Council Minutes - February 13, 2024
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRANT, NEBRASKA
February 13, 2024
Mayor Lisa Schmitt convened a meeting of the Council of the City of Grant, Nebraska in open and public session on February 13, 2024 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 8, 2024, 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, and Mayor Schmitt. Absent Council member: Sims.
Others present: City Superintendent Edward Dunn, City Clerk/Treasurer Jessie Faber, City Attorney Tawna Holmstedt, et al.
The motion was made by Bishop and seconded by Brueggeman 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 January 23, 2024 meeting as presented and waive the reading and seconded by Bishop.
Roll call vote: Yeas – Bishop & Petersen. Nays – none. Abstain – Brueggeman. Yea – Mayor Schmitt. 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. and the tree board will meet on February 20th at 4:00 p.m., The City Offices will be closed on February 19th to observe President’s Day. Dunn stated Jessie will be attending the League of Nebraska Municipalities Mid-Winter Conference in Lincoln on February 26th & 27th, he will be attending Nebraska Planning & Zoning Association Conference in Kearney on March 6th, 7th & 8th, and one of the public works employees will be attending the Nebraska Rural Water Association Conference in Kearney on March 11th, 12th & 13th. Dunn informed the Council that he had ordered the cameras from Heartland Security for the waste department to place at the City recycling and tree pile.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Council member, Bishop – none. Council member, Brueggeman –gave an update on the cemetery board meeting. Council member, Petersen – none. Council member, Sims – none. City Superintendent, Dunn – gave an update on the airport hangar rehab project.
ENFORCEMENT & WATER REPORTS – Acknowledged as received.
FINANCIALS – The financials are in process and will be reviewed at the next meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENT – Eric McCormick and Shayne Hite.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Discussion and Review of Revision to the City of Grant’s Personnel Manual – Discussion took place on the Revisions to the City of Grant Personnel Manual.
NEW BUSINESS:
Action and Discussion Annual Library Report – Robin Quinn – Library Director, Robin Quinn presented the annual library report and answered any questions. A motion was made by Brueggeman to accept the Annual Library Report and seconded by Petersen.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Action and Discussion on Mayoral Appointment to the Library Board – Carol Cornelius – A motion was made by Brueggeman to approve the Mayoral appointment of Carol Cornelius to the Library Board term ending 12/2028 and seconded by Petersen.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Bishop to take up agenda item E. Discussion on Availability of Downtown Utility Poles for Private Flag Displays for discussion at this point on the agenda and seconded by Brueggeman.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Discussion on Availability of Downtown Utility Poles for Private Flag Displays – Discussion took place on what the State of Nebraska allows for displays on the downtown utility poles and Shayne Hite contributed what the School Fundraiser of flags would entail with a potential of placing flags for display on the downtown utility poles. A motion was made by Bishop to have the City Superintendent begin preparing a utility pole banner policy for the City of Grant and seconded by Brueggeman.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Action and Discussion on League of Nebraska Municipalities Nebraska Pay Survey Results as it relates to City of Grant Compensation of Employees – A motion was made by Petersen to table the League of Nebraska Municipalities Nebraska Pay Survey Results as it relates to City of Grant Compensation of Employees to the February 27, 2024 meeting and seconded by Brueggeman.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Action and Discussion on Ordinance No. 24-02-01, An Ordinance Authorizing and Directing Execution of the Amended and Restate Total Power Requirements Power Purchase Agreement by the City of Grant, Perkins County, Nebraska With the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska; to Acknowledge and Provide for Limitations on use of the Electricity; to Prescribe the Time When this Ordinance Shall be in Full Force and Effect – City Clerk, Jessie Faber read the first reading of Ordinance No. 24-02-01 “An Ordinance Authorizing and Directing Execution of the Amended and Restate Total Power Requirements Power Purchase Agreement by the City of Grant, Perkins County, Nebraska With the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska; to Acknowledge and Provide for Limitations on use of the Electricity; to Prescribe the Time When this Ordinance Shall be in Full Force and Effect.”
Action on Bills & Claims – 20/20 Technologies, tech support/software – 346.70; Adams Lumber Co-Grant, supplies – 96.24; Black Hills Energy, utilities – 1,369.31; Blue Cross Blue Shield of NE, employee benefits – 7,823.36; Capital Business Systems, Inc., supplies – 123.60; Central Nebraska Bobcat, supplies – 502.86; City of Grant, utilities – 6,175.73; Country Supply, supplies – 226.30; Dutton-Lainson Company, capital outlay – 2,969.97; Erect-A-Tube Inc., capital outlay – 2,554.60; Faber Signs, supplies – 349.20; Frenchman Valley Coop, fuel, & supplies & repairs – 1,770.44; Grant Napa, supplies – 915.40; Grant Rotary Club, dues – 88.50; Great Plains Communications, telephone – 791.79; High Plains News, advertising – 340.87; Holmstedt Law Office, P.C., L.L.O., professional services – 2,725.00; Imperial Yost Farm Supply, supplies – 387.60; Itron, Inc., dues – 434.87; J & D Properties LLC, storage lease – 80.00; J Bar J Landfill, tipping fees – 3,615.03; MEAN, dues & training – 600.00; MacQueen Equipment Group, supplies – 790.20; Midwest Electric, capital outlay – 12,873.82; Nebraska Department of Environmental & Energy, dues – 40.00; Nebraska Public Health Environmental, lab & well tests – 30.00; One Call Concepts, Inc., telephone – .80; Perfect Shine, cleaning/janitorial – 40.00; Perkins County Health Services, supplies – 1,050.00; Perkins County Treasurer, police contract – 8,864.00; Family Auto Parts Inc., supplies – 1,054.26; Sandhills State Bank, employee benefits – 605.00; Utility Service Co., Inc., water tower contract – 3,175.98; Verizon Wireless, telephone – 251.54; Weathercraft of North Platte, capital outlay – 2,875.00: Western Resources Group, contract labor – 390.00; Woody’s Pivot Service, LLC, supplies & repairs – 110.41; American Funds, retirement –1,138.00; Nebraska Division of Aeronautics, beacon expense & AWOS maintenance – 595.00; Nebraska Department of Revenue, state income tax withholding – 956.91; United States Treasury, federal tax withholding – 3,190.55; Overtime Wages 1/14-1/27 – 604.71; Total Bills and Claims $72,923.55.
The motion was made by Brueggeman and seconded by Petersen to approve the Bills and Claims in the amount of $72,923.55.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Bishop, Brueggeman, & Petersen reviewed the bills and claims prior to the meeting.
Mayor Lisa Schmitt adjourned this meeting of the Grant City Council at 8:25 P.M.
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Lisa Schmitt, Mayor
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Jessie Faber, City Clerk