COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2007

As per notice in The Red Cloud Chief, the Mayor and City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, March 6, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Center Conference Room. Members present: Mayor Ratzlaff; Council members Schultz, Lambrecht, Olson, Sprague; Attorney Garwood; Administrator Hall; Superintendent Wood and Clerk Meline.

Mayor Ratzlaff pointed out the “Open Meetings Act” is posted on the wall for public viewing.

Laura Roybal met with the council in regards to two proclamations, Tourism Month and Historic Preservation Month. Both of these are observed in May. Sprague made the motion and was seconded by Lambrecht to have the mayor sign both proclamations. Motion carried. Copies of the proclamations will be posted.

The council was provided with a copy of the Sheriff’s Report for February. Sheriff Disney was in attendance at the meeting. Much discussion was held on illegal truck parking in residential areas and illegal parking in the handicapped parking places. The city crew and the sheriff’s department will monitor this situation.

Schultz made the motion and was seconded by Olson to approve the minutes from February. Motion carried.

Schultz made the motion and was seconded by Olson to approve the Financial Reports and City Sales Tax Report. Motion carried. The city sales tax for December was $9,911.34 compared to $10,089.40 for the same month last year.

Schultz made the motion and was seconded by Olson to approve the claims for payment excluding the $2,000 bill from Kirkham Michael for the One and Six Year Street Plan until an explanation is received on the 400% increase over last year. Motion carried.

Administrator Hall’s monthly report was mailed out with the agenda. Some discussion was held on the report.

Sprague made the motion and was seconded by Schultz to allow $2,000 from the Economic Development Fund to continue with the “Business Façade Rehab Grants”. Motion carried. This is matched with $2,000 from the Red Cloud Community Foundation.

Schultz made the motion and was seconded by Lambrecht to appropriate $2,000 for a similar project for historic homes with a stipulation that a copy of the criteria be presented to the council. Motion carried.

Items presented to the council for them to look over and discuss at a later date: downtown street and utility study, review proposals for the storm water drainage, visitor’s center rehab, lead painting training grant, intermediary relending program – USDA Rural Development and housing rehab – USDA Rural Development.

Schultz made the motion and was seconded by Sprague to approve Resolution #475: Be It Resolved by the Mayor and City Council, City of Red Cloud, Webster County, Nebraska that the Building Permit Application fee schedule shall be as follows: Cost of the Project up to and including the first $1,000 - $10.00 and each $1,000 increments above $1,000 - $1.00. The fee schedule shall be effective as of April 1^st, 2007 and remain in effect until such time the Mayor and City Council may deem it necessary to alter the fee schedule by resolution. Passed and approved this 6^th day of March, 2007.

Discussion was held as to which fund the monthly rental from Alltel would be placed. After much discussion it was decided reimbursement will be made to the electric fund for all the materials and labor to supply electricity to the tower. There was also discussion as to the road and ditch work that needs to be done.

Lambrecht made the motion and was seconded by Sprague to pass Ordinance #583: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, TO SET TIME FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS. Schultz made the motion to suspend the rules. Schultz made the motion and was seconded by Lambrecht to pass said ordinance. Motions carried. The meeting time will be 7 p.m. instead of 7:30 p.m. This will be published separately in The Red Cloud Chief.

Also on the agenda was checking into filing liens on properties for unpaid utility bills. Attorney Garwood is working on this but most likely will not have it ready for the council till the May meeting. Therefore this item was tabled.

Two building permits have been issued since the last meeting. They are as follows: 32’ x 36’ addition to Mike and Mary Delka’s property and a new 30’ x 70’ home for Barry Lewis.

Next Superintendent Wood presented the council with an estimate for the batteries and charger for putting the power plant engines on and off line and for emergencies when the power goes off. The current battery system is 27 years old. The bid was for $4,812.70 from Action Battery Wholesalers, Inc. Earlier two other bids were obtained for $10,700 from Pedersen’s and $10,000 from Harold K. Scholz Company. After some discussion Lambrecht made the motion and was seconded by Sprague to purchase the batteries and charger less the rack. Motion carried. The council feels the city crew can construct a rack for the batteries. At this time some discussion was held as to disposal of all the old batteries.

For the past several years the council has been trading the skid loader in annually. The skid loader currently has 101 hours. After some discussion Schultz made the motion and was seconded by Olson to hold off trading for another year. Motion carried.

Superintendent Wood then asked the council to consider purchasing safety equipment for confined areas. This would include a gas monitor, tri pod and blower. This is very important when the crew is entering a sewer man hole, etc. The gas monitor is $3,256 and probably another $3,000 for the tri pod and blower. After further discussion Lambrecht made the motion and was seconded by Schultz to look into the cost of all the equipment, comparing prices and to make sure confined space safety is contained in the City Safety Manual. Motion carried.

The council was informed that the building at the compost site is not worth renovating. A new building will be purchased from Kenny Lumber.

Schultz then made the motion and was seconded by Olson to enter into executive session for four employee evaluations at 9:44 p.m. Motion carried.

As per the “Open Meetings Law”, Mayor Ratzlaff stated again that the executive session was for the purpose of four employee evaluations.

Schultz made the motion and was seconded by Lambrecht to resume the meeting at 10:58 p.m. Motion carried.

Schultz made the motion and was seconded by Sprague to give a raise to a power plant operator. Motion carried.

As there was no further business to be had and done by the Mayor and City Council, Schultz made the motion and was seconded by Lambrecht to adjourn said meeting at 11 p.m. Motion carried.

The next meeting of the Mayor and Council will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3^rd, 2007.

496 Albert Wood, salary 1,224.36

497 Jay D. Hall, salary 1,311.27

498 Mark Simon, salary 1,147.80

499 Jim Glenn, salary 614.69

500 Nick Blankenbaker, salary 626.38

501 Hayes McDole, salary 554.10

502 Arnold Merrill, salary 596.83

503 Leo Goebel, salary 484.84

504 Sue Meline, salary 867.17

505 Debra Albers, salary 518.51

506 Sam Deisley, salary 766.32

507 Pat Long, salary 932.70

509 Donna Lammers, salary 193.25

510 Joyce Beckman, salary 83.09

511 Virginia Welty, salary 275.64

589 MEAN, purchased power for January 36,417.35

590 Business World Products, office supplies 97.64

591 Charles & Karen Jones, deposit returned 75.00

592 Alltel, cell phones 227.05

593 Albert Wood, salary 1,224.36

594 Jay D. Hall, salary 1,316.47

595 Mark Simon, salary 1,127.24

596 Jim Glenn, salary 614.69

597 Nick Blankenbaker, salary 626.38

598 Hayes McDole, salary 554.10

599 Arnold Merrill, salary 596.83

600 Leo Goebel, salary 138.52

601 Sue Meline, salary 867.17

602 Debra Albers, salary 474.41

603 Sam Deisley, salary 700.35

604 Pat Long, salary 862.36

605 Donna Lammers, salary 205.71

606 Joyce Beckman, salary 52.06

607 Ameritas, retirement contribution for 2/16 1,114.13

608 Medicare, transfer for 2/16 payroll 347.38

609 Social Security, transfer for 2/16 payroll 1,485.38

610 Withholding, transfer for 2/16 payroll 808.18

611 NE Child Support Payment Center, garnishment 94.00

612 Presto X, exterminating services 155.63

613 Starmark, health/life insurance 4,837.89

614 AFLAC, insurance-payroll deducted 472.52

615 Great Plains Comm., phones – no toll charges 665.43

616 Postmaster, postage for utility bills 123.99

617 Kim Danehey Nibbe, February contract labor 800.00

633 Mid Rivers 911, March user fee 200.00

634 Kucera Disposal, trash hauling 215.50

635 City Sales Tax, March transfer to CC reserve 408.34

636 Fire, reimbursement for cashed CD 1,158.36

637 Water, March transfer to CM water reserve 625.00

638 Bond & Interest, March transfer to bond & interest 1,320.00

639 Sewer, March transfer to cash management sewer reserve 625.00

640 Ameritas, retirement contribution for 3/1 payroll 1,016.38

641 NE Child Support Payment Center, garnishment 94.00

642 Medicare, transfer for 3/1 payroll 325.60

643 Withholding, transfer for 3/1 payroll 753.90

644 Social Security, transfer for 3/1 payroll 1,392.18

645 Various, March transfer to business insurance 3,670.85

646 General, March transfer to police fund 1,347.47

647 Various, March transfer to Administrator fund 2,125.28

648 Various, March transfer to officer’s salary 650.00

649 Electric, March transfer to cash management 1,661.70

650 Police, February contract payment 3,463.00

651 Petty Cash, postage, office supplies, etc. 109.44

652 Viaero, cell phone for administrator 48.52

653 Albert Wood, mileage to meeting 190.82

654 Lower Republican River Visionaries, notices in newsletter 35.00

655 NE Dept. of Revenue, state income tax 648.84

656 Jay Hall, reimbursement on meeting expenses 381.56

657 Glenwood, computer repair-library 107.50

658 Baker & Taylor, books 216.50

659 Country Living, subscription 24.00

660 Computer Solutions Inc., computer repair-office 105.75

661 Eakes Office Plus, office supplies 29.96

662 Business World Products, office supplies 26.96

663 Presto X, exterminating services 24.50

664 Joseph Bezdek, deposit returned 150.00

665 Reader’s Digest Large, 1 yr. subscription 29.96

666 MidWest Turf & Irrigation, new Toro mower 15,872.00

667 Catherland Auto Supply, batteries & supplies 642.32

668 WESCO, materials & supplies 481.86

669 Farm Plan, materials & supplies 145.46

670 Communications Engineering, reprogram entry system 108.00

671 NE DOL/Boiler Inspection, boiler inspection 72.00

672 Central States Lab, enzymes 2,913.00

673 State of NE HHS Lab, water analysis 43.00

674 Cornhusker Cleaning, janitorial supplies 58.23

675 Village Pharmacy, office supplies 19.27

676 McDole Welding Shop, metal 75.70

677 Farmers Coop, fuel & supplies 526.58

678 Red Cloud Hardware, supplies 259.71

679 Zep, janitorial supplies 324.30

681 Western Uniform Towel, janitorial supplies 141.90

682 Fyr-Tek, protective gear 85.85

683 Island Supply Welding, refill fire extinguisher 30.75

684 Brody Chemical, janitorial supplies 167.42

685 Hawkins, hydrofluosilicic acid 274.24

686 Olson Auto Tech & Tire, fuel 630.90

687 Kenny’s Lumber Center, lumber & supplies 49.53

688 Pinpoint, cable TV for Community Center 45.03

689 Principal, dental insurance 402.03

690 SCEDD, 2007 membership 600.00

691 Kriz Davis, line supplies 1,180.04

692 Platte Valley Communications, pager repair & repeater license 608.00

693 Great Plains One Call, line locates 7.90

694 Canning Truck Service, freight on sewer pump 53.51

695 Kinder Morgan, natural gas service 2,904.54

696 Superior Outdoor Power, files for shop 38.82

697 Jim’s OK Tire Store, tire & tube for backhoe 139.00

Total Expenses $119,361.93

___________________________

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, March 6, 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