04/07/2020 Regular Meeting
FRIEND CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES-REGULAR MEETING
APRIL 7, 2020
Mayor Knoke called the regular meeting of the City Council to order at 7:02 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 City Clerk Kim Goossen recorded the proceedings. The following Councilmembers were present: Stan Krause, Harlan Schrock, and Shane Stutzman. Absent: Phyllis Ryan. 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 announced that public comments would be received at this time. Jim Ryan spoke on behalf of the Friend Development Group. Mr. Ryan presented the General Plan for the City of Friend that will need to be in place to move forward with the new TIF funding. The Council will review the information and address it at their next meeting. No other public comments were heard.
Motioned by Krause, seconded by Schrock, to approve the minutes of the March 3, 2020 regular meeting, and the March 2020 Treasurer’s Report as presented and file same. On roll call voting aye to approve the March 3, 2020 regular meeting minutes, and the March 2020 Treasurer’s Report, Stutzman, Schrock, Krause. Nays none. Motion carried.
Councilman Schrock recommended to table the Friend Community Healthcare Systems Financial Report for February 2020.
A motion was made by Schrock, seconded by Stutzman, that payroll and claims be approved by the claims committee, and be allowed, and the Clerk instructed to issue warrants on the respective funds to pay same. On roll call voting aye, Krause, Stutzman, Schrock. Nays none. Motion carried.
The claims approved were as follows: March Payroll, 29,752.68; Ameritas, 2,280.03; EFTPS, 8,760.04; NE Dept of Rev SWH, 1,401.61; 34 Electric, su 1,116.91; 911 Custom, su 559.95; American Legion, su 500.00; Baker & Taylor, su 32.80; Barco Municipal Products, su 120.06; Beatrice Concrete Co Inc, su 2,526.47; Beaver Hardware, su 308.67; Black Hills Energy, fe 520.72; BlueCross BlueShield, fe 8,954.47; Border States Industries Inc, su 273.42; Bruning Law Group, fe 14,949.00; C Blake LLC, fe 370.53; Center Point, su 88.68; Keith Clouse, fe 250.00; Coast to Coast, su 396.34; Core & Main LP su 646.05; Culligan Water Service, su 176.25; Diode, se 46.45; Dollar General, su 34.51; Eakes, su 1,387.70; Emergency Medical Products, su 136.43; Family Handyman, su 10.00; Farm & Ranch Living, su 14.98; Farmer’s Union Cooperative, su 670.66; Farmer’s Cooperative, su 2,048.11; Follett School Solutions, se 870.45; Gale, su 91.46; Graham Tire, su 277.40; Great Plains Uniforms LLC, su 472.00; Paul & Gail Gropp, fe 450.00; Johnson Pharmacy Inc, su 52.96; Kirkham Michael, se 5,500.00; Lamp Rynearson, se 15,600.00; Lauree Lenz, se 40.00; League of NE Muni./Utilies Sec, se 540.00; MacQueen Equipment, su 1,901.79; Menards, su 446.96; Chris Michl, se 414.80; Midwest Laboratories, se 186.10; NE Dept of Rev Charitable Gaming, fe 224.00; NE Municipal Power Pool, fe 767.83; NE Public Health Environmental Lab, se 267.00; NE Public Power, se 55,277.49; NMC Exchange LLC, se 2,873.05; Norris Power, se 5,571.72; Diane Odoski, re 135.43; One Call, se 7.29; Orkin, se 120.64; Paper Tiger Shredding, se 30.00; Kelly Paulsen, re 31.85; Kevin Paulsen, se 25.00; Plains Power & Equip, su 59.30; Potter Repair, se 109.93; Quik 6, su 882.91; Ramada Worldwide/Columbus, se 329.85; Recycling Enterprises, se 660.00; Seward Co Independent, fe 359.37; Marvin Slepicka, fe 1250.00; Spring Creek Repair & Farm Supply, su 111.09; Scholl Enterprises Inc, se 261.57; Sudrla Water Service, se 200.00; Taste of the South, su 30.00; The Pioneer Woman Magazine, su 20.00; Verizon Wireless, se 94.82; Waste Connections, se 310.16; White Electric Supply Co, su 546.40; Young’s Welding, su 330.21. Total Claims Approved $133,869.99
Council Member Schrock introduced Ordinance No. 20-763 entitled:
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION SWIMMING POOL BONDS OF THE CITY OF FRIEND, NEBRASKA, IN ONE OR MORE ISSUES IN A COMBINED PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT TO EXCEED THREE MILLION DOLLARS ($3,000,000) TO PAY THE COSTS OF CONSTRUCTING AND EQUIPPING A SWIMMING POOL IN AND FOR THE CITY; PRESCRIBING THE FORM OF SAID BONDS; PROVIDING FOR THE LEVY AND 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 DISPOSITION OF THE BOND PROCEEDS AND ORDERING THE ORDINANCE PUBLISHED IN PAMPHLET FORM
and moved that the statutory rule requiring reading on three different days be suspended. Council Member Krause seconded the motion to suspend the rule and upon roll call vote on the motion the following Council Members voted aye: Stutzman, Krause, Schrock. The following voted nay: none. The motion to suspend the rule was adopted by three-fourths of the Council and the statutory rule was declared suspended for consideration of said ordinance.
Said ordinance was then read by title and thereafter Council Member Stutzman moved for final passage of the ordinance, which motion was seconded by Council Member Schrock. The Mayor then stated the question “Shall Ordinance No. 20-763 be passed and adopted?” Upon roll call vote, the following Council Members voted aye: Krause, Schrock, Stutzman. The following voted nay: none. The passage and adoption of said ordinance having been concurred in by a majority of all members of the Council, the Mayor declared the ordinance adopted and the Mayor in the presence of the Council signed and approved the ordinance and the Clerk attested the passage and approval of the same and affixed her signature thereto and ordered the Ordinance to be published in pamphlet form as provided therein. A true, correct and complete copy of said ordinance is published in pamphlet and is available for review at City Hall.
Kristen Milton reported on the pool committee.
Mrs. Milton reported that Friend was not selected for the CCCFF grant. Mrs. Milton reported on options for construction of the pool and it was decided to continue with the current pool planning. Mrs. Milton commented that there are still other grants available and the pool committee would be looking into those. Mrs. Milton and Billy Baugh reported on the options for a parking plan. Discussion was had on the option to cut the existing “lip” of the pool into sections and selling to the community for memorabilia. Discussion was had on the .3% city commitment for the pool project, it was commented that the council was under the impression that this had been decided, but there was no documentation. The issue of the .3% city commitment will be decided next meeting.
Motion was made by Schrock and seconded by Stutzman to approve proposal for geotechnical investigation by Kaw Valley Engineering Inc. On roll call voting aye, Krause, Stutzman, Schrock. Nays none. Motion carried.
Billy Baugh reported on behalf of the Public Works department
Mr. Baugh stated the city workers cleaned all of Sucker Creek from one side of town to the other. Baugh also reports they have flushed the hydrants, fixed bricks that had sunken in around the manhole at 3rd and Maple Streets, over half of the uptown lines and curbs have been repainted. The guys have cleaned the floor and put new clear coat at the Idhe clubhouse; patched pot holes around town; helped rearrange city hall office; and assisted with new underground power to the new County Building. Dennis has painted the blower room at the Sewer Plant to include floors, walls, ceiling and blower, and has also worked on the roof. Mr. Baugh reported they had two students that needed community service hours to graduate and those students cleaned city hall and the library leaves and weeds, and painted rails at the community building. Mr. Baugh reported that Drakes is doing away with the 40-gallon hot water heater and just tying in the 19 gallon water heater at the community building. Mr. Baugh reported that the city workers have started scraping the depot and will continue to scrape and then paint when they can. The two front steering cylinders on the grader were replace as the gaskets were worn out completely and the cylinders were shot. Billy also reported that mowing season is upon us and the city workers have started this week along with cleaning up leaves at the park. Baugh reported that Arbor Day is April 24th and asked if the council wanted to get a tree and plant it without a ceremony due to Covid-19, and it was agreed to get a tree and plant it at a later date. Mr. Baugh presented information to the council from Crowls about trimming trees that are in power lines. This will be discussed at the next meeting. Billy also stated that due to Covid-19, the park clean up date that was scheduled for April 26th has been canceled, and the next few months are going to be very busy for the Public Works department. Mr. Krause stated that there might be someone interested in purchasing the current fence at the pool.
Chief Shawn Gray gave the police report.
Chief Gray presented the proposed golf cart ordinance to review by the council. Mr. Krause suggested that the police department have the applications and sign them before city hall issue permits. Mr. Schrock stated he would like to see mileage for each vehicle and asked Chief Gray to go over some expenditures.
Stan Krause reported on behalf of the Fire Department.
Mr. Krause reported the annual fireman’s dinner served approximately 440 people and had approximately 45 deliveries. Krause also reported both of the houses that were control burns have been cleaned up as well as the tree pile on the west end of town.
Mayor Knoke gave the hospital report. Mayor Knoke stated that the hospital is very busy with Covid-19 and they are requesting anyone that is going to the hospital enter through the ED entrance for screening process.
Resolution No. 20-02 regarding the new Employee Handbook was tabled to next month’s meeting.
A discussion was had on the use of time clocks for city employees. Timeclock options will be looked into and presented at next month’s meeting.
A motion was made by Stutzman and seconded by Krause to form a Pond Committee. The Pond Committee will consist of three (3) members with all members signing a liability waiver and agreed upon by Billy Baugh and the City Council. On roll call voting aye, Schrock, Krause, Stutzman. Nays none. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Schrock and seconded by Krause to have Milco Property Environmental Services install well in city right of way. On roll call voting aye, Krause, Schrock. Nays Stutzman. Motion carried.
No further business to come before the City Council, motion was made by Schrock, seconded by Stutzman, to adjourn the meeting. On roll call voting aye, Krause, Stutzman, Schrock. Nays, none. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:53 p.m.