02/04/2025 Regular Meeting
MINUTES-REGULAR MEETING
February 4, 2025
Mayor Knoke called the regular meeting of the City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. at the City Hall. Advanced notice of the meeting was given by publication in The Sentinel, the appointed method for giving advanced notice. All proceedings shown were taken while the meeting was open to the attendance of the public.
Mayor Judith Knoke presided, and Deputy City Clerk Heather L. Varney recorded the proceedings. The following Councilmembers were present: Kristen Milton, David Sladek, Phyllis Schwab & Jeremy Collier. Absent none. A quorum being present, and the meeting duly convened, the following proceedings were had and done.
Mayor Knoke led the meeting in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion by Sladek, seconded by Schwab to approve the minutes from the January 7, 2025 Regular meeting. On roll call voting aye Collier, Schwab, Sladek, and Milton. Nays none.
Motion by Sladek, seconded by Milton to approve the minutes from the January 28, 2025 Special Meeting. On roll call voting aye Schwab, Sladek, Collier, and Milton. Nays none.
Motion by Collier, seconded by Sladek to approve the January Treasurer report. On roll call voting aye Milton, Sladek, Schwab, and Collier. Nays none.
Motion by Milton, seconded by Sladek to approve the claims and payroll, except payment to Nebraska Sign. On roll call voting aye Schwab, Collier, Sladek, and Milton. Nays none.
The claims approved were as follows: January Payroll, 21213.86; Ameritas, 2398.53; EFTPS, 6368.43; NE Dept of Rev SWH, 1117.22; Architectural Design Assoc, se 17895.00; Aqua-Chem Inc., su 6165.86; Baker & Taylor Books, su 108.47; Barco Municipal Products, su 1587.97; Beatrice Concrete Co., Inc., se 894.66; Birds & Blooms, su 11.00; ; Black Hills Energy, se 3255.06; Blue Cross Blue Shield, fe 3059.25; Blue360 Media, LLC, su 296.08; Bound Tree Medical LLC, su 178.74; CLIA Laboratory Program, se 248.00; Center Point Large Print, su 191.76; City of Friend, se 370.00; Jacob & Johnathan Clouse, fe 1700.00; Community Redevelopment Authority, fe 14167.99; Country Compost LLC, fe 4000.00; Crete veterinary Clinic, se 154.00; Culligan Water Service, se 179.75; Depository Trust Corp. fe 5715.00; Drake Refrigeration, se 263.18; Eakes Office Solutions, su 343.53; Farmer’s Union Cooperative Co., su 360.40; Food Network magazine, su 19.97; Friend Country Club, se 1275.00; Gale, su 292.38; Generations Insurance Group, se 45.00; HGTV Magazine & Food Network Magazine, su 19.97; Holiday Inn of Kearney, fe 124.95; Hometown Leasing, fe 191.22; IIMC, fe 235.00; MMC Consulting, se 2775.00; MacQueen Equipment, su 195.91; Mastiff Systems, se 397.50; Matt Friend Truck Equipment, su 129.00; Chris Michl, se 436.80; Midwest Laboratories Inc, se 697.69; Midwest Living Magazine, su 7.00; Mutual of Omaha, fe 220.26; NE Public Health Environmental Lab, fe 55.00; ; NE Rural Water Assoc, fe 445.00; NEMSA, fe 520.00 NE Dept. of Environment and Energy, su 280.00; Norris Public Power District, fe 8836.00; Diane Odoski, re 150.44; One Billing Solutions, LLC, se 48.00; One Call Concepts, Inc. se 4.92; ; Postmaster, se 283.36; Principal Mutual Life Ins. Co., fe 47.88; Qwik 6, su 1494.19; Reader’s Digest, su 13.92; Reminisce Books, su 42.78; Rico’s Mexican Restaurant, su 450.00; Sargent Drilling, se 1687.00; Schindler Elevator Corporation, se 198.12; Seward County Independent, fe 497.24; Southeast Nebraska Development Dist., fe 6446.82;Stutzman Digging & Excavating LLC, se 8276.00; Time Magazine, su 15.00; Taste of the South, su 49.98; US Cellular, se 507.80; USA Blue Book, su 225.56; Verizon Wireless, se 213.32; Visa, su 2913.18; Waste Connections of Nebraska, se 6433.91; Total Claims Approved: 139.141.81
Paul Johansen brought his itemized invoice and spoke about the City reimbursing him for his plumbing bill from Sudrla Water Service. Motion by Collier, seconded by Schwab, to deny city payment of bill. On roll call voting aye, Milton, Sladek, Schwab, and Collier. Nays, none.
Motion by Collier, seconded by Schwab, to hire Steve Osmon as Police Chief pending reactivation test on February 18th. Because he must be hired before testing, he will start at a rate of $15/hour, without getting hours, and upon passing his wage will increase to a salary of $55,000/year. On roll call voting aye, Milton, Schwab, Collier, and Sladek. Nays none.
Discussion about Mayor’s recommendations for appointments to boards & committees. Motion by Milton, seconded by Sladek for approve appointments. On roll call voting aye Collier, Sladek, Milton, and Schwab. Nays none.
Mayor read 2025 Proclamation for March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Motion by Collier, seconded by Sladek to approve proclamation. On roll call voting aye Milton, Sladek, Schwab, and Collier. Nays none.
Motion by Milton, seconded by Collier, to pay same amount as last year ($20.00) to Arbor Day Foundation as membership dues. On roll call voting aye Collier, Schwab, Sladek, and Milton. Nays none.
Motion made be Collier, seconded by Sladek, to approve payment of $450.00 to Rico’s Mexican Restaurant for catering City Appreciation Dinner. On roll call voting aye Schwab, Sladek, Collier, and Milton. Nays none.
Motion by Schwab, seconded by Collier, to table discussion of Employee Benefits & Vacation Days until later in the meeting. On roll call voting aye Milton, Collier, Schwab, and Sladek. Nays none.
Motion by Collier, seconded by Schwab to postpone discussion of Notification Proposals; TextMyGov and UpAhead until have had more time to review. On roll call voting aye Sladek, Milton, Schwab, and Collier. Nays none.
Jared Chaffin gave Friend Healthcare Systems report. No Action.
Building Inspector – No report.
Stanley Krause gave Fire Department report. No Action.
Rescue Squad- No report
Police report- given by Saline County Sheriff’s office
Pool Report- Motion by Milton, seconded by Collier to post ad for Pool Manager & Assistant Manager for 2 weeks beginning March 1st, and then running ad for lifeguards. On roll call voting aye Sladek, Schwab, Milton, and Collier. Nays none.
Billy Baugh Public Works Supervisor gave his report. Discussion to pay Burton Asphalt for paving they’ve already done, and then remaining balance once finished. Motion by Collier, seconded by Schwab, to approve payment of $9712.00 for paving already finished, and remaining $3788.00 upon completion. On roll call voting aye Milton, Collier, Sladek, and Schwab. Nays none.
Discussion about employee paid time off and benefits. No action taken.
No further business to come before the City Council, motion by Schwab, seconded by Collier, to adjourn the meeting. On roll call voting aye Schwab, Collier, Sladek, and Milton. Nays none. Meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.