American Exchange Bank
mm
ElmwoodNE Banner

Village of Elmwood Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes - 12-04-2019

VILLAGE OF ELMWOOD

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

December 4, 2019 – 7:00pm

REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Meeting Held at Elmwood Village Hall

 

  1. The Elmwood Village Board met in regular session on Wednesday December 4, 2019. The meeting was called to order at 7:01pm. Chairperson Miki Bruns stated that a current copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act was posted.
  2. Roll Call was answered by Pat Wray, Miki Bruns, and Becky Kicak. David Ernst was absent. All signed the “Notice of Acknowledgement of Meeting”. Notice of the meeting was given, in advance, by posting in three public places (the Post Office, Village Office, and Elmwood Convenience Store). Minutes were taken by Kristen Janssen, part-time Clerk.

 

  1. Wray made a motion, seconded by Kicak, to approve the November 20, 2019 meeting minutes. RCV: Yes: All. Motion approved 3-0.

 

  1. Wray made a motion, seconded by Kicak, to approve the payroll and claims for December 1-2, December 3, and payroll for November 17-27. RCV: Yes: All. Motion approved 3-0. Payroll: $3,088.43. Claims: Cass County Refuse - $74.00, Christiansen Tree Service - $450.00, Elmwood Public Library - $2,501.01, JEO Consulting Group - $1,000, NE Public Health - $46.00, Nebraska Rural Water Association - $150.00, NMPP - $2,013.00, OPPD - $3,107.17, Randy Bornemeier - $1,260.00, Trade Well Pallet - $1,700.00, Windstream - $139.34, Dostal’s Construction - $38,240.00, Lincoln Journal Star - $493.38.

 

  1. New Business

 

  1. Angela Lancaster was sworn into office
  2. Todd Stevens was present to talk about his concern with recycling in the town now that Cass County refuse will no longer be offering the service. He stated he didn’t want a centralized recycling because it gets abused by other towns and is always full. Bruns stated it was too costly for the trash companies to continue to offer the service and that it wasn’t an option for the town. She stated that Keep Cass County Beautiful was in contact and will let the Village know if any options become available.
  3. Wray made a motion, seconded by Kicak, to approve Resolution number 04122019, allowing a stop sign to be erected on the corners of 1st and D street going East and West. RCV: Yes: All. Motion approved 4-0.
  4. Kicak made a motion, seconded by Lancaster, to approve the waiver of late fees on the Elmwood Christian Church’s two water bills. RCV: Yes: All. Motion approved 4-0.
  5. Bruns spoke with Ernst regarding highway allocation funds to see how much the Village receives. If the Board decided to pave all suggested streets, minus B Street, in the original street plan voted on at last meeting, the Village may have to dip into their savings by $15,000 a year to cover the projects. Bruns proposed getting bids for A, B, and C projects to see if we can afford all three. Kicak made a motion, seconded by Lancaster, to add B and C plans to the bidding for the street project. RCV: Yes: All. Motion approved 4-0.
  6. Wray made a motion, seconded by Kicak, to approve the Rorie fence permit at 320 W G St. RCV: Yes: All. Motion approved 4-0.
  7. Unfinished Business
  8. The CPA was contacted about taxes on sewer and stated that both water and sewer are both taxable.
  9. The Clerk provided copies of Ulmer and Fleischman fence permits. Bruns asked if either permit indicated a 10-foot setback from the Alley. Bruns looked at the fence and had some people who drive trucks look at the clearance and they stated there shouldn’t be an issue with hitting the fence. Bruns stated to the homeowners, who were present, that if the fence gets hit and damaged, they may seek funds from whomever hit the fence. Bruns asked about a fence between the two buildings on the property and the owners stated there is a fence currently in place, but that it will be updated. Wray made a motion, seconded by Kicak, to approve the Smith fence permit at 224 s 4th RCV: Yes: All. Motion approved 4-0.
  10. Wray shared information with Susie Allgayer regarding the tree stump in front of the Community Center but hasn’t heard back. The board will wait to get more information.
  11. Ernst has been out of town, so interviews haven’t been conducted for the Full-Time Maintience supervisor position.
  12. Julie Baer has not provided any information regarding 208 E D St.

 

  1. Reports of Boards, Commissions, and Committees

 

                Streets: Nothing to report

                Park: Gazebo is finished, and the lights are on a timer so they will not be on all the time

Library: Kicak made a motion, seconded by Lancaster to approve the minutes and payroll from the December 2, 2019 meeting. RCV: Yes: All. Motion approved 4-0.

                Water: Nitrates are getting lower, everything looks good

Sewer: The sewer plant has a bad pump. The electrician thinks it’s a bad motor. Ed Blunt called the people the Village bought the pump from and they should be able to fix the motor. Blunt will have to use his personal truck to take it in because of the spreader in the city truck.

                Planning/Zoning: Next meeting is December 15, 2019 at 4:00pm

  1. Public Comment: Jeff Clymer, 405 N 5th St, stated that he was still interested in the maintenance position and has been shadowing Blunt to see what the job entails.

Lou Allgayer stated that there are matching funds for highway allocation. Clerk stated it was not in addition to the savings in place for the streets.

Todd Stevens, 320 N 3rd St, expressed his concerns with a tree on 3rd and G streets. He has been having tree limbs fall on the sidewalk. Blunt stated he would get an estimate from Christiansen for removal.

Pat Beckman, 209 E F St, was wondering who was responsible for injuries that would result from the poor condition of the sidewalk in front of the community center.

  1. Correspondence: Nothing to report
  2. Personnel: Nothing to report
  3. Retirement of current board: None to retire
  4. Reorganization of Board:
  5. Newly elected and re-elected members oath to office: None to swear in
  6. Wray made a motion, seconded by Lancaster, to retain the current Chairperson, Miki Bruns. RCV: Yes: Wray, Kicak and Lancaster. Abstain: Bruns. A motion was made by Wray, seconded by Lancaster to retain Ernst as the Vice Chairperson. RCV: Yes: All.
  7. Appointments
    1. Kicak made a motion, seconded by Lancaster to appoint JEO Consulting Group, Inc. as the Village Engineer. RCV: Yes: All. Motion approved 4-0.
    2. Kicak made a motion, seconded by Lancaster, to appoint Evan Wickersham of JEO Consulting Group, Inc. as the Village Street Superintendent. RCV: Yes: All. Motion approved 4-0.
    3. Kicak made a motion, seconded by Lancaster, to appoint Kristen Janssen as the Village Clerk/Treasurer. Discussion was had by Wray because she didn’t feel it was fair at this point to appoint someone. The guideline to appoint a clerk was put into place in 2017. Bruns stated that it has been an appointed position since then. Bruns stated that it had to be voted on during the first meeting of December. RCV: Yes: Kicak, Lancaster, Bruns. No: Wray. Motion approved 3-1.
    4. Kicak made a motion, seconded by Lancaster to appoint Maureen Freeman-Caddy of The Law Offices of Bromm, Lindahl, Freeman-Caddy & Lausterer as the Village attorney. RCV: Yes: All. Motion approved 4-0.
    5. Wray made a motion, seconded by Kicak, to appoint Mike Jensen as the Village building inspector. RCV: Yes: All. Motion approved 4-0.
    6. Lancaster made a motion, seconded by Wray, to appoint Rebecca Kicak as the Nuisance officer. RCV: Yes: Wray, Bruns, Lancaster. Abstain: Kicak. Motion approved 3-0.
    7. Lancaster made a motion, seconded by Wray, to appoint Rebecca Kicak as the Hearing office. RCV: Yes: Lancaster, Wray, Bruns. Abstain: Kicak.
    8. Kicak made a motion, seconded by Wray, to appoint Bruns as the chairperson for the Health board. RCV: Yes: Kicak, Wray, Lancaster. Abstain: Bruns. Motion approved 3-0.
    9. There were no planning commissioners whose terms have expired
    10. Wray made a motion, seconded by Kicak, to appoint Angela Lancaster as the Park commissioner. RCV: Yes: Kicak, Wray, Bruns. Abstain: Lancaster. Motion approved 3-0. Lancaster made a motion, seconded by Kicak, to appoint Wray as the street commissioner. RCV: Yes: Kicak, Lancaster, Bruns. Abstain: Wray. Motion approved 3-0. Lancaster made a motion, seconded by Wray to appoint Rebecca Kicak as the water and sewer commissioner. RCV: Yes: Wray, Lancaster, Bruns. Abstain: Kicak. Motion approved 3-0.
  8. Wray made a motion, seconded by Lancaster, to designate the American Exchange Bank as the Village depository bank. RCV: Yes: All. Motion approved 4-0.
  9. Wray made a motion, seconded by Kicak, to designate the Plattsmouth Journal as the legal newspaper. RCV: Yes: All. Motion approved 4-0.
  10. Kicak made a motion, seconded by Lancaster, to designate the Post Office, Elmwood Convenience Store and the Village office as the three places in which reasonable advanced notice will be published. RCV: Yes: All. Motion approved 4-0.
  11. Future Agenda Items: Street project, JEO agreement, Marie for Park, Community center tree stump, job posting interviews, 208 E D St, 320 N 3rd St tree, funds at American Exchange bank, bid for snow removal, personnel meeting.
  12. Without anything further to discuss the meeting was adjourned at 8:43pm