VILLAGE OF ELMWOOD
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
November 17, 2021 – 7:00 PM
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Meeting Held at Elmwood Village Hall
The Village Board of Trustees met in regular session on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. Chairperson Miki Bruns called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm. Bruns stated that a current copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act was posted.
Roll Call was answered by Becky Kicak, Jared Blunt & Miki Bruns. Renee Holland was present at 7:02 Absent: Pat Wray
Minutes: Kicak made a motion, seconded by Blunt to approve November 17,2021 meeting minutes. RCV: Yes: Approved 3-0
Claims & Payroll: Blunt made a motion, seconded by Kicak to approve the Claims and Payroll for November 16,2021 RCV: Yes: Approved 4-0
Claims: AVG Internet Security $74.89, Black Hills Energy $188.10, Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather $22.50, Frontier Coop $277.48, IRS $720.30, Intuit QuickBooks $5.25, Intuit QuickBooks Payroll $695.50, Midwest Lab $192.05, NE Dept of Revenue $1,271.44, Utility Service Co., Inc $2,438.09, Verizon Wireless $53.83, Wirebuilt Company $29, Payroll $3,483.13 RCV: Yes: Approved 4-0
New Business
Discussion/Action Board Member Resignation
Bruns read Wray’s resignation letter to the board. Motion by Holland to accept Pat Wray’s Resignation letter from the Village Board, second by Blunt. RCV: Yes – 3 No – Kicak
Bruns informed the board that if anyone has a nomination to let her know before the December 1st Meeting. Pat Wray’s term ends the end of 2022.
Discussion/Action 5th Annual Elmwood F.K.N. Car/Bike Show – Blake & Tracey
Bruns briefed our residents in attendance that they have 3 minutes each to speak and to be respectful to others.
Public Comments:
Troy Klimek - 401 West D Street
As a family and part of this community we love the car show. My family enjoys the car show and we have participated every year in the car show. I don’t want to see the car show location on main street change.
Alli Beach – 517 West D Street
I’m part of the Elmwood Community Association. We had our meeting last night and met with Blake and Tracey in regards of the car show. We are working with them to make this into a bigger event around Elmwood Days. We have a lot of things planned to make this a community wide event. Blake will advertise with the car magazine and Elmwood Community Association will advertise that we are partnering with the Elmwood for the Knowledge and Novice Car/Bike Show.
Debra McNaught (Owns C-Store) – 308 East D Street
Each year that Blake has had the Car Show we have taken acceptance of having the entrances blocked and it does hurt our income that day. I don’t know what can be done differently so that my entrances are not blocked to the gas station but maybe we can stop the road closure north of our entrances off Main Street. Blocking our entrances does cause problems.
Tiffany Vogt – 731 334TH Street
I’m the president of the Elmwood Community Association. We want to make this a family friendly event. There are so many surrounding towns that have their own events and I think we can make this into a great community event for Elmwood.
Grace Ronhovde – 305 West D Street
I am in full support of a business in our community hosting a car and bike show. A show like this gives opportunities for members of the public to come and share the friendliness and hospitality of a small Nebraska town. In so many ways, the car and bike show is such a valuable venture. With that being said I do have a few concerns, namely the stunting of traffic flow on main street. Shutting down portions of the main road through Elmwood greatly reduces traffic to other businesses. Elmwood has other large parking areas around town that may work well for a car show that would provide safer areas for families, citizens, and visitors. Secondly the car show needs to benefit all interested Elmwood Businesses. Lastly, the name FKN does not represent our community in a positive light. We have families that live here, and impressionable children who watch very closely. I’m so saddened that Elmwood would accept this name, when we are fully aware of the negative impacts it can attract in both our Elmwood and Murdock Communities. We should support the car and bike show under a different name.
Tracey Hespen – 209 South 3rd Street
No one has voiced these concerns before in the last 4 years we have had the car show and now all the issues. As far as the food truck goes that I make we use the money raised to purchase the trophies for the car show. The problem we have with moving the car show off main street is that when they moved the Holiday Extravaganza off main street no one showed up and that is why we have it on main street. Also, we can’t have the car show at the school because a lot of our people in attendance smoke and the school is an alcohol/tobacco free area.
Blake Ulmer – 209 South 3rd Street
My grandparents and parents have all lived in Elmwood, I don’t plan on going anywhere and I really don’t want to move the car show to another town because it is a pain. I have other towns that are ready for me to move the car show to their town if this isn’t passed. The 50/50 raffle goes to the GAR Hall and if I move the car show I will continue to give them the donation. People love the car show.
Board Members Responses: Kicak presented a printout of a text message she received from the Cass County Sheriff that he isn’t in favor of shutting any major highway down for safety reasons and Fire and Rescue calls. He stated that he has always been against promoting events with the use of alcohol. Kicak also contacted the Cass County Rural Water Office on main street and said their concern is if there is an emergency, they will need to get to their building. Kicak then spoke to Nebraska Department of Roads and they said if the village chooses to shut the highway down then the Village takes full liability off of the state in the case that anything is to happen during the time of the shutdown. Kicak said she supports the car show but doesn’t support the closure. Holland said she doesn’t know why these issues haven’t been brought to the board in the past years. Why didn’t anyone want to make it a community event before being that this would be the 5th year of it. The board can’t make them change the name because Elmwood doesn’t run the car show.
Blunt stated that everyone’s points were good, and he doesn’t see any issues with having the car show.
Bruns stated that they require Blake to provide hefty liability insurance to cover the event. Food at the car show can be served by whoever because the Village doesn’t require vendor to get a permit. Bruns doesn’t believe that the Village Board should dictate what happens at the car show otherwise it would be the Elmwood Village Board Car Show. Blake and Tracey do a great job with organizing the car show.
Tabled – December 1st meeting pending more information
Discussion/Action Patrick Euse’s Sewer Max Charge
Board agreed they have nothing to estimate the sewer max off of so he will have to pay his bill and in 4 months we will average his sewer max charge and credit him the difference. Motion by Blunt to re-evaluate the sewer max usage so that we can give him a sewer max charge in 4 months, second by Holland. RCV: YES: Approved 4-0
Discussion/Action Installing a water valve @ West and D Street
Ed recommended putting the value in and not just a stop at this hydrant because it has been leaking for a while just by looking at the luscious green grass around the hydrant. They aren’t exactly sure where the leak is until they dig the area up. Ed recommends using Lincoln Winwater Company’s bid. Motion by Blunt to use Lincoln Winwater Company to install a hydrant valve for $6000 and NE Diggers for up to $1,400 for a contractor to dig the area on NW Street, second by Kicak. RCV: YES: Approved 4-0
Discussion/Action Ordinance 2021-4 – Demolition permit fee & Application
Motion by Holland to waive the 3 readings, second by Kicak. RCV: YES: Approved 4-0
Kicak read Ordinance 2021-4
Motion by Holland to approve Ordinance 2021-4, second by Kicak. RCV: YES: Approved 4-0
Bruns worried that the Committee won’t be able to afford this extra expense because they are volunteer driven. Bruns suggested letting Local Community Mission LLC. re-use the old fence for the demo process that we are having replaced at the water tower if the replacement happens before December 4th.
Unfinished Business
Discussion/Action Planning & Zoning board member recommendation
No recommendations currently. If anyone has a recommendation let Bruns or Blunt know.
Discussion/Action vote to reverse meetings back to 2 meetings per month
Motion by Holland to change back to 2 meetings a month on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, Second by Kicak. RCV: YES: Approved 4-0
Discussion/Action vote to reverse Elmwood Community Association as a sub-committee under the Village of Elmwood
Per our town attorney’s advice we need to reverse the motion of the Elmwood Community Association being a sub-committee because we would have to track everything they do and the board would have to manage their budget. We don’t want to do that. Motion by Holland that Elmwood Community Association will no longer be a sub-committee under the Village of Elmwood, Second by Blunt. RCV: YES: Approved 4-0
Discussion Regarding Board member pay
We can’t do this until a election year so it won’t be until Election 2022 and would go into effect in 2023.
Reports/Boards, Commissions, and Committees
Library: Motion by Blunt to approve October 2021 Minutes, second by Holland. RCV: YES: Approved 4-0
Park: Jeff will winterize the bathrooms after the Holiday Extravaganza. Jeff needs to lower the basketball hoops for the Holiday Extravaganza.
Streets: Bruns told Jeff lights need to be put up before the Holiday Extravaganza. Jeff said he has been in contact with Ryan Anderson to use his lift to put the lights up. Jeff installed the MoPac banner for EMMA on 4th & E Street. NE Diggers will be bringing rock next week. Someone contacted Bruns and asked if the Village can change the Stops signs at the intersection South 2nd and West C Street. Currently the Stop signs are East/West, and they want them to be changed to North/South.
Water: Jeff will continue to change the old meters out. Bruns asked Jeff if he has changed Furgerson’s Meter. Jeff said no and Bruns told him that is a priority.
Sewer: Jeff takes his sewer test tomorrow November 18,2021.
Planning/Zoning: Next Meeting scheduled for December 13,2021 @ 7:00pm
Public Comment:
Linda Blunt – 104 Railroad Ave.
Cleanup on the main street demo buildings is scheduled for December 4th and will start at 9am. If you’re wanting to help with the clean out of inside the buildings, please bring a mask and gloves.
Ed Blunt – 104 Railroad Ave.
The Village should look into having the sidewalks put back on West D Street for the kids walking to school because I don’t like seeing the kids walking in the road and don’t want an accident to happen.
Correspondence: Bruns saw an article in our Nebraska Municipal Review book that the City of Alliance is offering a sidewalk replacement program and wants Moriah to look into it more.
Future Agenda Items:
Comprehensive plan Ordinance
Zoning Ordinance
Sub-Division Ordinance
5th Annual Elmwood F.K.N. Car/Bike Show (Dec 1)
Planning & Zoning board member recommendation
Updated Tree Bid for 324 East D Street (Dec 1)
Resolution to change the stop signs at South 2nd & West C Street. (Dec 1)
Meter change out Bids from local plumbers
Ordinance for Master Fee Schedule (Jan 5)
John Powers Cat issue
112 North 4th Street – Romero/Vogt Property (March 2022)
Meeting adjourned at 8:48 pm