City of Grant, Nebraska

Council Minutes - December 10, 2024

COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

CITY OF GRANT, NEBRASKA

December 10, 2024

                Mayor Lisa Schmitt convened a meeting of the Council of the City of Grant, Nebraska in open and public session on December 10, 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, December 5, 2024, and to 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 members: Sims.

Others present:  City Clerk/Treasurer Jessie Faber, 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 Petersen to approve the minutes of the November 26, 2024 meeting as presented and waive the reading and seconded by Brueggeman.

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

COMMUNICATIONS:  City Clerk/Treasurer, Jessie Faber informed the Council of the upcoming board meetings: the cemetery board did not have quorum at the meeting today and continued the meeting to tomorrow at 5:15 p.m., the library board will meet tomorrow at 5:15 p.m., and the City Council does not hold the second meeting of the month in December. The Holiday Schedule for the City this year is the City will be Closing at noon on December 24th and be Closed all Day December 25th for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The City will be closing at noon December 31st and be Closed all Day January 1st for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.  Faber also gave an update on the progress of the parking lot north of the City Offices.

STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS: 

Council member, Bishop – none. Council member, Brueggeman – none. Council member, Petersen – none. Council member, Sims – none.

ENFORCEMENT, SHERIFF & WATER REPORTS – Acknowledged as received.

FINANCIALS – Acknowledged as received.

PUBLIC COMMENT – Marlin Wendell.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Action and Discussion on City Superintendent Employment Contract – A motion was made by Bishop to go into executive session due to negotiations and for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual and to include the Mayor, Council, and City Attorney and seconded by Petersen.  

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

Entered Executive Session at 7:08 pm.

Exited Executive Session at 8:05 pm.

A motion was made by Brueggeman to come out of executive session and seconded by Bishop.

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

A motion was made by Bishop to have the City Attorney amend the contract as discussed including the availability of earned vacation, a clarification of job duties to include a minimum of 40 hours weekly and the attendance at standing committee meetings. Righted that there is no counter I would then also make a motion to allow the Mayor and Jeffrey Scott Miller to enter into agreement based on that offer and seconded by Petersen.

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

NEW BUSINESS:

Swearing in of Newly Elected Official - Kimberly Bishop – City Council – Kimberly Bishop read the Oath of Office and rejoined the meeting.

Swearing in of Newly Elected Official - Samuel Sims – City Council – A motion was made by Brueggeman to table the Swearing in of Newly Elected Official Samuel Sims to the City Council to the January 14, 2025 Council meeting and seconded by Bishop.

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

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

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 standing committee reorganization by changing the Library to Tierney Petersen and the Economic Development to Andrea Brueggeman with the rest staying the same 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 Petersen. The appointments stated are:

Action and Discussion on Mayoral Appointment of Mayor Lisa Schmitt to Serve on the West Central Nebraska Joint Housing Authority – A motion was made by Brueggeman to approve the Mayoral Appointment of Mayor Lisa Schmitt to serve on the West Central Nebraska Joint Housing Authority and seconded by Bishop.

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

Action and Discussion on Mayoral Appointment of Jeffrey Scott Miller as City Superintendent for the City of Grant Term Ending 12/31/2025 – A motion was made by Bishop to approve the Mayoral appointment of Jeffrey Scott Miller as City Superintendent for the City of Grant term ending 12/31/2025 provided the employment agreement contract is rendered to begin on January 6, 2025 and seconded by Petersen.

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

Action and Discussion on Mayoral Appointment of Jeffrey Scott Miller as Airport Manager for the City of Grant Term Ending 12/31/2025 – A motion was made by Bishop to approve the Mayoral appointment of Jeffrey Scott Miller as Airport Manager for the City of Grant term ending 12/31/2025 provided the employment agreement contract is rendered to begin on January 6, 2025 and seconded by Petersen.

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

Action and Discussion on Mayoral Appointment of Jeffrey Scott Miller as Deputy Clerk/Treasurer for the City of Grant Term Ending 12/31/2025 – A motion was made by Tierney to approve the Mayoral appointment of Jeffrey Scott Miller as Deputy Clerk/Treasurer for the City of Grant term ending 12/31/2025 provided the employment agreement contract is rendered to begin on January 6, 2025 and seconded by Bishop.

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

Action and Discussion on Ordinance No. 24-12-01, 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; Providing for the Effective Date – City Clerk, Jessie Faber read the first reading of Ordinance No. 24-12-01 “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 Bishop to waive the three readings of Ordinance No. 24-12-01 “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 Petersen to approve Ordinance No. 24-12-01 “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 Bishop.

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

The Ordinance will be published in pamphlet form.

Action and Discussion on Contract Agreement Between the City of Grant and the Community Redevelopment Authority of the City of Grant Regarding the Bishop Subdivision – A motion was made by Bishop to approve the Contract Agreement Between the City of Grant and the Community Redevelopment Authority of the City of Grant Regarding the Bishop Subdivision and authorize the Mayor to sign and seconded by Petersen.

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

Action and Discussion on Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Grant and the Community Redevelopment Authority of the City of Grant Regarding the Use of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds – A motion was made by Petersen to approve the Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Grant and the Community Redevelopment Authority of the City of Grant Regarding the Use of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds and authorize the Mayor to sign and seconded by Brueggeman.

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 – 1,668.76; AFLAC, employee benefits – 154.12; Black Hills Energy, utilities – 1,192.10; Blue Cross Blue Shield of NE, employee benefits – 8,622.15; City of Grant, utilities – 3,115.25; Culligan Water Conditioning, supplies – 7.50; Dutton-Lainson Company, capital outlay – 6,822.50; Ensz Hardware, supplies – 52.84; Frenchman Valley Coop, supplies & fuel – 1,530.23; Grant Napa, supplies – 101.64; Great Plains Communications, telephone – 925.62; Hatch’s Super Foods, supplies – 36.93; High Plains News, advertising – 919.37; Holmstedt Law Office, P.C., L.L.O., professional services – 11,155.00; J & D Properties LLC, storage lease – 860.00;    J Bar J Landfill, tipping fees – 3,639.24; David Jones, utilities refund – 37.14; Ken’s Construction LLC, contract labor – 1,100.00; Midwest Electric, Utilities, O & M Charge, bad debt expense, billing, & professional services, – 18,537.86; Mutual of Omaha, employee benefits – 90.00; Nebraska Association of Airport Officials, dues & training – 250.00; One Call Concepts, Inc., telephone – 22.78; Perfect Shine, cleaning/janitorial – 40.00; Perkins County Treasurer, police contract  – 8,794.75; Pinnacle Bank/Visa, dues & training, postage, advertising, & tech support/software – 732.37; Potts Electric, supplies & repairs – 226.86; Ross Family Auto Parts Inc., supplies – 9.49; Sandhills State Bank, employee benefits – 1,110.00; Southwest Nebraska Clerks Association, dues & training – 10.00; Verizon Wireless, telephone – 251.78; Western Resources Group, contract labor – 390.00; American Funds, retirement –2,200.48; Nebraska Division of Aeronautics, beacon expense & AWOS maintenance – 543.33; Nebraska Department of Revenue, sales tax – 6,869.89; Nebraska Department of Revenue, state income tax withholding – 1,469.80; United States Treasury, federal tax withholding – 9,424.64; Overtime Wages 11/17-11/30– 526.24; Total Bills and Claims $93,787.36.

The motion was made by Petersen and seconded by Brueggeman to approve the Bills and Claims in the amount of $93,787.36.

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 8:27 P.M.

                                                                                             ______________________________________

                                                                                              Lisa Schmitt, Mayor

_______________________________

Jessie Faber, City Clerk

Clerk’s Note:  Minutes are not approved by Council as of the date of publication. (Posted 12/31/2024)

Clerk's Note:  Minutes were approved by Council at the Regular Council Meeting on January 14, 2025. (Posted 1/15/2025)