City of Grant, Nebraska

Council Minutes - December 12, 2023

COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

CITY OF GRANT, NEBRASKA

December 12, 2023

                Mayor Lisa Schmitt convened a meeting of the Council of the City of Grant, Nebraska in open and public session on December 12, 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, December 7, 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, City Attorney Tawna Holmstedt, et al.

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 November 28, 2023 meeting as presented and waive the reading and seconded by Bishop.

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 tomorrow at 5:15 p.m., the cemetery board will meet January 9th at 5:15 p.m., and City Council will meet January 9th at 7:00 p.m. The City Council will not have a second meeting in December. Dunn gave updates on the second round of routine chlorination maintenance on the water system, and informed the Council that Anita Burge was hired for the open office assistant position. Dunn also stated that the City Offices will be closed December 25th and 26th for Christmas.

STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS: 

Council member, Petersen – none. Council member, Bishop – none. Council member, Brueggeman –gave an update on the cemetery board meeting. Council member, Sims – none. City Clerk, Jessie Faber – stated that the tree board did not have a quorum, but the two members present attended the virtual Western Regional Tree Board meeting. City Superintendent, Dunn – stated he will be setting meetings in January for annual board meetings.

ENFORCEMENT, SHERIFF & WATER REPORTS – Acknowledged as received.

FINANCIALS – Acknowledged as received.

PUBLIC COMMENT – none.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

NEW BUSINESS:

Action and Discussion on Council Reorganization – A motion was made by Bishop to close nominations for Council President and approve Andrea Brueggeman as Council President and seconded by Sims. 

Roll call vote:  Yeas – all present.  Nays – none. Motion carried.

Action and Discussion on Standing Committee Reorganization – A motion was made by Bishop to approve the Mayoral appointments for the standing committees as presented by the Mayor and seconded by Petersen. Mayor Schmitt stated the Board Representative Appointments for the Council Members as follows:

Roll call vote:  Yeas – all present.  Nays – none. Motion carried.

Action and Discussion on Mayoral Appointments – A motion was made by Brueggeman to approve the Mayoral Appointments as presented and seconded by Bishop. The appointments stated are:

Action and Discussion on Mayoral Appointment of the West Central Nebraska Development District (WCNDD) Representative - (Edward Dunn) and Alternate - (Kimberly Bishop) – A motion was made by Brueggeman to approve the Mayoral appointments of the West Central Nebraska Development District (WCNDD) Representative Edward Dunn and Alternate Kimberly Bishop and seconded by Petersen.

Roll call vote:  Yeas – all present. Nays – none.  Motion carried.

Action and Discussion on Resolution No. 23-12-01 Resolution for the Appointment of a Nuisance Officer – A motion was made by Bishop to approve Resolution No. 23-12-01 Resolution for the Appointment of a Nuisance Officer appointing West Central Nebraska Development District (WCNDD) as 2024 Nuisance Officer and seconded by Sims.

RESOLUTION NO. 23-12-01

APPOINTMENT OF NUISANCE OFFICER

Roll call vote:  Yeas – all present.  Nays – none. Motion carried.

The Resolution will be published in pamphlet form.

Action and Discussion on City Attorney Agreement – Tawna Holmstedt of the Holmstedt Law Office, P.C., L.L.O. – A motion was made by Brueggeman to approve City Attorney Agreement with Tawna Holmstedt of the Holmstedt Law Office, P.C., L.L.O. and seconded by Petersen.

Roll call vote:  Yeas – all present. Nays – none.  Motion carried.

Action and Discussion on Mayor’s Request for Discussion on Potential Discontinuation of the Noon and 5 P.M. Whistle – Discussion took place on the results of the survey conducted on potential discontinuation of the Noon and 5 P.M. Whistle.  The results were in favor of continuing the noon and 5 P.M. whistle. No Action Taken.

Action and Discussion on Hastings Memorial Library, Hastings Memorial Library Foundation Audit, and Other Related Items – Discussion took place on the Hastings Memorial Library, Hastings Memorial Library Foundation Audit, and other related items.  A motion was made by Bishop to table the Action and Discussion on Hastings Memorial Library, Hastings Memorial Library Foundation Audit, and other related items to the January 9, 2024 meeting and seconded by Petersen.

Roll call vote:  Yeas – all present. Nays – none.  Motion carried.

Action and Discussion on Mayor and City Council Attendance at the NMPP Energy Annual Conference (March 19-21, 2024) – A motion was made by Brueggeman to pay for the hotel room and conference expenses for those who can attend, of the City Council and Mayor, the NMPP Energy Annual Conference on March 19-21, 2024 and seconded by Bishop.

Roll call vote:  Yeas – all present. Nays – none.  Motion carried.

Action on Bills & Claims – 20/20 Technologies, tech support/software – 346.70; AFLAC, employee benefits – 202.10; American Agricultural Laboratory, lab & well tests – 96.00; Black Hills Energy, utilities – 1,343.11; ; Blue Cross Blue Shield of NE, employee benefits – 15,646.72; City of Grant, utilities – 6,875.17; Contractor Services Inc., contract labor & capital outlay – 2,445.00; Country Supply, supplies – 141.41; Display Sales Company, supplies – 49.00; Dutton-Lainson Company, tech support/software – 550.00; Eakes Office Solutions, supplies – 114.86; Eichners Sales & Service, supplies – 24.00; Frenchman Valley Coop, fuel – 1,565.59; Grant Napa, supplies – 203.67; Great Plains Communications, telephone – 791.27; Hatch’s Super Foods, supplies – 18.87; High Plains News, advertising – 695.05; J Bar J Landfill, tipping fees – 3,342.27; Ken’s Construction LLC, contract labor – 1,540.00; Kirkpatrick Masonry LLC, capital outlay – 6,500.00; Koop Vinyl Fence & Construction Inc., capital outlay & supplies & repairs – 4,764.00; Kayley Lagunas, utilities refund – 145.65; Midwest Electric, O & M Charge, billing, & utilities – 17,879.92; Mutual of Omaha, employee benefits – 108.00; Nebraska Association of Airport Officials, dues & training – 250.00; O’Donnell & Holmstedt, P.C., L.L.O., professional services – 2,400.00; One Call Concepts, Inc., telephone – 16.34; Paulsen Inc., gravel – 431.74; Perkins County Treasurer, police contract  – 8,864.00; ; Pinnacle Bank/Visa, postage, dues & training – 1,752.34; Potts Welding Service, curb & gutter – 2,006.75; Ross Family Auto Parts Inc., supplies – 3.99; Sandhills State Bank, employee benefits – 1,210.00; Southwest Nebraska Clerks Association, dues & training – 10.00; Verizon Wireless, telephone – 251.50; W.P.C.I., dues & training – 33.00; Western Resources Group, contract labor – 260.00; Woody’s Pivot Service, LLC, supplies & repairs – 35.98; American Funds, retirement –1,168.58; Nebraska Division of Aeronautics, beacon expense & AWOS maintenance – 595.00; Nebraska Department of Revenue, sales tax – 7,752.62; Nebraska Department of Revenue, state income tax withholding – 903.76; United States Treasury, federal tax withholding – 4,785.31; Overtime Wages 11/12-11/25 – 622.05; Total Bills and Claims $98,741.32.

The motion was made by Brueggeman and seconded by Sims to approve the Bills and Claims in the amount of $98,741.32.

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 7:42 P.M.

                                                                                             ______________________________________

                                                                                              Lisa Schmitt, Mayor

_______________________________

Jessie Faber, City Clerk

Clerk’s Note:  Minutes are not approved by Council as of the date of publication. (12/28/2023)

Clerk's Note:  Minutes were approved by Council at the Regular Council Meeting on January 9, 2024. (Posted 1/10/2024)