06/03/2025 Regular Meeting
MINUTES-REGULAR MEETING
June 3, 2025
Council President Kristen Milton 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.
Council President Kristen Milton presided, and Deputy City Clerk Heather L. Varney recorded the proceedings. The following Councilmembers were present: Kristen Milton, David Sladek, and Phyllis Schwab. Mayor Judith Knoke and Councilmember Jeremy Collier were absent. A quorum being present, and the meeting duly convened, the following proceedings were had and done.
Council President Milton led the meeting in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion by Schwab, seconded by Milton to approve the minutes from both May 6, 2025 Regular meeting and May 19, 2025 Special Meeting. On roll call voting aye Sladek, Milton, and Schwab. Collier absent. Nays none.
Motion by Sladek, seconded by Schwab to approve the May Treasurer report. On roll call voting aye Milton, Sladek, and Schwab. Collier absent. Nays none.
Motion by Sladek, seconded by Schwab to approve May claims and payroll. On roll call voting aye Sladek, Milton, and Schwab. Collier absent. Nays none.
The claims approved were as follows: May Payroll, 23239.57; Ameritas, 1865.10; EFTPS,6296.49; NE Dept of Rev SWH, 1105.85; AMGL CPA’s & Advisors, se 7315.00; Architectural Design Assoc, se 3693.00; Aqua-Chem Inc., su 5250.80; BOK Financial, fe 167528.54; Baker & Taylor Books, su 57.57; Barco Municipal Products, Inc., su 313.66; Beatrice Concrete Co., Inc., fe 1.04; Beaver Hardware, su 290.43; Black Hills Energy, se 602.06; Blue Cross Blue Shield, fe 4873.74; Tori Bresson, re 49.98; Brother’s Equipment, su 74.78; Bruning Law Group, se 800.00; Center Point Large Print, su 95.88; City of Friend, su 200.00; Jacob & Johnathan Clouse, fe 850.00; Coast to Coast Solutions, su 406.48; Community Redevelopment Authority, fe 5064.58 Country Compost LLC, fe 2000.00; Culligan Water Service, se 289.50; Depository Trust Corp., fe 4598.75; DLH Consulting, Inc., se 616.39; EPPICO/RODMAN, su 142.79; Eakes Office Solutions, su 504.94; Elite Plumbing & Drain Cleaning, se 1130.00; Farmer’s Union Cooperative Co., se 1760.05; Gabrielle Theis, re 29.60; Gale, su 154.18; H&S Plumbing, Heating & Air, se 1540.21; Heather Black, re 91.74; Hometown Leasing, fe 98.60; Junior Library Guild, fe 1805.32; Keltyn Kirchhoff, re 17.12; Makenna Burchett, re 50.00; Mastiff Systems, se 845.00; Midwest Laboratories Inc, se 838.58; Milford Plumbing Inc, se 626.45; MMC Consulting, se 3581.25; NE Dept. of Revenue ST, fe 1167.11; NE Statewide EMS Conference, fe 1300.00; Nebraska Environmental Products, fe 6652.45; Norris Public Power District, fe 14420.00; Diane Odoski, re 280.43; One Billing Solutions, LLC, se 114.97; One Call Concepts, Inc. se 8.75; People, su 71.70; Principal Mutual Life Ins. Co., fe 95.76; Sargent Drilling, se 2028.98; Seward County Independent, fe 523.66; Stutzman Digging & Excavating LLC, se 49671.75; US Cellular, se 212.41; United Industries Corporation, su 103.67; Verizon Wireless, se 99.91; Visa, su 7195.07; Windstream, se 1525.78 Total Claims Approved: 336167.42
Motion by Schwab, seconded by Sladek to Postpone decision on Farmers COOP Subdivision until more information. On roll call voting aye Milton, Sladek, and Schwab. Collier absent. Nays none.
Discussion about Roger Brandt’s building project. No action.
Discussion to update interlocal agreement for Public Safety building between rural board & city. Motion by Milton, seconded by Schwab to approve updates. On roll call voting aye Sladek, Schwab, & Milton. Collier absent. Nays none.
Discussion about replacing playground turf. No action.
Discussion on raising pool wages. Motion by Milton, seconded by Schwab to approve raising assistant manager wage to $14/hour, and raise lifeguard wages by $1.50 each. On roll call voting aye Schwab, Sladek, and Milton. Collier absent. Nays none.
Discussion on audit report form AMGL. Mostion by Schwab, seconded by Sladek to approve correction on General Checking account balance to agree with the bank. On roll call voting aye Milton, Schwab, and Sladek. Collier absent. Nays none.
Discussion on updates on very large snowstorm in March. No action.
Discussion on outstanding Dispatch service bill. Motion by Schwab, seconded by Milton to pay in full to catch up, and to make payment part of routine claims. On roll call voting aye Sladek, Milton, and Schwab. Collier absent. Nays none.
Motion by Schwab, seconded by Milton to table discussion of city employee health insurance until the end of the meeting. On roll call voting aye Milton, Sladek, and Schwab. Collier absent. Nays none.
Library- no report
Jared Chaffin gave Friend Healthcare Systems report. No action.
Mark Stutzman gave Building Inspector report. No action.
Brent Milton gave Fire report. No action.
Rescue Squad- No report
Steve Osmon Chief of Police gave police report. No action.
Heather Black gave Pool report.
Billy Baugh Public Works Supervisor gave his report. Discussion on replacing pump for Waste Water Treatment Plant. Motion by Milton, seconded by Sladek to approve 34 Electric LLC’s repair parts & labor. On roll call voting aye Schwab, Milton, and Sladek. Collier absent. Nays none.
Heather Varney Deputy Clerk gave Clerk Report. No action.
Council set Special Meeting June 9th at 6:15pm to discuss employee health insurance.
No further business to come before the City Council, motion by Sladek, seconded by Schwab to adjourn. On roll call voting aye Schwab, Sladek, and Milton. Collier absent. Nays none. Meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.