment of the costs and expenses to the real estate
Moved by Milton, seconded by Sladek to sign the acceptance letter from AMGL for Budget Preparation for fiscal year ending September 30, 2027.
Roll Call: Ayes: Schwab, Collier, Milton, Sladek.
Nays: None. Motion Carried.
Moved by Milton, seconded by Sladek to add Cassie Pohl to all bank accounts.
Roll Call: Ayes: Collier, Milton, Schwab, Sladek.
Nays: None. Motion Carried.
Moved by Sladek, seconded by Collier to remove Heather Varney from all bank accounts.
Roll Call: Ayes: Schwab, Milton, Sladek, Collier.
Nays: None. Motion Carried.
Moved by Milton, seconded by Collier to accept Resolution 26-05 to add Cassie Pohl as an authorized signer on the Credit Card.
Roll Call: Ayes: Milton, Collier, Schwab, Sladek
Nays: None. Motion Carried.
No Friend Community Healthcare Systems Report.
No Building Inspector Report.
Brent Milton, Fire Chief, reported they have received the Certificate of Substantial Completion for the Public Safety Building and will hand the keys over to the city for the old Fire Building. No action taken.
Ray Rohrig, Asst Rescue Chief reported that Andrew’s Cemetery rejected the offer of the Ambulance Building. It was discussed who else may be interested in the building. Further action will be discussed at the August Council meeting. No action taken.
No Police Report.
Heather Black gave the pool report. The state inspection was completed on 6/30/2026. No action taken.
No Public Works Report.
Discussion was held regarding purchasing a refrigerator for the city office.
Moved by Sladek, seconded by Schwab to approve a budget of $700.00 to purchase a refrigerator for the kitchen at City Hall.
Roll Call: Ayes: Sladek, Schwab, Milton, Collier.
Nays: None. Motion Carried.
No Library Report.
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 8:06 p.m.