10/07/2025 Regular Meeting
MINUTES-REGULAR MEETING
October 7, 2025
Mayor Judith 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: David Sladek, Phyllis Schwab, and Jeremy Collier. Kristen Milton running late. A quorum being present, the meeting was duly convened. The following proceedings were had and done.
Mayor Knoke led the meeting in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion by Schwab, seconded by Sladek to approve the minutes from September 2, 2025 Regular Council meeting. On roll call voting aye Collier, Schwab, and Sladek. Milton absent. Nays none.
Motion by Schwab, seconded by Sladek to approve minutes from Budget confirmation meeting and tax hearing request meeting, both held on September 8, 2025. On roll call voting aye Collier, Schwab, and Sladek. Milton absent. Nays none.
Motion by Sladek, seconded by Schwab to approve the September Treasurer report. On roll call voting aye Sladek, Collier, and Schwab. Milton absent. Nays none.
Motion by Sladek, seconded by Schwab to approve September claims and payroll. On roll call voting aye Schwab, Sladek, and Collier. Milton absent. Nays none.
Mayor Knoke made her comments.
Milton arrived at this point, at 7:10pm.
Public Comments were made by Tom Clouse concerning weeds on the baseball field, and concerning labeling of zoning subdivisions. Comments were also made regarding property at 113 Maple St, Trunk-or-Treat, and the Community Christmas Celebration.
The claims approved were as follows: September Payroll, 17969.38; Ameritas, 1346.60; EFTPS, 4392.15; NE Dept of Rev SWH, 678.24; AMGL, se 530.00; Architectural Design Assoc., fe 3579.00; Aniston Meints, re 200.00; Atticus Perkins, re 200.00; Axline Lawn & Landscaping, se 33800.00; Baker & Taylor Books, su 40.60; Black Hills Energy, se 637.84; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, fe 4826.62; Bound Tree Medical LLC, su 51.02; Grady Bresson, re 200.00; Brother’s Equipment, su 84.17; Bruning Law Group, se 4920.00; Cengage Group, su 98.96; Center Point Large Print, su 196.56; Jacob & Johnathan Clouse, fe 850.00; Country Compost LLC, fe 2000.00; Culligan Water Service, se 242.75; Eakes Office Solutions, su 743.52; Emmett Crawford, re 100.00; Fairfield Inn & Suites, se 636.00; Farmer’s Union Cooperative Co., su 984.58; First Wireless, Inc., se 757.80; Friend Insurance Center, fe 80314.47; Gabrielle Theis, re 200.00; Hometown Leasing, fe 98.60; Isabel Weber, re 200.00; Johnson Pharmacy, su 31.95; Johnson Service Co, se 13035.00; Keltyn Kirchhoff, re 200.00; League of Nebraska Municipalities, fe 4235.00; Lily Lehr, re 200.00; Lincoln Winwater Works, su 64.50; London Fog, Inc., su 58.70; MMC Consulting, se 5039.44; MacQueen Equipment, su 2596.59; Malorie Lawver, re 200.00;; Mastiff Systems, se 210.00; Chris Michl, se 436.80; Midwest Laboratories Inc, se 1062.76; Midwest Living Magazine, su 20.00; NE Dept. of Revenue ST, fe 1457.30; NE Public Health Environmental Lab, se 178.00; NE Library Commission, fe 500.00; Nebraska Municipal Clerks’ Association, fe 100.00; Norris Public Power District, fe 8049.00; Diane Odoski, re 114.74; One Billing Solutions, LLC, se 315.78; One Call Concepts, Inc., se 14.29; Pepsi-Cola of Hastings, su 90.25; Postmaster, fe 305.61; PowerManager, su 710.34; Principal Mutual Life Ins. Co., fe 215.46; Qwik 6, su 1789.63; Reagan Bartley, re 200.00; Reminisce, su 42.98;; Saline County Clerk, fe 159.00; Selah Petersen, re 200.00; Seward County Independent, fe 2212.32; Mark Stutzman, fe 4625.00; The Pioneer Woman Magazine, su 24.00; Tokio Marine, fe 1000.00; Tori Bresson, re 100.00; US Cellular, se 346.10; Visa, su 1351.03; Waste Connections of Nebraska, se 12738.96; Windstream, se 1498.79; York News-Times, se 4216.95. Total Claims Approved: 235.716.63
Motion by Milton, seconded by Collier to allow Mayor Knoke to sign Ordinance 25-810, amended to reflect actual bank interest rate, and to clarify beginning principal balance. On roll call voting aye Schwab, Sladek, Milton, and Collier. Nays none.
Motion by Collier, seconded by Schwab to approve Ordinance 25-812, which amends chapter 113 of Municipal Code to repeal the Sunset Provision of the Enhanced Employment Act Occupation Tax. On roll call voting aye Milton, Sladek, Collier, and Schwab. Nays none.
Discussion about updates to paid employee sick and vacation time. No action taken.
Discussion of bid for Binzebo area maintenance. Motion by Collier, seconded by Milton to spend up to $6500 on a bid. On roll call voting aye Sladek, Collier, Milton, and Schwab. Nays none.
Discussion about Inspection Services agreement regarding nuisance properties. Motion by Schwab, seconded by Sladek to spend $1000 for inspection of two properties. On roll call voting aye Collier, Milton, Sladek, and Schwab. Nays none.
Discussion about property at 302 2nd St. Motion by Sladek, seconded by Collier to continue steps to have nuisance remediated. On roll call voting aye Milton, Sladek, Schwab, and Collier. Nays none.
Motion by Sladek, seconded by Schwab to table discussion of employee raises until executive session and end of meeting. On roll call voting aye Collier, Milton, Sladek, and Schwab. Nays none.
Discussion about nuisance property at 503 Cherry St. No action taken.
Discussion about lease on train depot building. No action taken.
Discussion about changing allowable size of propane tanks in town to 500 gallons. Fire chief Brent Milton recommended not to allow. No action taken.
Jake Clouse presented insurance renewal information. No action taken.
Discussion about bid to grind trees and storm debris. Motion by Collier, seconded by Sladek to approve 3 days of disposal work, and to then reassess remaining debris and remaining work needed. On roll call voting aye Schwab, Sladek, Milton, and Collier. Nays none.
Diane Odoski, Head Librarian, gave Library report. No action taken.
Jared Chaffin, CEO of Friend Community Healthcare Systems gave Hospital report. No action taken.
Mark Stutzman gave Building Inspector report. No action taken.
Brent Milton, Fire Chief, and Stanley Krause, Assistant Fire Chief, gave Fire report. No action taken.
Ray Rohrig gave Rescue Squad Report. No action taken.
No Police Report.
Kristen Milton gave Pool Report. No action taken.
Heather L. Varney, Deputy Clerk, gave Clerk’s report. Motion by Sladek, seconded by Schwab to approve purchase of 25,000 more text messages for use with TextMyGov service. On roll call voting aye Collier, Schwab, Milton, and Sladek. Nays none.
Discussion about current help wanted job postings. Motion by Milton, seconded by Collier to post Public Works Supervisor ad in Geneva newspaper for two weeks, Journal Star Sunday paper for 2 weeks, and keep all ads in local paper. On roll call voting aye Sladek, Collier, Schwab, and Milton. Nays none.
Motion by Schwab, seconded by Milton, to enter executive session to discuss employee raises, inviting each Doug Welch, Ryan Yoder, and Heather Varney separately. On roll call voting aye Collier, Milton, Schwab, and Sladek. Nays none. Entered executive session at 9:30 pm.
Motion by Collier, seconded by Schwab to exit executive session. On roll call voting aye Sladek, Collier, Milton, and Schwab. Nays none. Executive session exited at 9:53 pm.
Motion by Collier, seconded by Milton to raise employee hourly pay rates, effective October 1st, as follows: Doug Welch, Sewer Operator, to $26.00; Ryan Yoder, Street Maintenance, to $23.50; Heather Varney, Deputy Clerk, to $19.00; Diane Odoski, Head Librarian, to $16.50; and Lori Sizer, Assistant Librarian, to $11.75. On roll call voting aye Sladek, Schwab, Collier, and Milton. Nays none.
No further business to come before the City Council, motion by Schwab, seconded by Milton to adjourn. On roll call voting aye Sladek, Collier, Milton, and Schwab. Nays none. Meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.