Council Minutes - October 8, 2024
October 25, 2024
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRANT, NEBRASKA
October 8, 2024
Mayor Lisa Schmitt convened a meeting of the Council of the City of Grant, Nebraska in open and public session on October 8, 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, October 3, 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, Sims, and Mayor Schmitt. Absent Council members: Petersen.
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 Sims to move New Business items B. and C. to under New Business item H. and otherwise accept the agenda as presented.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Bishop to approve the minutes of the September 24, 2024 meeting as presented and waive the reading and seconded by Sims.
Roll call vote: Yeas – Bishop & Sims. Nays – none. Abstain – Brueggeman. Yea – Mayor Schmitt. Motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS: City Superintendent, Edward Dunn informed the Council of the upcoming board meetings, the Community Redevelopment Authority (CRA) will meet October 28th at noon and the Park and Rec Committee will meet October 28th at 6:00 p.m. Dunn stated the auditor’s will be here October 10th to do the fieldwork portion of the audit. Dunn gave an update on the water main break during the CRA infrastructure project on Monday.
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.
ENFORCEMENT, SHERIFF & WATER REPORTS – Acknowledged as received.
FINANCIALS – Acknowledged as received. City Clerk/Treasurer, Jessie Faber Informed the Council that the Notice of the Summary of Changes to the Budget was published in the newspaper as required.
PUBLIC COMMENT – none.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
Employee Recognition – Eric McCormick – 5 Years (September 16, 2019) – City Superintendent, Dunn, informed the Council of Eric McCormick’s 5 years of service with the City and Eric was unable to attend the meeting tonight, so he will find a time for Eric to meet with the Mayor and himself to present him the certificate.
Action and Discussion on Ordinance No. 24-10-01, An Ordinance for the Compensation of all Officers and Employees of the City of Grant for the Fiscal Year of October 1, 2024, Through September 30, 2025; Replace and Repealing all Other Conflicting Ordinances and Conflicting Sections of Ordinances; Providing for the Effective Date – City Clerk, Jessie Faber read the first reading of Ordinance No. 24-10-01 “An Ordinance for the Compensation of all Officers and Employees of the City of Grant for the Fiscal Year of October 1, 2024, Through September 30, 2025; Repealing all Other Conflicting Ordinances and Conflicting Sections of Ordinances; and Providing for the Effective Date.”
A motion was made by Sims to waive the three readings of Ordinance No. 24-10-01 “An Ordinance for the Compensation of all Officers and Employees of the City of Grant for the Fiscal Year of October 1, 2024, Through September 30, 2025; Repealing all Other Conflicting Ordinances and Conflicting Sections of Ordinances; and Providing for the Effective Date.” and seconded by Brueggeman.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Sims to approve Ordinance No. 24-10-01 and seconded by Petersen. “An Ordinance for the Compensation of all Officers and Employees of the City of Grant for the Fiscal Year of October 1, 2024, Through September 30, 2025; Repealing all Other Conflicting Ordinances and Conflicting Sections of Ordinances; and Providing for the Effective Date.” 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 Mayoral Merit Wage Recommendation(s) – The Mayor stated she is recommending Jessie Faber, City Clerk/Treasurer for a one dollar ($1.00) an hour Mayoral Merit Wage increase and asked the Council to consider this recommendation. The Mayor gave her reasoning for this recommendation to the Council. A motion was made by Sims to approve the Mayoral Merit Wage recommendation of a one dollar ($1.00) an hour increase for the City Clerk/Treasurer effective September 29, 2024 and seconded by Bishop.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Action and Discussion on Request to be placed on the Agenda for Potential Parking Lot Project – Dr. Clifford Colglazier – A motion was made by Brueggeman to go into executive session for the protection of the public interest for the potential purchase of this property, and to include the Council Members, Mayor, Dr. Clifford Colglazier, City Superintendent, and City Attorney and seconded by Sims.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Entered Executive Session at 7:14 pm.
Exited Executive Session at 8:05 pm.
A motion was made by Brueggeman to come out of executive session and seconded by Sims.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Brueggeman to approve the City of Grant to purchase the property at 402 Central Ave, legal description of Lots 11 & 12 Block 21, original Town of Grant, Perkins County, Nebraska with the City of Grant contributing $30,000.00 toward the purchase and the City Attorney preparing the purchase agreement and the Mayor to do the signing and seconded by Bishop.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Action and Discussion on Request to be Placed on the Agenda for Ballfield Restroom Project – Jana Turner – Jana Turner presented an option to alleviate the Ballfield Restroom Project and explained how a committee is still working on a more permanent solution in the future. A motion was made by Sims to approve the purchase of the Double Restroom for $2,400.00 and a Single Restroom for $1,200.00 if the septic system will be able to handle both units plus the cost of placement from the private seller Kyler Buck and seconded by Brueggeman.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Action and Discussion on the Approval of the Application for the Nuisance Abatement Program as provided by West Central Nebraska Development District (WCNDD) – A motion was made by Bishop to move forward with the application for the Nuisance Abatement Program as provided by West Central Nebraska Development District (WCNDD) and seconded by Brueggeman.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Action and Discussion on City Superintendent Resignation – Edward Dunn read his letter of resignation and thanked the Mayor, Council, City Attorney, and City Clerk. The Mayor thanked Edward for his service to the City. The Council discussed what steps they needed to take regarding the resignation of the City Superintendent. A motion was made by Bishop to go into executive session for the protection of the individual and to include the Mayor, Council, and City Attorney and seconded by Sims.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Entered Executive Session at 8:37 pm.
Exited Executive Session at 9:33 pm.
A motion was made by Brueggeman to come out of executive session and seconded by Sims.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Sims to accept the City Superintendents Resignation effective September 30, 2024 and will continue to pay the salary thru November 30, 2024 and asked that all keys, passwords and logins be supplied to the Mayor following the meeting and that the Mayor would schedule a time for Edward to clean out his desk at a later date and seconded by Bishop.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Action and Discussion on City Superintendent Recruitment – Discussion took place on the City Superintendent recruitment. A motion was made by Sims to table action and discussion on City Superintendent Recruitment to the October 22, 2024 Council Meeting 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; Adams Lumber Co-Grant, supplies – 15.40; AFLAC, employee benefits – 202.10; AMGL, P.C., professional services – 5,600.00; Aurora Cooperative, fuel – 36.90; City of Grant, utilities – 12,808.97; Cranmore Pest Control, pest control – 340.00; Dutton-Lainson Company, capital outlay – 7,273.75; Ensz Hardware, supplies – 67.23; Jon Forney, tree board – 269.34; Frenchman Valley Coop, chemicals, fuel, tires, & supplies & repairs – 3,667.17; Grant Napa, supplies – 361.71; Great Plains Communications, telephone – 801.26; Gworks, tech support/software – 14,490.00; Hatch’s Super Foods, supplies – 119.91; Holmstedt Law Office, P.C., L.L.O., professional services – 3,977.50; J & D Properties LLC, storage lease – 80.00; J Bar J Landfill, tipping fees – 3,836.02; McCormick, Eric, dues & training – 186.26; Midwest Electric, O & M Charge & billing – 18,563.62; Nebraska Municipal Clerks’ Association, dues – 100.00; NPZA, dues & training – 20.00; One Call Concepts, Inc., telephone – 22.36; Perkins County Treasurer, police contract – 8,794.75; Ross Family Auto Parts Inc., supplies – 413.98; Sandhills State Bank, employee benefits – 605.00; Verizon Wireless, telephone – 251.74; Western Resources Group, contract labor – 260.00; Woody’s Pivot Service, LLC, supplies & repairs – 375.23; American Funds, retirement –1,138.08; Nebraska Division of Aeronautics, beacon expense & AWOS maintenance – 543.33; Nebraska Department of Revenue, state income tax withholding – 1,254.26; United States Treasury, federal tax withholding – 3,263.60; Overtime Wages 9/15-9/28– 129.12; Total Bills and Claims $90,215.29.
The motion was made by Bishop and seconded by Brueggeman to approve the Bills and Claims in the amount of $90,215.29.
Roll call vote: Yeas – all present. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Bishop, Brueggeman, & Sims reviewed the bills and claims prior to the meeting.
Mayor Lisa Schmitt adjourned this meeting of the Grant City Council at 9:44 P.M.
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Lisa Schmitt, Mayor
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Jessie Faber, City Clerk