Minute Record

HOLDREGE CITY COUNCIL March 21, 2017

Holdrege City Council met in regular session Tuesday, March 21st, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall at 502 East Avenue in Holdrege with Mayor Doug Young presiding. Council members present were Mike Sisson, Mary McDermott, Larry Gibbons, Troy Urbom, Larry Marvin and Jeff Nantkes. Councilmembers Doug Simpson and Randy Aldrich were absent. City Staff also present were Rod Osborn, Les Grimm, Dennis DaMoude, Bob Rager, Dane Jensen and Mary Magill. Media was represented by Tunney Price of the Holdrege Daily Citizen.

Notice of the meeting was given in advance by publication in the Holdrege Daily Citizen; the City’s designated method for giving notice, and by announcement from radio station KUVR/KMTY. The Mayor and Council received notification of the agenda in advance.

Mayor Young called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. City Clerk Dane Jensen announced “State Law requires this body to announce at this time that a copy of the current Open Meetings Act is posted at the back of the room where it is accessible to the public” and took roll. Mayor Young began the meeting with a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance.

A motion by Councilmember Sisson to approve the Consent Agenda including:

  1. this agenda,
  2. the payment of claims as submitted,
  3. the City Treasurer’s Report for February 2017 and
  4. Approve an Application for Special Designated Liquor License allowing Eustis 10 LLC dba H & J Grocery of Eustis, NE to serve alcohol in the City Auditorium from 5:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 17th, 2017 for the Kenzie Kaps Wedding Reception.
  5. Approve an Application for Special Designated Liquor License allowing Galaxy Enterprises dba Gutterz Fun Center to serve alcohol in the Holdrege City Auditorium on April 7th, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m.

was seconded by Councilmember Urbom. All members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Councilmember Marvin motioned to approve the minutes of the March 7th, 2017 regular Council meeting with a second by Councilmember Nantkes. Roll call aye: Nantkes, Sisson, McDermott, Marvin; abstain Gibbons and Urbom. Motion carried.

Claims: March 21st, 2017
Acct / Fund / $ Claim
11.01 / General Administration / 5,036.93
11.02 / Fire / 3.066.64
11.03 / Health & Sanitation / 5,213.90
11.04 / Community Development & Promotion / 56,760.26
11.05 / Public Buildings / 274.16
11.06 / Auditorium / 1,039.57
11.07 / Park / 9,049.57
11.08 / Pool / 14.45
11.09 / Library / 26,666,67
11.10 / Emergency Communications / 1,227.86
11.11 / Police / 2,941.86
11.12 / Street / 34,284.80
11.13 / Bond Fund / 0
11.14 / Equipment Maint. & Replace. / 13,356.24
Total: / *153,719.01
13.16 / Special Assessments Dept 16 / 0.00
31.15 / Prairie Hill Landfill / *4,535.01
41.17 / Electric / 573,799.62
42.18 / Water / 8,578.75
43.19 / Sewer / 1,711.20
Total: / *584,089.57
44.20 / Keno / 0
53.27 / Economic Dev. Revolving / 0
*Complete Total: / 742,343.59

No one appeared for Public Forum.

Mindy Oman, CPA and Shareholder in McDermott and Miller, P.C., gave Council members a brief overview of the City’s Financial Audit for the fiscal year ending September 30th, 2016; highlighting assets and liabilities of the various departments of the City and offering a clean opinion of the City’s financial operations and position. A motion to accept the City of Holdrege Annual Audit from McDermott and Miller, P.C. was made by Councilmember McDermott and seconded by Councilmember Gibbons with all members present voting aye. Motion carried.

Jamie Hazlett explained that the Youth Empowered by Play (YEP) all-inclusive playground was close to being fully funded and pointed out that the North Parklocation currently planned for the playground did not have parking space nearby. Ms. Hazlett explained the need for proximate accessibility and presented some alternate locations to the Council for consideration. Members discussed issues of sprinkler systems and memorial trees occupying the selected alternate locations and Councilmember Urbom inquired if it might be more advantageous to consider adding parking stallsnear the playground rather than relocating it. A motion to table the request for further review was made by Councilmember Sisson and seconded by Councilmember Urbom with all members present voting aye. Motion carried.

Justin Trompke and Andrew Sweeney told Council members that they had recently purchased the old opera house at 403 West Avenue and explained plans for gutting and rehabilitating the second and third floors into apartments and the ground floor into commercial rental space. They asked Council members to consider assistance with landfill fees during the building’s reconstruction. Alli Donahue, Project Coordinator for Phelps County Development Corporation, described a five hundred dollar landfill grant the project had qualified for and wondered if Council members would consider matching that. Audience members Dennis Kugler and Kenny Peterson inquired about concrete/brick recycling and the possibility of spreading the project’s landfill fees out over time. Mayor Young reminded members and the audience that the Landfill operated as an enterprise fund and was required to have financial resources for closure and post closure costs as well as supporting its own operating expense. Members deliberated the circumstances and decided they would have to respectfully decline the request as they have for all private requests to reduce landfill fees in the past. A motion by Councilmember McDermott to decline the requestfor assistance with landfill feeswas seconded by Councilmember Nantkes with all members present voting aye. Motion carried.

Local business owner Joe Melton informed members of his plans to open an indoor shooting range at 224 West Avenue in the near future and referenced the Nebraska Shooting Range Protection Act (Nebraska Revised Statutes 37-1301 through 37-1310) as evidence of his right to do so. Members discussed the plans and the proper lawful method for approving the shooting range and the discharge of firearms within City limits. City Attorney Rod Osborn advised thatthe range would need to meet specifications found in the National Rifle Association’s Range Source Guide Book, referenced by the Nebraska Game and Parks Department, and that Holdrege Municipal Code would need to incorporate provisions for a shooting range within the City’s jurisdiction. Members agreed to consider Mr. Osborn’s recommendations concerning the shooting range ata meeting in the near future.

City Administrator Bob Rager told members that the Interlocal Agreement with the Nebraska Community Energy Alliance was a housekeeping item required for the purpose of managing and coordinating grant funds for the advancement of electric vehicle use and clean fuels among member communities. Motion by Councilmember McDermott, second by Councilmember Gibbons with all members present voting aye to approve the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement with the Nebraska Community Energy Alliance. Motion carried.

Mr. Rager also explained that the City had reached an agreement with Dennis and Donna Robinson to purchase property they owned in the Lake Seldom West area for sixty eight thousand dollars. Mr. Rager said that the City would provide twenty five thousand toward the purchase price with the balance being funded by a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust. A motion by Councilmember McDermott to approve the Purchase Agreement with Dennis and Donna Robinson for the purchase of property at 1020 South Burlington Street and adopt Resolution 2017-05; authorizing the Mayor’s signing of the Robinson Property Purchase Agreement for the improvement of Lake Seldom West was seconded by Councilmember Nantkes. All members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Municipal Services Supervisor Les Grimm reported that bids for three new Water Department pickups had been opened on Monday and that, after verifying that the Janssen Dodge Dealership bid included a transmission cooler, they were the low bidder. Mr. Grimm also explained how the new four wheel drive pickups would be utilized and shared between departments when necessary. Councilmember Nantkes motioned to accept the total bid of seventy one thousand one hundred and ninety dollars for three new Dodge Ram pickups from Janssen Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of Holdrege with a second by Councilmember McDermott. All members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Police Chief Dennis DaMoude disclosed to Council members that the State Bid from Anderson Ford of Lincoln was the low bid for the department’s new Ford Explorer Police Vehicle. Councilmember Sisson stated that the Public Safety Committee had reviewed the bids and motioned to accept the State Bid of twenty six thousand eight hundred and sixty one dollars from Anderson Ford of Lincolnwith a second by Councilmember McDermott. All members present voted aye. Motion carried.

In Open Discussion:

Councilmember Nantkes inquired about street sweeping activities.

Councilmember McDermott asked about reimbursement for security personnel at the recent town hall meeting.

City Attorney Rod Osborn explained his response to a recently received subpoena.

Municipal Services Supervisor Les Grimm advised members on the status of filling two open positions in the Municipal Services Department.

City Administrator Bob Rager brought members up to date on the condition of an employee who suffered a stroke and informed them of Councilmember Aldrich’s father’s funeral.

Chief Damoude said that an officer who was planning on retiring may be staying on awhile longer, and

Mayor Young asked members to be thinking about possible areas for a dog park in town.

There being no other business to discuss Mayor Young adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m.

Regular Council meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month in the Council Chambers of City Hall at 502 East Avenue in Holdrege, Nebraska. An agenda, as well as any Ordinance, Resolution or Agreement of the City, is kept on file, constantly current and available for public inspection at the Office of the City Clerk, 502 East Avenue in Holdrege.

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Doug Young, Mayor

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Dane C. Jensen, City Clerk

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