Council Minutes - February 27, 2023
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRANT, NEBRASKA
February 27, 2023
Mayor Lisa Schmitt convened a meeting of the Council of the City of Grant, Nebraska in open and public session on February 27, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Notice of this meeting was given in advance by publication in the Grant Tribune Sentinel, the City’s designated method for giving notice, February 22, 2023, and members of the City Council and a copy of their Acknowledgment of Receipt and the Agenda are attached to these minutes. Availability of the Agenda was communicated in the advance notice and in the notice to the Mayor and Council of this meeting. All proceedings hereafter shown were recorded while said meeting was open to the attendance of the public.
Mayor Lisa Schmitt announced the posting of the Open Meetings Act and its location.
Roll call: Present Council members: Bishop, Brueggeman, Petersen, Sims, and Mayor Schmitt.
Others present: City Superintendent Edward Dunn, City Clerk/Treasurer Jessie Faber, present via Zoom conference City Attorney Tawna Holmstedt, et al.
The motion was made by Bishop and seconded by Petersen to accept the agenda as presented.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Brueggeman to approve the minutes of the February 13, 2023 meeting as presented and waive the reading and seconded by Sims.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS: City Superintendent, Edward Dunn informed the Council of the upcoming board meetings, the library board will meet on February 8th at 5:15 p.m., and the Community Redevelopment Authority is in the process of scheduling a meeting. Dunn stated that individuals are attending the meeting via Zoom conference which are City Attorney Tawna Holmstedt, Doug Christensen and Bobbi Pettit, with Five Rule Rural Planning, and Tracy Cannon with AMGL. Dunn informed the Council that he had received a letter addressed to him about the vacant property registration act and the Council members could come to the office to discuss the letter with him. Dunn stated that a thank you card is available for the Council members to sign thanking the Madrid United Methodist Church for a donation in the amount of $10,000.00 to go towards the brick columns project at the Cemetery. Dunn also informed the Council that he will be attending the Nebraska Planning and Zoning Association Annual Nebraska Planning Conference in Kearney March 8th -10th.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Council member, Petersen – none. Council member, Bishop – none. Council member, Brueggeman –gave an update on the tree board meeting. Council member, Sims – none. City Superintendent, Dunn – commended the tree board for their effort to continue to better their board through training and strategic planning process.
FINANCIALS – Acknowledged as received.
PUBLIC COMMENT – Marlin Wendell, Jerry Harms, & Dennis Hutt.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Action and Discussion on Ordinance No. 23-01-02 An Ordinance of the City of Grant, Perkins County, Nebraska, Continuing the Economic Development Program for the City of Grant; Establishing the Term and Conditions Thereof; Repealing all Ordinances or Parts of Ordinances in Conflict Herewith; and Providing When This Ordinance is in Full Force and Effect (Third Reading) – City Clerk, Jessie Faber read the third reading of Ordinance No. 23-01-02 “An Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of Grant, Perkins County, Nebraska, Continuing the Economic Development Program for the City of Grant; Establishing the Terms and Conditions Thereof; Repealing all Ordinances or Parts of Ordinances in Conflict Herewith; and Providing When This Ordinance is in Full Force and Effect.”
A motion was made by Brueggeman to approve Ordinance 23-01-02, An Ordinance of the City of Grant, Perkins County, Nebraska, Continuing the Economic Development Program for the City of Grant; Establishing the Term and Conditions Thereof; Repealing all Ordinances or Parts of Ordinances in Conflict Herewith; and Providing When This Ordinance is in Full Force and Effect and seconded by Petersen.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
The Ordinance will be published in pamphlet form.
Action and Discussion on Ordinance No. 23-01-03 An Ordinance Enacting the Vacant Property Registration Act Pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. §§19-5401 et seq. and Codifying it the Grant Revised Municipal Code (Third Reading) – City Clerk, Jessie Faber read the third reading of Ordinance No. 23-01-03 “An Ordinance by the Mayor and Council of the City of Grant, Perkins County, Nebraska, Amending the Revised Municipal Code of the City of Grant, Perkins County, Nebraska (Ordinance No. 18-11-01) by Adding a New Article to Chapter 3 – Misdemeanors and Renumbering the Remaining Articles and Sections ET AL.”
Discussion took place with City Attorney Tawna Holmstedt & Doug Christensen, with Five Rule Rural Planning via zoom conference on the Vacant Property Registration Act Program with the City Council and addressed any questions the Council had on the program.
A motion was made by Bishop to table the Ordinance No. 23-01-03 An Ordinance Enacting the Vacant Property Registration Act Pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. §§19-5401 et seq. and Codifying it the Grant Revised Municipal Code until the next regular Council meeting and seconded by Petersen.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Action and Discussion on Approval of Professional Services Agreement Between Five Rule Rural Planning and the City of Grant for Vacant Property Registration Administration Services Pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. §§19-5401 et seq. – A motion was made by Brueggeman to table the Professional Services Agreement Between Five Rule Rural Planning and the City of Grant for Vacant Property Registration Administration Services Pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. §§19-5401 et seq. to the next regular Council meeting and seconded by Bishop.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Action and Discussion on Approval of Engagement Letter Between Svehla Law Offices, P.C. and the City of Grant for Vacant Property Registration Legal Services Pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. §§19-5401 et seq. – A motion was made by Petersen to table the Engagement Letter Between Svehla Law Offices, P.C. and the City of Grant for Vacant Property Registration Legal Services Pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. §§19-5401 et seq. to the next regular Council meeting and seconded by Sims.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS:
Action and Discussion Approval of Revised Engagement Letter from AMGL – A motion was made by Brueggeman to accept the revised letter of understanding of services with AMGL for Audit of the fiscal year 2021-2022 and authorize the Mayor to sign and seconded by Petersen.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Action and Discussion on Presentation of FY 2021-2022 Audit - (AMGL) – Tracy Cannon with AMGL CPAs & Advisors via telephone call presented the results from the audit performed for the 2021-2022 fiscal year and answered any questions. A motion was made by Bishop to table action on the Presentation of FY 2021-2022 Audit from AMGL CPAs & Advisors until the next regular Council meeting and seconded by Petersen.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Action on Bills & Claims – AFLAC, employee benefits – 178.64; Deaver Computer Service LLC, supplies – 16.99; Dunn, Edward, dues & training – 610.07; High Plains News, advertising – 252.21; MEAN, transmission charge – 121,808.86; Eric McCormick, supplies reimbursement – 91.96; Mid-Plains Community College – dues & training – 600.00; Mutual of Omaha, employee benefits – 108.00; Nebraska Department of Environmental & Energy, dues – 40.00; Nebraska Public Health Environmental, lab & well tests – 30.00; NMC, Inc., supplies – 1,275.52; Pinnacle Bank/Visa, postage, supplies, dues & training – 1,053.44; Quality Diesel Inc., supplies & repairs – 2,634.23; Sandhills State Bank, employee benefits – 530.00; Garret Thompson, dues & training – 47.09; Western Resources Group, contract labor – 130.00; American Funds, retirement –1,371.60; Nebraska Department of Revenue, sales tax – 11,262.40; United States Treasury, federal tax withholding – 4,246.53; Overtime Wages 1/29-2/11 – 178.64. Total Bills and Claims $146,466.18.
The motion was made by Brueggeman and seconded by Sims to approve the Bills and Claims in the amount of $146,466.18.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Bishop, Brueggeman, Petersen & Sims reviewed the bills and claims prior to the meeting.
Mayor Lisa Schmitt adjourned this meeting of the Grant City Council at 8:02 P.M.
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Lisa Schmitt, Mayor
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Jessie Faber, City Clerk