05/06/2025 Regular Meeting
MINUTES-REGULAR MEETING
May 6, 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, and Jeremy Collier. 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 Milton to approve the minutes from the April 1, 2025 Regular meeting. On roll call voting aye Collier, Schwab, Sladek, and Milton. Nays none.
Motion by Sladek, seconded by Milton to approve the April Treasurer report. On roll call voting aye Sladek, Schwab, Collier, and Milton. Nays none.
Motion by Schwab, seconded by Sladek to approve April claims and payroll. On roll call voting aye Collier, Sladek, Milton, and Schwab. Nays none.
The claims approved were as follows: April Payroll, 18606.45; Ameritas, 1855.61; EFTPS, 5024.45; NE Dept of Rev SWH, 891.19; Architectural Design Assoc, se 6811.76; B & D Diamond Pro, Inc., se 1190.00; BNSF Railway Company, fe 1315.13; BOKF, NA, fe 30026.04; Baker & Taylor Books, su 57.57; Beaver Hardware, su 149.82; Bel-Con Refuse LLC, se 614.50; Black Hills Energy, se 597.75; Blue Cross Blue Shield, fe 2436.87; Bound Tree Medical LLC, su 120.00; Bruning Law Group, se 1120.00; Center Point Large Print, su 95.88; Jacob & Johnathan Clouse, fe 850.00; Country Compost LLC, fe 2000.00; Culligan Water Service, se 413.75; Eakes Office Solutions, su 360.63; Elite Plumbing & Drain Cleaning, se 75.00; Evan Buresh, re 100.00; Exeter Lumber Co., su 277.50; First Wireless, su 81.22; Friend Volunteer Fire Dept., su 3000.00; Gale, su 37.03; Hometown Leasing, fe 98.60; Mastiff Systems, se 132.50; Matt Friend Truck Equpiment, se 5778.90; Midwest Radar & Equipment, se 80.00; MMC Consulting, se 5193.75; Mutual of Omaha, fe 372.42; NE Dept. of Revenue ST, fe 2810.41; NE Public Health Environmental Lab, fe 30.00; NE Rural Water Assoc, fe 300.00; ; NMC Exchange LLC, se 1387.15; Nebraska Sign, se 518.52; Nick’s Farm Store Co., su 215.10; Norris Public Power District, fe 16465.00; Diane Odoski, re 213.78; One Billing Solutions, LLC, se 344.64; One Call Concepts, Inc. se 41.11; Paper Tiger, se 35.00; Kevin Paulsen, se 825.00; PowerManager, su 628.88; Principal Mutual Life Ins. Co., fe 95.76; Readers Digest, 13.92; Schindler Elevator Corporation, se 206.49; Seward County Independent, fe 790.68; Stryker Sales Corporation, su 381.89; US Cellular, se 213.63; Verizon Wireless, se 199.75; Visa, su 736.58; Waste Connections of Nebraska, se 6613.23; Young’s Welding, se 193.07 Total Claims Approved: 123698.91
Residents Taylor Powell and David Bertone spoke in reference to the carport they had built, and their frustration at the miscommunication of the situation. No action was taken.
Mayor Knoke introduced and read Resolution #25-02.
RESOLUTION #25-02
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FRIEND, SALINE COUNTY, NEBRASKA, APPROVING THE APPLICATION OF QWIK 6, FOR A SPECIAL DESIGNATED PERMIT UNDER THE NEBRASKA LIQUOR CONTROL ACT, TO SELL LIQUOR, BEER AND WINE ON JULY 3, 2025 IN THE CITY OF FRIEND. THE SAID SPECIAL DESIGNATED PERMIT TO BE LIMITED TO THE FENCED AREA SPECIFIED ON LICENSE APPLICATION, LOCATED AT 1535 1ST STREET FOR THE CELEBRATION TO BE HELD BETWEEN THE HOURS OF (TBD) ON THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2025, PURSUANT TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF FRIEND, AND THE NEBRASKA LIQUOR CONTROL ACT.
Motion by Schwab, seconded by Collier to approve Resolution #25-02. On roll call voting aye Milton, Sladek, Schwab, and Collier. Nays none.
Jim Ryan absent; no final report of TIF district closing. Motion by Collier, seconded by Sladek to postpone report until June meeting. On roll call voting aye Schwab, Milton, Sladek, and Collier. Nays none.
Discussion on Zito Franchise Renewal Proposal. Motion by Collier, seconded by Sladek to postpone vote until after contact with Zito. On roll call voting aye Milton, Sladek, Schwab, and Collier. Nays none.
Motion by Sladek, seconded by Collier to renew NDOT Maintenance Agreement. On roll call voting aye Schwab, Collier, Sladek, and Milton. Nays none.
Motion by Sladek, seconded by Collier to approve changing names on Visa credit cards from, respectively, John Schwab to Heather Varney, & Shawn Gray to Steve Osmon. On roll call voting aye Collier, Schwab, Milton, and Sladek. Nays none.
Motion by Milton, seconded by Schwab to approve SENDD Drawdown #2 for the Tourism Development project. On roll call voting aye Sladek, Collier, Schwab, and Milton. Nays none.
Discussion on bill from Stutzman Digging water line for new public safety building. Brent Milton stated Friend Volunteer Fire Department paid $40,354.25 of total bill amount $78,151.00. Motion by Schwab, seconded by Sladek to approve City paying remaining balance of $37,796.75. On roll call voting aye Milton, Schwab, Collier, and Sladek. Nays none.
Motion by Schwab, seconded by Collier to table discussion of employee health insurance and benefits to later in the meeting. On roll call voting aye Milton, Sladek, Schwab, and Collier. Nays none.
Discussion on contracting out for nuisance properties enforcement. Motion by Collier seconded by Sladek to approve contracting out for handling of 2-4 nuisance properties. On roll call voting aye Schwab, Sladek, Collier, and Milton. Nays none.
Discussion on raising customer utility deposits. Motion by Collier, seconded by Sladek to approve raising customer utility deposits from $35 to $100. On roll call voting aye Schwab, Milton, Sladek, and Collier. Nays none.
Discussion on penalties for businesses paying utilities late. Motion by Schwab, seconded by Milton to enforce cancellation notices and late fees of $15 applied to businesses, same as residential properties. On roll call voting aye Collier, Sladek, Milton, and Schwab. Nays none.
Discussion on adding regularly scheduled council meetings. Motion by Collier, seconded by Schwab to add quarterly Regular City Council Meetings. On roll call voting aye Sladek, Milton, Schwab, and Collier. Nays none.
Mike Winberg presented information for employee insurance on behalf of Guardian. No action.
Jared Chaffin gave Friend Healthcare Systems report. No action.
Mark Stutzman gave Building Inspector report. No action.
Brent Milton gave Fire report. Motion by Collier, seconded by Sladek to allow city to pay for sewer line for new public safety building from funds for the building. On roll call voting aye Milton, Sladek, Collier, and Schwab. Nays none.
Rescue Squad- No report
Heather Black gave Pool report. Motion by Milton, seconded by Sladek to approve pool staffing based on Heather’s recommendations. On roll call voting aye Collier, Schwab, Milton, and Sladek. Nays none.
Billy Baugh Public Works Supervisor gave his report. Discussion on lead/copper testing, line items for resident portion. No action. Discussion on hiring part-time summer help for painting and groundskeeping. Motion by Collier, seconded by Sladek to approve hire of two people to work 4 days a week for 8 weeks at $12/hour each. On roll call voting aye Schwab, Sladek, Collier, and Milton. Nays none.
Heather Varney Deputy Clerk gave Clerk Report. No action.
Steve Osmon Chief of Police gave police report. No action.
No further business to come before the City Council, motion by Collier, seconded by Sladek, to adjourn the meeting. On roll call voting aye Schwab, Milton, Collier, and Sladek. Nays none. Meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.