11/19/2024 Special Meeting
FRIEND CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
November 19, 2024
Mayor Knoke called the special meeting of the City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. at the City Hall. Advanced notice of the meeting was given by posting notice at three places in town, one 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.
As required by the Nebraska Open Meetings Act, Mayor Knoke announced that a copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act has been posted on the south door of the City Hall meeting room for all in attendance to review.
Mayor Knoke led the pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Knoke introduced and read Ordinance 24-808:
AN ORDINANCE, PURSUANT TO THE NEBRASKA LOCAL OPTION REVENUE ACT, TO IMPOSE AN INCREASE OF THE LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX RATE BY AN ADDITIONAL ONE-HALF OF ONE PERCENT FROM ONE AND ONE-HALF PERCENT (1.5%) TO TWO PERCENT (2.00%), EFFECTIVE AS PROVIDED BY LAW, UPON THE SAME TRANSACTIONS THAT ARE SOURCED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF NEB. REV. STAT. § 77-2703.01 TO 77-2703.04 WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF FRIEND, SALINE COUNTY, NEBRASKA, ON WHICH THE STATE OF NEBRASKA IS AUTHORIZED TO IMPOSE A TAX PURSUANT TO THE NEBRASKA REVENUE ACT OF 1967, AS AMENDED; TO REPEAL CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; AND TO PROVIDE FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF
Motion by Collier, seconded by Milton to approve Ordinance 24-808 approving raising the City sales tax from 1.5% to 2% effective April 1, 2025. On Roll call voting aye Sladek, Schwab, Collier, and Milton. Nays none.
Mayor Knoke introduced and read Ordinance 24-809:
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIXING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION MUNICIPAL BUILDING BONDS OF THE CITY OF FRIEND, NEBRASKA, IN ONE OR MORE SERIES, IN THE COMBINED PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT TO EXCEED THREE MILLION DOLLARS ($3,000,000) ISSUED FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING A MUNICIPAL BUILDING TO SERVE AS A FIRE STATION IN AND FOR THE CITY; PRESCRIBING THE FORM OF SAID BONDS; PROVIDING FOR A SINKING FUND AND FOR THE COLLECTION OF TAXES TO PAY SAID BONDS; PROVIDING FOR THE SALE OF THE BONDS; AUTHORIZING THE DELIVERY OF THE BONDS TO THE PURCHASER; PROVIDING FOR THE DISPOSION OF THE BOND PROCEEDS AND ORDERING THE ORDINANCE PUBLISHED IN PAMPHLET FORM
Motion by Collier, seconded by Schwab to approve Ordinance 24-809 issuing General Obligation Building Bonds, Series 2024 in an amount not to exceed $3,000,000.00. On roll call voting aye Milton, Sladek, Schwab, and Collier. Nays none.
Motion by Schwab, seconded by Sladek to enter executive session to discuss Tier 1 of City Clerk interview candidates and personnel. On roll call voting aye Collier, Schwab, Sladek, and Milton. Nays none. Entered executive session at 7:20pm. Collier left meeting during executive session.
Motion by Schwab, seconded by Milton to exit executive session at 8:07pm.
Motion by Milton, seconded by Schwab to offer Heather L. Varney to change the Deputy City Clerk Position to Full-Time with benefits at a rate of $18.00 per hour, effective immediately should she accept it. On roll call voting aye Sladek, Schwab, and Milton. Collier absent. Nays none.
Motion by Schwab, seconded by Milton to offer the City Clerk position Full-time with benefits at a rate of $20.00 per hour should she accept to candidate. On roll call voting aye Schwab, Sladek, and Milton. Collier absent. Nays none.
No further business to come before the City Council, a motion was made by Schwab, seconded by Sladek, to adjourn the meeting. On roll call voting aye Milton, Sladek, and Schwab. Collier absent. Nays none. Motion carried and meeting adjourned at 8:16 p.m.