VILLAGE OF ELMWOOD
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
August 3,2022 – 7:00 PM
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Meeting Held at Elmwood Village Office
The Village Board of Trustees met in regular session on Wednesday, August 3, 2022. Chairperson Jared Blunt called the meeting to order at 7:00pm. Blunt stated that a current copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act was posted.
Roll Call: Answered by Miki Bruns, Becky Kicak, Heather Scott & Jared Blunt. Absent: Renee Holland
Minutes: Bruns made a motion, second by Kicak to approve meeting minutes from July 20,2022. RCV: Yes
Approved 4-0
Claims and payroll: Bruns made a motion, 2nd by Scott to approve claims & payroll for August 3, 2022. RCV:
Yes: Approved 4-0
Claims: Cass County Refuse (Garbage) $70, Cass County Sheriff (Served a letter) $104.46, Frontier Coop (Fuel)$359.84, HTM Sales, Inc. (Service sewer pump)$833.60, IRS (Payroll Taxes)$1,306.74, Intuit (Direct Deposit fee) $5.25, NE Dept. of Revenue (Payroll Taxes) $262.49, NE Digging Services (Rock) $748.42, OPPD (Electricity) $3,568.81, U.S. Postal Services (Stamps) $132, Village of Elmwood (Petty Cash Reimbursement) $16.20, Windstream (Phone) $199.93, Salary $4,404.90.
EPIC Park Account Claims: Tidball Barger Band (music in the park) $350
New Business
Discussion/Action 2022 -2023 Budget Workshop – Michael Hoback
Michael reported that we have good cash reserves. Board asked if there would be a possibility in decreasing the water rates, but Michael reported that our water income is low and with the million-dollar cost of having to add in a new well Michael said it wouldn’t be able to be done this year.
Discussion/Action adding a no parking zone across from the garage located at 3rd & West C Street – Gonzalo Romero
Village Board didn’t feel like this was a issue that needed to be addressed with a “no parking zone”. No Action Taken.
Discussion/Action Nuisance Yard Letter “104 West C Street” – Debbie Bracken
Debbie Bracken asked the board for more time with taking care of the Nuisance lawn letter that she received. The board thanked Debbie for taking care of the issue when she received the letter. The board agreed to give her until fall (2022) to get the yard cleaned up.
Discussion/Action Purchase of new printers for the water and sewer plant
Motion by Bruns to purchase 2 printers at $229.99 each for the water plant and the sewer plant, second by Scott. RCV: YES: Approved 4-0
Discussion/Action Hiring Summer Helper
Moriah reported to the board that she didn’t receive any applicants for the summer helper position. We are looking for someone to finish out the year when Levi heads to college. Board said to post the job again with a deadline date of August 31st, 2022.
Discussion/Action 112 North 4th Street – Romero Property
Moriah reported to the board that this issue is in the Attorney’s hands. The town Attorney will work with the Zoning Administrator to address this matter.
Unfinished Business
Discussion/Action Nuisance Homes
Moriah has issued all the nuisance letters on the reported Nuisance properties except to the commercial ones. Moriah will do some more digging on what their exact Nuisance Codes are concerning Commercial properties. A new Nuisance property reported is 116 East D Street.
Discussion Update on East D Street Cat population
The attorney working this case had a letter delivered to Jean Reinke through the Cass County Sheriff’s Office on 7/22/22 and she had 96 hours to take care of the cat population located at her properties on West D street. The Village will now work with Mitsi through Joining forces and saving lives and address the cat population issue.
Discussion/Action Tree Bid for H Street tree removal
Motion by Bruns to approve the $640 tree bid through Christensen Tree service to have the tree removed at 317 East F Street, second by Kicak. RCV: YES: Approved 4-0
Discussion/Action John Powers Cats
Board said to have Mitsi from Joining forces and saving lives reach out to John about the cats he is trying to get re-homed.
Reports/Boards, Commissions, and Committees
Library: Motion by Bruns to approve the library Claims and Payroll for August 1 – 2,2022, second by Scott. RCV: YES: Approved 4-0
Library Claims & Payroll: Amazon (New Books) $344.69, Black Hills Energy (Natural Gas) $35.02, Elmwood Public Library (Petty Cash Reimbursement) $21.43, NE Dept. of Revenue (Payroll Taxes)$10.32, Scott Bornemeier, LLC (Internet) $60.34, United States Treasury (Payroll Taxes) $169.36, Windstream (Phone) $49.92 Salary $825.38.
Park: Ed is waiting to get a bid back from NE Digging for woodchips.
Street: Ed is waiting to get a bid back from NE Digging for rocking the alley. Levi is still paining the parking lines around town. Ed will get a bid for the dying/diseased pine trees that are in the right of way located at 417 North 4th Street.
Water: Ed reported that that we are currently already below water levels that were reported from last year. The board agreed that we need to go into water restrictions until further notice. Motion by Kicak to implement Mandatory Water Restrictions immediately 8/4/2022, second by Bruns. RCV: YES: Approved 4-0
Ed will look into other companies to finish changing meters out because the current company is too busy.
Sewer: Ed reported that pump #4 had yet another issue so HTM corrected that, and it is now installed and working.
Planning/Zoning: Next meeting is August 15,2022 at 7:00pm.
Public Comment:
Ed Blunt – 104 Railroad Ave.
I just wanted everyone to know that Christensen Tree Service got permission to leave mulch at the brush site and it is free so if anyone would like any help yourself.
Correspondence: Jared received a letter notifying the village of another opportunity for a grant like we did last year for replacing the fence around the water tower. Jared asked Moriah to look into it and we could possibly put this grant towards the backup generator. Personnel:
Discussion/Action 401K for employees
Our insurance company referred Capitol Group to us regarding the 401K and they actually suggested since we only have 2 employees to go with a Simple IRA instead of a 401K since we only have 2 employees. The Employee would need to put in 2% of salary no matter what in the simple IRA. If the employee chooses to put in the full 3% of their salary, then the village will match that 3%. Motion by Bruns to approve Capitol Group to a Simple IRA match of 3% of the employee’s salary, second by Scott. RCV: YES: Approved 4-0
Discussion/Action Short/Long term disability for employees
Need more information regarding other Villages and if they offer this as a benefit. Add to Future Agenda
Future Agenda:
Library Handicap door bid
Library Electrician bids
Short/Long term disability coverage for employees
New Pickup and snow blade bid
New Lawnmower Bid
Bid for rocking the alley
Bid for wood chips
Bid for tree removal at 417 North 4th Street (Aug 17)
Wage Ordinance with Simple IRA Included
Meeting Adjourned at 9:14pm