A regular meeting of the Mayor and the City Council of O'Neill was held at the City Hall in said City on the 8th day of November, 2004 at 7:30 P.M.

 

     Present:  Mayor William T. Price, City Clerk/Treasurer Nikki Johnston, Council President Ed Price and Council members;  Don Baker, Lauren Hiebner, Terri Krysl, Dwayne Philbrick, Marv Fritz, Al Vorce and Kevin Shelhamer.  Absent:  City Attorney Boyd Strope.

 

     Notice of this meeting was given in advance thereof according to Section 84-1408 of the Revised Statutes of Nebraska.  Notice of the meeting was given to the Mayor and all members of the Council and a copy of the acknowledgement of receipt of notice and the agenda is attached to the minutes.  Availability of the agenda was communicated in the advance notice.  All proceedings hereafter shown were taken while convened meeting was open to the attendance of the public.

 

     The meeting was called to order by Mayor Price.

 

Moved by Krysl, second by Price to waive the reading of

the minutes of October 4th and October 25th and approve them as if read.  Roll call vote as follows:  All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

     Moved by Baker, second by Fritz to open the CDBG public hearing.  Roll call vote as follows:  All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

     Housing Committee representative John Heitz read the following statement:

 

At this point in time, the City of O’Neill has served fourteen households with the Down Payment Assistance Program.  The average amount of down payment funds for the fourteen households is $12,700.77. 

 

The City of O’Neill can serve two more households, one at $14,500 and one at $9,614.31.  This would total sixteen households served versus seventeen awarded in the grant.  The success of this program has been overwhelming.  Due to mortgage lending rates at an extreme low, applicants were able to approach and purchase nicer homes with higher price tags.  Six out of fourteen applicants were awarded the $14,500, while an additional six were awarded over $10,000.  These circumstances have lead to sixteen slots instead of seventeen.

 

At this time the Housing Committee is requesting Council approval to submit an amendment to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to amend from seventeen households served to sixteen households served.

 

     There were no public comments made.

 

     Moved by Price, second by Baker to close the public hearing.  Roll call vote as follows:  All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

     Moved by Baker, second by Hiebner to approve the program design amendment from seventeen to sixteen households served for the CDBG Down Payment Assistance Program.  Roll call vote as follows:  All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

     Moved by Fritz, second by Price to open the Walnofer minor plat request public hearing.  Roll call vote as follows:  All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

     Planning Commission Chair John Humrich stated that the Planning Commission met today and approved this request to subdivide approximately two acres off of an approximate two acre tract.

 

     There were no public comments made.

 

     Moved by Krysl, second by Price to close the minor plat request public hearing.  Roll call vote as follows:  All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

     Moved by Fritz, second by Philbrick to approve the Walnofer minor plat request as submitted.  Roll call vote as follows:  All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

     Moved by Price, second by Fritz to open the Kirwan minor plat request public hearing.  Roll call vote as follows:  All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

     Planning Commission Chair John Humrich stated that the Planning Commission met today and approved this request to subdivide twenty-two acres from a thirty-five or forty acre tract of land. 

 

     There were no public comments made.

 

     Moved by Baker, second by Philbrick to close the minor plat request public hearing.  Roll call vote as follows:  All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

     Moved by Price, second by Fritz to approve the Kirwan minor plat request as submitted.  Roll call vote as follows:  All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

     Marcia Musson and Ranelle Otte from the Ranchland Art Group requested a second allocation of funds in the amount of $300.00.  Marcia highlighted the Art Group’s activities for the past year and plans for the upcoming year as well.

 

     Moved by Baker, second by Krysl to approve a $300.00 allocation of funds to the Ranchland Art Group.  Roll call vote as follows:  All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

     Moved by Fritz, second by Baker to approve a catering permit for Ashley’s Attic on Nov. 19th with an alternative date of Dec. 2nd for a wine tasting event.  Roll call vote as follows:  All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

     Robert Fisher submitted the following request:

 

Your Honorable Mayor and City Council,

 

I have recently erected a plumbing shop on Kros Drive and so this is a request for installation of a street light on the northwest corner of Boone Avenue and Kros Drive.  Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.

 

Sincerely,

 

Robert Fisher

 

     Moved by Price, second by Philbrick to approve the installation of a street light at Boone Avenue and Kros Drive.  Roll call vote as follows:  All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

     Water Supervisor Curt Kizzire, Office Larry Wanamaker and Jesse Moore from Morcomm, presented the option of wireless internet services to the City in exchange for the current rent payment being made for antennae placement on the water tower.

 

     City Clerk Johnston stated that City Attorney Strope has drafted a new agreement for review.

 

     Moved by Hiebner, second by Fritz to approve wireless internet services provided for in exchange of tower rent for antennae use providing necessary provisions to the agreement.  Roll call vote as follows:  All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

     John Prouty reported that he had a verbal agreement from Daniel Prewitt for the railroad land to be used for the new training tower.  The property would sell for $4,000-$5,000 per acre at approximately 1.35 acres.  John stated that he had the potential for three corporate sponsors to purchase the land and donate it to the City.  Funds would be needed to survey the land.

 

     Moved by Fritz, second by Krysl to authorize City Attorney Strope and John Prouty to proceed with the purchase of the railroad property.  If $10,000 is allocated to the Development Corporation and corporate sponsorship should fall through then interim financing will be obtained.  Roll call vote as follows:  All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

     The Council and Chamber of Commerce representatives discussed the lighting project.  The Decorative Lighting Committee has chosen a light at a cost of $1,303.12 per pole.  There was discussion on financing options:

 

1.              Forming a lighting district to cover the decorative lighting costs.

2.              The Council including the decorative lighting in the project.

3.              Completing the entire project in one year for cost savings on contractors.

 

There was discussion on where decorative lighting would be placed

a decision to place them on Douglas Street from Second Street to Sixth Street and Fourth Street from Fremont to Adams.

 

     The Mayor instructed the Decorative Light Committee to obtain the exact costs and bring them back to the council in December.

 

     Mike Marvin stated that the next step is to advertise for the boring bids.  This will be placed on the December meeting agenda.

 

     The Mayor tabled the police policy until the December meeting due to the absence of the City Attorney and Chief of Police.

 

     City Clerk Johnston presented some insurance recommendations for the transfer station to the council.

 

     Moved by Baker, second by Price to authorize City Attorney Strope and Steve Reiser to contact EMC Insurance about the recommendations.  Roll call vote as follows:  All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

     City Clerk Johnston announced that the Employee Recognition Dinner was scheduled for December 3rd at 6:30 P.M. at the Hideaway.

 

     Moved by Baker, second by Hiebner to approve the bills.  Roll call vote as follows:  All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

ALL FUNDS

Payroll, salary      67,702.25   Fed & FICA, tax          14,820.28

CBSA, ins premium    27,010.50   Alltel, ser                 283.12

American Family, ins    514.04   Appeara, su                 923.06

Bomgaars, su            697.40   Central Valley Ag, fuel   4,244.97

Curtis 1000, su       1,321.57   Data Technologies, fees   5,278.04

Francotyp, postage      111.00   Jefferson Pilot, ins        173.00

Kinder Morgan, util   2,520.04   WM Krotter, equip           475.00

Metlife, dental ins   1,364.40   Nationwide, pension       4,556.03

NE Dept. of Revenue, tax 1,749.23 NPPD, util               11,728.50

NT&T, phone           1,651.77   Reiser Ins, ins         106,059.00

Strope,Krotter & G, fees 3,821.50 Western Office, su          505.03

 

GENERAL FUND

Brenda Shald, fees      133.01   Cris Bulau, clean           260.00

Contingent Fund, misc   254.44   Display Sales, su         2,460.50

Doty’s Plumbing, ser    741.07   Fuller & Son, re          3,975.00

Holt Co. Independent, ad 784.49   Holz Lumber, su              66.00

Island Supply, su       110.75   Gilmore & Assoc., fees      330.00

KBRX, ad                 13.50   Leon’s Repair, re           176.00

Municipal Code, su       75.00   NE Community College, fees 1,737.50

NE Recreation, dues      50.00   Ogden Hardware, su           52.35

Sack-N-Save, su          17.56   Bill Scheinost, refund      100.00

Sinclair Oil, fuel       30.00   Team Lab, su              4,096.25

US Treasury, garn       124.10   Torpin’s, su                 12.13

Ft. Dearborn, ins       116.96   Northern Pump, su            33.33

 

POLICE FUND

Earl Adams, fees        100.00   Alco, su                     25.99

Automotive & Welding, re 115.86   Avera St. Anthony’s, test    80.00

Brenda Shald, fees       17.25   Martin Collier, fees        200.00

Contingent Fund, misc   588.89   Dell Marketing, equip     1,906.63

Graham Tire, su         404.00   Jack’s Uniform, su          217.05

Sarah Klinetobe, clean  175.00   Morcomm, su                  84.39

Motel 6, lodging        147.96   NE HHS, tests               150.00

Netcom, ser              25.00   O’Neill Body & Frame, ser   550.00

O’Neill Book & Office, su 11.30   O’Neill Tire & Supply, ser  232.50

O’Neill Vet, fees       150.00   Qwest, phone                133.16

Sunmart, film            57.86   Super 8, lodging             51.19

Telebeep, ser            17.11   Viking Products, su         256.92

 

STREET FUND

Brenda Shald, fees        8.63   Carhart Lumber, su          205.17

Cole Redi-Mix, su     1,271.00   Embroidery Concepts, ser    142.50

Emme Sand & Gravel, su  570.00   Holt Co. Auto, su             4.38

Holt Co. Treasurer, su  153.60   Gilmore & Assoc., fees    2,520.00

MARC, su              1,278.75   Newman Traffic, su           33.95

O’Neill Auto, su         56.30   O’Neill Lumber, su            7.98

O’Neill Sport & Gift, su 185.67   Ziska Construction, ser     150.00

 

SEWER FUND

AccuStandard, fees       35.00   Alco, su                     20.97

Brenda Shald, fees       17.25   Cole Redi-Mix, su           116.25

Contingent Fund, misc   565.65   Dugan Business, su          303.36

Great Plains, hotline    73.75   Hawkins, su                  50.00

K&K Welding, su          10.14   LaRue Dist., su              10.69

NE Child Support, garn   46.16   Midwest Lab, tests          220.00

NE DEQ, cert            150.00   NE Dept. of Labor, unemploy  47.58

Ogden Hardware, su       87.52   O’Neill Auto, su             63.65

O’Neill Book & Office, su 135.22  O’Neill Electric, re      1,485.99

O’Neill Saw & Cycle, re  57.40   Rutjen’s, ser             3,612.50

Tax Commissioner, tax 1,997.78   Water Co., su                43.00

Western States, su      250.68  

 

WATER FUND

Alco, su                 11.99   Cole Redi-Mix, su           116.25

Dugan Business, su      303.35   Great Plains, hotline        73.74

NE HHS, cert            188.00   Hawkins, su                 372.69

Hercules, su            130.19   Johnson Drug, su             11.28

LaRue, su                10.70   Municipal Supply, su      1,583.19

NE HHS, tests           142.00   Niobrara Valley, util       124.10

Ogden Hardware, su       96.15   O’Neill Auto, su             14.58

Sargent Drilling, tests 600.00   Tax Commissioner, tax     2,146.17

Utilities Section, fees  50.00

 

TRANSFER STATION FUND

Butler Co. Landf, fees 22,468.66  Recycling Account, pmt   16,000.00

Fremont Nat’l, int pmt 8,791.25   Linweld, lease                9.80        

Niobrara Valley, util   900.00   Neligh Tractor, su           18.83

J&J Sanitation, fees 30,904.21   O’Neill Auto, su             66.53

 

DEBT SERVICE FUND

Fremont National Bank, fee                                  337.50

 

DRUG ENFORCEMENT & EDUCATION FUND

Jack’s Uniform, su                                        1,721.40

 

COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT FUND

Rutjen’s, ser                                             3,500.00

Van Kirk Brothers, ser                                   27,277.89

 

AUDITING COMMITTEE:

 

_________________________________

DON BAKER, WARD I

 

_________________________________

LAUREN HIEBNER, WARD I

 

Moved by Price, second by Baker to adjourn.  Roll call vote as follows:  All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 P.M.

 

 

 

                            

                             WILLIAM T. PRICE, MAYOR

ATTEST:

(SEAL)

 

 

 

____________________________________________________________

NIKKI JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK/TREASURER

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