06/01/2010 Regular Meeting
FRIEND CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES-REGULAR MEETING
JUNE 1, 2010
Mayor Vossler 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, James Vossler, presided and City Clerk, Debbie Gilmer, recorded the proceedings. The following Councilmembers were present: Harlan Schrock, Dan Drake, Dale Lawver, and Stanley Krause. Attorney Mullally was not in attendance. 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 Vossler 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 Vossler announced that public comments would be accepted at this time. No comments were offered.
Motioned by Drake, seconded by Schrock to approve the Minutes of the May 4, 2010 regular meeting, the May 11, 2010 special meeting, and the May 2010 Treasurer's Report as presented and file same. On roll call voting aye to approve the May 4, 2010 regular meeting minutes, the May 11, 2010 special meeting minutes, and the May 2010 Treasurer's Report, Krause, Lawver, Drake, Schrock. Nays none. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Krause, seconded by Schrock, to approve the Warren Memorial Hospital Financial Reports for April 2010. On roll call voting aye, Lawver, Krause, Schrock, Drake. Nays none. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Schrock, seconded by Lawver, 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, Drake, Schrock, Krause, Lawver. Nays none. Motion carried.
The claims approved were as follows: May Payroll, 18,792.65; Ameritas, 1973.69; EFTPS, 5036.75; Baker & Taylor, su 427.43; Black Hills Energy, fe 321.54 Brothers Equip, su 97.00; Kim Brown, fe 300.00; Central States, su, 20,915.32; Chief Supply, su 80.98; Keith Clouse, fe 250.00; Computer Tutor, fe. 50.00; Culligan, se 78.00; Demco, su 133.59; Discover, su 1151.23; EMS, fe 136.92; Eakes, su 46.99; First National Bank, fe 15.00; Friend Public Schools, 25.00; Farmers Coop, su & se 2364.73; First State Insurance, fe 5043.00; Friend Sentinel, su 123.23; Galaxy Cable, se 39.95; Deborah Gates, se 450.00; Patrick Gates, re 31.95; Great Plains One-Call, se 16.43; Jr Library Guild, su 57.24; Kirkham Michael, fe 1495.00; Konica, fe 73.05; League of NE Muni, fe 273.00; Menards, su 442.18; Midwest Labs, se 135.26; Milligan Farming, se 625.00; Michael Mullally, fe 663.00; NE Dept of Rev, SWH, 675.08, Sales & Use Tax, 4882.63; NE Muni Power Pool, se 344.22; NE Public Health Env, se 212.00; NMC, su 165.00; NE Life, su. 21.00; NE Public Power, se 37,794.35; Norris Public Power, se. 5751.20; Pat Thomas Construction, fe 31,920.52; Pioneer Publishing, fe 129.80; Postmaster, 192.20; Principal Mutual, fe 4285.09; Reiman Publications, su 27.96; Scholastic Library, su 15.58; Susan Schrock, re 53.12; Shell Fleet Plus, su 216.12; Marvin Slepicka, fe 750.00; RV Svc Co, se 29.98; The Garbage Co, se 203.07; Verizon, se 468.55; Warren Memorial, fe 225.00; Windstream, se 843.30. Total Claims Approved $150,870.88.
Dan Drake requested that the agenda items involving Pastor Gill and Ray Rohrig be presented at this time. Mayor and Council had no objections.
Pastor Jerry Gill attended the meeting with a request for the Council to consider contributing to the July 4th celebration afternoon activities and evening concert. Pastor Gill explained that after the parade there will be a community church service at the park, followed by a “bring your own” picnic lunch. Following lunch will be family-fun inflatables and a dunk tank. Pastor Gill requested the City provide accessibility to electricity for the inflatables that are to be located by the slide and red swing set near the swimming pool. Council had no objections. Patrick Gates will handle this request. Other activities planned for the July 4th celebration include a barbeque rib contest and supper, an evening concert featuring Friend Public School children and youth performing patriotic songs, presentation of the Citizen of the Year and Lifelong Resident awards, and the fireworks display.
On behalf of the Friend Ambulance Squad, Ray Rohrig approached the Council about the possibility of the Ambulance Service switching insurance carriers from Inspro to Fire Pack. Rohrig communicated to the Mayor and Council some of the differences between the current policy and the proposed policy from Fire Pack. After discussion, motion was made by Drake, seconded by Lawver to grant approval to the Friend Ambulance Service to accept the proposed policy from Fire Pack and to discontinue utilizing Inspro for their insurance carrier. (The policy through Fire Pack excludes worker’s compensation so this coverage is to remain with Inspro.) On roll call voting aye, Schrock, Drake, Krause, Lawver. Nays none. Motion carried.
Jim Bellows, Aflac District Sales Coordinator, attended the meeting to give a brief presentation on Aflac insurance policies and services. Aflac is a supplemental insurance and Mr. Bellows asked Council’s approval to offer these policies and services to City employees. Bellows explained that premiums would be paid through individual employee payroll deductions and no costs would be incurred by the City. Council had no objections. Mr. Bellows will contact City Hall to make arrangements for a group meeting with any interested employees.
Relating to the HRW bin site electrical project, Patrick Gates contacted Norris Power and NPPD to find out what their policies and/or procedures are when dealing with expenses for new services and changes to existing services. Gates indicated that the policies for these companies are similar. For large commercial service loads, both companies conduct a cost-based analysis, from five years’ gross revenue. (This practice is similar to what Friend has done in the past.) A five-year minimum payment plan is established. Anything over the five-year gross revenue is charged to the customer as aid-to-construction fees. For example, if revenue is expected to save $10,000 and the cost of the project is $25,000, the customer pays $15,000 up front. For three phase and CT metered equipment all is billed to the customer. Demand metering and annual customer charges are applied in specific cases to ensure a certain amount of revenue is received. These charges would be figured prior to building the service. For existing services, general maintenance work is provided at no charge. Necessary replacement of service due to age or overloading is billed to the customer. Increase of load requiring bigger service, such as the HRW bin site, would be considered and determined on an individual basis, and would not be treated as a new service. Contracts for these projects would most likely be for two to three years, as opposed to the five years for new service, again being determined on an individual basis. After lengthy discussion, Patrick Gates was directed to prepare a cost analysis for this project for further consideration at the next meeting.
Discussion was had relating to the City contributing to the fireworks display. Dale Lawver said the amount needed to cover remaining costs for the fireworks will be known after the upcoming fundraiser. Dale will have this information available at the July meeting.
Continued discussion was had relating to Friend’s flood plain issue.
Mayor Vossler and Patrick Gates met with members of the Cordova Village Board regarding their water rates. Agreeing on a settlement of the amount they are disputing and sending notification to them of an increase to their rates was discussed. After discussion, motion was made by Lawver to refund the entire amount Cordova is disputing ($2,683) contingent to Cordova meeting all aspects of the contractual agreement, which includes providing Patrick Gates access to the building, and then properly notifying Cordova of the rate increase. This motion was seconded by Krause. On roll call voting aye, Drake, Schrock, Lawver, Krause. Nays none. Motion carried.
The new well received state approval and is on-line. The well is currently pumping approximately 1100 gallons into the water system. Gates requested Council to authorize Mayor Vossler to sign a Certificate of Substantial Completion for the Friend Municipal Water Well project. This certificate states that “The work to which this Certificate applies has been inspected by authorized representatives of Owner, contractor and engineer, and that Work is hereby declared to be substantially complete in accordance with the Contract Documents on April 6, 2010.” Motion was made by Drake, seconded by Schrock, to authorize Mayor Vossler to sign the Certificate of Substantial Completion for the Friend Municipal Water Well project. On roll call voting aye, Schrock, Krause, Lawver, Drake. Nays none. Motion carried.
Patrick Gates informed the Mayor and Council that plans and specs for the trail project have been approved by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Bid letting for this project is scheduled for the 30th of June. Plans are to award the contact for this project at the July meeting.
Patrick Gates said that Mark Stutzman, member of the Friend Lion’s Club, received a bid from Troyer Concrete for approximately $7,000 to reconstruct the entrance of the Community Building so that it is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Lion’s Club has between $4500 and $4800 to put toward this reconstruction. Gates requested Council’s approval to proceed with this project by accepting Troyer’s bid and to pay the remaining balance of the $7,000 less the contribution from the Lion’s Club. Motion was made by Schrock to accept the proposed bid from Troyer Concrete to reconstruct the entrance of the Community Building, to approve they proceed with this project, and to pay the remaining balance of the $7,000 less the contribution from the Lion’s Club. This motion was seconded by Lawver. On roll call voting aye, Drake, Krause, Lawver, Schrock. Nays none. Motion carried.
Contractor’s Pay Application No. 1, in the amount of $31,920.52 for Pat Thomas Construction, Inc., contractor for construction of the Chestnut Street culvert replacement was presented by Patrick Gates to the Council for their consideration. Motion was made by Krause, seconded by Lawver, to approve Contractor’s Pay Application No. 1, in the amount of $31,920.52 for Pat Thomas Construction, Inc., contractor for construction of the Chestnut Street culvert replacement. On roll call voting aye, Drake, Schrock, Lawver, Krause. Nays none. Motion carried.
Discussion was had on the status of ADA issues within the community.
Stanley Krause asked that log sheets be turned in every two weeks with employee time sheets, so that they are available upon request for Council’s and the Mayor’s review.
Police Chief, Mark McFarland, gave his report for the month of May 2010. (Copy of this report is attached.)
Mark Stutzman, Building Inspector, reported on submitted building permit applications. Discussion was had relating to subdividing properties with duplexes.
A concerned citizen was in attendance to inquire about the status of determining and establishing child safety zones within the community. Dale Lawver will call Attorney Mullally relating to this issue.
No further business to come before the City Council, motion was made by Schrock, seconded by Krause, to adjourn the meeting. On roll call voting aye, Drake, Lawver, Schrock, Krause. Nays none. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:02 p.m.
