COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
JANUARY 9, 2007
As per notice in The Red Cloud Chief, the Mayor and City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. held at the Red Cloud Community Center Conference Room. Members present: Mayor Ratzlaff; Council members Schultz, Olson, Sprague; Attorney Garwood; Administrator Hall, Superintendent Wood and Clerk Meline. Councilman Lambrecht was absent.
Betty Kort met with the council to present the “Moon Block” project to the council. The Cather Foundation plans to restore the “Moon Block” contingent on available funds. She stated upon a building analysis it was determined the back of the buildings are unsound, water in the basement, mold, asbestos and lead to name of few of the problems. They plan to make the facade authentic. The foundation is seeking grants as well as private donations. She reminded the council the Cather Foundation has a non-profit status. After her presentation Olson made the motion and was seconded by Sprague to designate Mayor Ratzlaff as an authorized agent to sign the Environmental Study. Motion carried. This is something that needs to be done in order for the project to proceed.
Schultz made the motion and was seconded by Olson to approve the report submitted by Sheriff Disney. Motion carried.
Olson made the motion and was seconded by Schultz to approve the minutes from the December 2006 meeting. Motion carried.
Mayor Ratzlaff asked the council if they would like to prepare the City Dad’s Feed meal again this year for the volunteer Firemen. After a short discussion Olson made the motion and was seconded by Schultz to have The Palace cater the meal using the $700 allowed in the 2006-07 Budget. Motion carried.
Schultz made the motion and was seconded by Olson to approve the financial reports and city sales tax report. Motion carried. The sales tax for October 2006 received in December of 2006 was $7,797.02 compared to $7,421.06 for the same period last year.
The council was asked if they would like to adopt the Nebraska Basic Code of Ordinances for Cities of the Second Class received from American Legal Publishing Corporation. After some discussion Olson made the motion and was seconded by Sprague to leave things as is and not to adopt. Motion carried. Then because the council did not adopt this the claim from American Legal in the amount of $550 was denied.
Olson made the motion and was seconded by Schultz to pay the claims submitted for payment excluding one invoice to Kenny Lumber that was submitted in error to the City and the invoice to American Legal Publishing for updates on the non-approved Nebraska Code Book. Motion carried. These will be published in full at the end of the minutes.
Next the compensation for the Fire Chief was discussed. In the past the Fire Chief has received the same compensation as the Mayor. At the December meeting the compensation for the Mayor and Council was increased but not any appointed officials, including the Fire Chief. Olson made the motion and was seconded by Sprague to table this issue until the Rural Fire District Board could be contacted since they pay half of the compensation. Motion carried. Olson then made the motion and was seconded by Schultz to approve Ordinance #582 setting the compensation for the council members and mayor. Motion carried.
Next put on the agenda by Councilwoman Sprague was the appearance of the downtown business district as to the sidewalks not being swept and the historic lights in need of painting. As far as the sidewalks are concerned that is the responsibility of the businesses to keep their sidewalks clean. As to the lights, Superintendent Wood stated he has some paint but not sure how close it will match the paint currently on the poles. When it warms up this spring the paint will be tested to see if it matches. If it does the poles will be touched up where needed. If the paint is not a good match the whole pole will have to be painted.
Schultz made the motion and was seconded by Olson to approve the American Red Cross Wear Red Day on February 2nd. This will be published in full in The Red Cloud Chief. Motion carried.
Administrator Hall asked the council if they had any questions about his report mailed out with the agenda. There were a couple of questions. He then informed the council he had attended a video workshop at the Hastings Library concerning funding sources for small rural towns and their economic development and improvement projects.
The personnel manual was discussed once again. After some discussion Schultz made the motion and was seconded by Sprague to table this to a later date. Motion carried.
Administrator Hall and Superintendent Wood presented a copy of the proposed building permit brochure. The council would like copies of the brochure before they make any decisions.
Next Administrator Hall presented the council with five properties he considers the greatest nuisances along with five properties that would be easier to clean up. Much discussion was held on this. The council wants to make sure that if we start with enforcing cleaning up the properties that we follow it through. The council will support Administrator Hall in his efforts to clean up the properties.
Schultz made the motion and was seconded by Sprague to pass Resolution #473: Be It Resolved by the Mayor and Council of the City of Red Cloud, Nebraska, that pursuant to Red Cloud Code Section 5-215, the intersection of Third Avenue and Cherry Street is deemed particularly dangerous to pedestrians. The city superintendent is hereby authorized and directed to paint or otherwise mark the crosswalks and to erect appropriate signs to control traffic in the area. Motion carried.
Superintendent Wood informed the council that the repairs on engine #2 at the power plant are complete. There is a water leak on engine #3 but they haven’t checked that out as of yet.
Three building permits have been approved by Superintendent Wood since the last meeting. They are as follows: shed for Carl Jacobs, pipe fence for Roger Bohrer and fence for the Assembly of God Church.
Next Superintendent Wood asked the council if they had any priorities for the One and Six Year Street Plan. After some discussion, due to the funding, maintenance of streets is all that realistically can be done at this point.
Under new business Councilwoman Sprague asked to put the tree plan on the agenda for February.
As there was no further business to be had and done by the Mayor and City Council, Olson made the motion and was seconded by Schultz to adjourn said meeting at 10:03 p.m. Motion carried.
The following is a completer list of the claims approved for payment:
253 Harold Mitchell, salary 130.03
254 Virginia Welty, salary 222.11
255 Marie Kugler, salary 23.64
256 Joyce Beckman, salary 52.06
257 Donna Lammers, salary 180.77
258 Patrick Long, salary 789.45
259 Sam Deisley, salary 702.95
260 Debra Albers, salary 474.10
261 Sue Meline, salary 865.07
262 Arnold Merrill, salary 596.39
263 Mark Kriley, salary 497.70
264 Nick Blankenbaker, salary 625.95
265 Jim Glenn, salary 614.27
266 Mark Simon, salary 1,034.97
267 Jay D. Hall, salary 1,300.23
268 Albert Wood, salary 1,221.87
344 MEAN, purchased power for November 34,446.82
345 ALLTEL, cell phone 371.46
346 Fremont National Bank, annual fees 450.00
347 Continental General Ins. Co., supplemental health insurance 161.44
348 NE Dept. of Revenue, state sales tax for swimming pool 463.14
349 Postmaster, 2 boxes of #10 regular & window envelopes 840.00
350 Albert Wood, salary 1,221.87
351 Jay D. Hall, salary 1,300.23
352 Mark Simon, salary 1,078.25
353 Jim Glenn, salary 614.27
354 Nick Blankenbaker, salary 625.95
355 Mark Kriley, salary 497.70
356 Arnold Merrill, salary 596.39
357 Hayes McDole, salary 486.69
358 Sue Meline, salary 865.07
359 Debra Albers, salary 474.10
360 Sam Deisley, salary 640.35
361 Pat Long, salary 760.51
362 Verlin Paul, salary 230.99
363 Donna Lammers, salary 240.00
364 Joyce Beckman, salary 36.55
365 Marie Kugler, salary 23.64
366 Harold Mitchell, salary 130.03
367 Gary Ratzlaff, mileage to meeting 114.37
368 AFLAC, cancer insurance-payroll deducted 431.42
369 Red Cloud Chief, legal printing 215.76
370 Presto X, exterminating services 167.67
371 Petty Cash, employee benefits 2,150.00
372 Ameritas, retirement contribution 12/16 payroll 1,089.36
373 NE Child Support Payment Center, garnishment 94.00
374 Starmark, health/life insurance 5,902.59
375 Medicare, transfer for 12/16 payroll 365.46
376 Social Security, transfer for 12/16 payroll 1,562.66
377 Withholding, transfer for 12/16 payroll 852.99
378 Great Plains Comm., telephones 771.78
379 Kim Danehey-Nibbe, contract labor 800.00
380 Postmaster, utility bill postage 123.77
399 Ameritas, retirement contribution 1/1/07 payroll 1,049.66
400 Electric, January bond & interest transfer 1,320.00
401 Sewer, January 07 tr. to CM sewer reserve 625.00
402 Water, January 07 to CM water reserve 625.00
403 City Sales Tax, January tr. to CC reserve 408.34
404 Mid Rivers 911, January 07 911 user fee 200.00
405 Various, January 07 tr. to business insurance 3,670.85
406 General, January 07 to Police fund 1,347.47
407 Utilities, January 07 tr. to Administrator fund 2,125.28
408 Various, January 07 tr. to officer’s salary 650.00
409 Electric, January 07 tr. to CM electric 1,661.70
410 Webster County Sheriff, December contract payment 3,463.00
411 Petty Cash, postage 275.63
412 Social Security, transfer for 1/1/07 payroll 1,526.70
413 Medicare, transfer for 1/1/07 payroll 357.04
414 Withholding, transfer for 1/1/07 payroll 842.14
415 NE Child Support Payment Center, garnishment 94.00
417 Rembolt Ludtke, TIF mtg. Ethanol Plant 1,030.83
418 Business World Products, office supplies 205.98
419 Baylor, Evnen, Curtiss, Grimit & Witt, LLP, personnel manual 1,320.00
420 Kucera Disposal, trash hauling 215.50
421 Sensus, annual system support 1,200.00
422 Viaero, cell phone for Administrator 48.43
423 Glenwood, computer repair-library 135.00
424 University Subscription Service, House Beautiful subscription 12.00
425 Baker & Taylor, books 9.84
426 Principal, dental insurance 500.94
427 Pinpoint, cable TV 45.03
428 Kenny’s Lumber Center, lumber & supplies 785.17
429 Red Cloud Hardware, supplies 189.52
430 Kriz Davis, meters, bulbs & line supplies 3,335.96
431 Catherland Auto Parts, parts & supplies 228.03
432 Municipal Supply Inc., repair clamps 847.49
433 Western Uniform & Towel Service, mops & towel service 139.90
434 Zep Mfg., janitorial supplies 244.94
435 State of NE HHS Lab, water analysis 53.00
436 Chief Electric, motor for power plant 257.79
437 South Central Public Power, electricity at compost site 101.28
438 Hatten Electric, repair of hoist(power plant) 651.35
439 Farm Plan, oil & parts 814.89
440 Fairbanks Morse Engine, parts & labor engine #2 18,094.60
441 Platte Valley Communication, pager repair 88.00
442 Olson Auto Tech & Tire, fuel 226.19
443 Village Pharmacy, office supplies 111.09
444 GlobalCollect, Norton anti virus 187.62
445 Jay Hall, cell phone batteries 31.85
446 Kinder Morgan, natural gas service 1,427.68
447 Farmers Coop, fuel 831.76
448 Ron Lambrecht, Community Foundation Grant 1,000.00
449 Corporate Image, dog tags 2007 60.72
450 NE Dept. of Revenue, annual state income tax 274.51
451 NE Dept. of Revenue, state income tax for December 667.22
452 Great Plains One Call Service, line locates 8.91
453 WAPA, purchased power for December 5,002.79
454 Kinder Morgan, natural gas service 1,231.00
455 Island Supply Welding, cylinder rent 24.18
456 Eakes Office Plus, office supplies 23.96
457 Palace, Employee Recognition Dinner 890.44
458 Memory Makers, renewal subscription 40.96
459 National Geographic Society, renewal subscription 34.00
460 Kenny’s Lumber, tower supplies 129.09
TOTAL EXPENSES $133,530.09
____________________
Gary Ratzlaff, Mayor
ATTEST:__________________________
Sue Meline, City Clerk/Treasurer
I, Sue Meline, City Clerk/Treasurer of Red Cloud, Nebraska, do hereby certify the foregoing is a true and exact copy of the proceedings had and done by the City Council on Tuesday, January 9th, 2007; that all subjects included in the foregoing proceedings were contained in the agenda kept continually current and available for public inspection at the office of the Clerk; that at least one copy of reproducible material discussed at the meeting was available at the meeting for examination and copying by members of the public; that said minutes were in written form and available for public inspection within ten working days and prior to the next meeting of said body; that news media requesting notification concerning meetings of said body were provided notification of the time and place of said meeting and the subjects to be discussed at said meeting. _________________________________
Sue Meline, City Clerk/Treasurer