Council Minutes - March 13, 2023
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRANT, NEBRASKA
March 13, 2023
Mayor Lisa Schmitt convened a meeting of the Council of the City of Grant, Nebraska in open and public session on March 13, 2023 at 7:01 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, March 8, 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.
Mayor Lisa Schmitt announced the posting of the Open Meetings Act and its location.
Roll call: Present Council members: Brueggeman, Petersen, Sims and Mayor Schmitt. Absent Council member: Bishop.
Others present: City Superintendent Edward Dunn, City Clerk/Treasurer Jessie Faber, City Attorney Tawna Holmstedt, et al.
**Council member, Kimberly Bishop Entered the meeting at 7:02 p.m.
The motion was made by Brueggeman 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 Petersen to approve the minutes of the February 27, 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 cemetery board will meet tomorrow at 5:15 p.m., and the tree board will meet on March 21st at 4:00 p.m. Dunn will be attending the MEAN Annual Conference on March 21st – March 23rd in Lincoln. Dunn gave an update on the Nebraska Planning and Zoning Association Annual Nebraska Planning Conference he attended last week. Dunn presented to the Council a thank you card from Brent & Mary Deaver. Dunn also stated that Bill Taylor is attending the Nebraska Rural Water Association Annual Conference this week in Kearney and Jessie Faber will be attending the Nebraska Municipal Clerks Academy this week in Kearney. Dunn gave an update on the Street bids opening for the 2023 Street Improvement Projects which were opened today for the intersection at 6th & Warren and for paving part of South Central Ave. We had three bidders and the award of bid will be on the next Council agenda.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Council member, Petersen – none. Council member, Bishop – none. Council member, Brueggeman –gave an update on the library board meeting. Council member, Sims – none. City Superintendent, Dunn – gave an update on the Community Redevelopment Authority meeting.
ENFORCEMENT, SHERIFF & WATER REPORTS – Acknowledged as received.
FINANCIALS – Acknowledged as received.
PUBLIC COMMENT – Kris Long & Wade Hill.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
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 was 2/27/2023) – Discussion took place with Bobbi Pettit, with Five Rule Rural Planning and Jon Thomas, with Svehla Law by telephone conference on the Vacant Property Registration Act Program with the City Council. They answered any questions the Council and City Attorney had on the program.
**Council member, Tierney Petersen Exited the meeting at 7:34 p.m.
**Council member, Tierney Petersen Entered the meeting at 7:35 p.m.
A motion was made by Sims to approve Ordinance 23-01-03 An Ordinance Enacting the Vacant Property Registration Act Pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. §§19-5401 et seq. and Codifying it in the Grant Revised Municipal Code as amended with liens added to Section 5-111 Penalties and to set fees per Resolution and seconded by Bishop.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
The Ordinance will be published in pamphlet form.
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. – No motion. Dies due to lack of motion.
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. – No motion. Dies due to lack of motion.
Action and Discussion on Ordinance No. 23-02-01 An Ordinance Authorizing and Directing Execution of the Green Energy Program Subscription Confirmation by the City of Grant, Perkins County, Nebraska, with the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska; to Prescribe the Time When This Ordinance Shall be in Full Force and Effect. – City Clerk, Jessie Faber read the third reading of Ordinance No. 23-02-01 “An Ordinance Authorizing and Directing Execution of the Green Energy Program Subscription Confirmation by the City of Grant, Perkins County, Nebraska, with the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska; to Prescribe the Time When This Ordinance Shall be in Full Force and Effect.”
A motion was made by Bishop to approve Ordinance No. 23-02-01 An Ordinance Authorizing and Directing Execution of the Green Energy Program Subscription Confirmation by the City of Grant, Perkins County, Nebraska, with the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska; to Prescribe the Time When This Ordinance Shall be 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 Presentation of FY 2021-2022 Audit - (AMGL) – A motion was made by Brueggeman to accept the two Letters & Financial Statements for the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Audit from AMGL CPAs & Advisors and seconded by Petersen.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS:
Action and Discussion on Request to be Placed on the Agenda – Discussion on the Proposed Vacant Building Registration Act – Marlin Wendell, Dennis Hutt, Gaylord Lacy – Marlin Wendell addressed the Council on the Request to be Placed on the Agenda. No Action Taken.
Action and Discussion on Mayoral Appointment of Edward Dunn – Deputy Clerk/Treasurer – A motion was made by Petersen to approve the Mayoral Appointment of Edward Dunn as the Deputy Clerk/Treasurer beginning as of April 23, 2019 thru the current year ending December 31, 2023 and seconded by Brueggeman.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Action and Discussion on Mayoral Appointment of Tonia Wyatt – Cemetery Board – A motion was made by Brueggeman to approve the Mayoral appointment of Tonia Wyatt to the Cemetery Board term ending 12/2024 and seconded by Sims.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Action and Discussion on Approval of Certificate of Completion and Release for Grant Municipal Airport Project No. 3-31-0035-013 (Airport Road Improvement) – A motion was made by Brueggeman to approve the Certificate of Completion and Release for Grant Municipal Airport Project No. 3-31-0035-013 (Airport Road Improvement) and authorize the Mayor to sign and seconded by Bishop.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Action on Bills & Claims – Adams Lumber Co – Grant – supplies – 17.58; AMGL, P.C., professional services – 11,750.00; Black Hills Energy, utilities – 1,168.10; Blue Cross Blue Shield of NE, employee benefits – 7,519.44; City of Grant, utilities & postage – 6,316.99; Country Supply, supplies – 94.98; Dunn, Edward, dues & training – 217.07; Eakes Office Solutions, supplies – 181.99; Frenchman Valley Coop, fuel – 1,730.03; Grant Napa, supplies – 387.83; Great Plains Communications, telephone – 748.61; High Plains News, advertising – 259.68; J Bar J Landfill, tipping fees – 3,069.67; J.P. Cooke Company, supplies – 84.95; Ken’s Construction LLC, contract labor – 660.00; Macqueen Equipment Group, supplies & repairs – 2,741.07; Midlands Contracting Inc., capital outlay – 21,744.00; Midwest Electric, O & M Charge & utilities – 18,244.77; Nebraska Dept. of Environment & Energy, dues & training – 290.00; O’Donnell & Holmstedt, P.C., L.L.O., professional services – 4,950.00; One Call Concepts, Inc., telephone – 2.40; Trent Patrick, utilities refund – 129.80; Perkins County Chamber of Commerce, dues – 275.00; Perkins County Treasurer, police contract – 8,588.00; Pinnacle Bank/Visa, postage, supplies, dues & training – 1,072.58; Ride Rite Garage, supplies & repairs – 938.24; Sandhills State Bank, employee benefits – 580.00; Southwestern Equipment Co., supplies – 416.78; Specialized Engineering Solutions, capital outlay – 1,310.00; Garret Thompson, dues & training – 282.96; Verizon Wireless, telephone – 251.14; Western Resources Group, contract labor – 260.00; Woody’s Pivot Service, LLC, supplies & repairs – 480.00; American Funds, retirement –1,076.58; Nebraska Department of Aeronautics, beacon expense – 160.00; Nebraska Department of Revenue, state income tax withholding – 1,115.84; United States Treasury, federal tax withholding – 3,203.31; Overtime Wages 2/12-2/25 – 320.21; Total Bills and Claims $102,639.60.
The motion was made by Petersen and seconded by Sims to approve the Bills and Claims in the amount of $102,639.60.
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 8:13 P.M.
______________________________________
Lisa Schmitt, Mayor
_______________________________
Jessie Faber, City Clerk