January 3, 2022 at 7:00 PM - 1st Council Regular Meeting

1. Mayor Bergman calls meeting to order, with the "Pledge of Allegiance" and the "Open Meeting Statement" as required by NE State Statutes 84-1407 through 84-1414; Mayor Bergman also states that the City Council may vote to go into Closed Session on any agenda item as allowed by NE State Statute 84-1410. 

2. Submittal of Request for Future Agenda Items

3. Reserve time to Speak on an Agenda Item

4. Discuss - Approve / Deny the City of St. Paul's 2020-2021 Financial Statement; Gary Hinrichs with Dana F. Cole & Co., Ord, NE will be in attendance to perform an audit presentation.

5. Discuss - Approve / Deny the City of St. Paul's 2020-2021 Financial Statement Journal Entries from City Auditors Dana F. Cole & Company, Ord, Nebraska.

6. Discuss - Approve / Deny placing the excess Department funds from the 2020-2021 Financial Report into the Department ICS Accounts: (1) Police $44,362; (2) Ambulance $12,265; and (3) Parks $13,201.
a. Approve / Deny deducting $14,541 from the Elmwood Cemetery ICS and placing it into the City Checking account; this is due to the Elmwood Cemetery shortage in the 2020-2021 Financial Statement; the shortages comes from cemetery stone repair; purchase of camera's; and fence.

7. Discussion regarding the City of St. Paul requesting the additional NE Dept. of Environment & Energy (NDEE) State Revolving Loan funds (SRF) pertaining to the City's Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF).  City Clerk Beck received an email from Brian Friedrichsen (Olsson) stating that the additional requested funds would be at an interest rate of one percent (1%).  Steve McNulty with the State of Nebraska recommended pushing the additional asking of funds until the project is closer to the completion date in case there are additional change orders that would either decrease or increase the project amount.  By doing this, there may be a new cycle of zero percent (0%) money available at this time (possible action).

8. Discuss - Approve / Deny St. Paul Fire Department purchasing an "equipment and command" vehicle described as a 2015 Ford F-250 Super Duty XL 4x4 four (4) door Super Cab 6.8 ft., short box truck from Jacobs Ford costing $22,995.  The St. Paul Rural Fire Board approved the purchase of the truck on December 13, 2021; they will pay half (1/2) the cost.

9. Discuss - Approve / Deny Consent Agenda Items: (1) December 20, 2021 Council minutes; (2) December 27, 2021 zoning permits; and (3) January 3, 2022 disbursements.  

10. Discuss - Approve / Deny transferring $73,000 from the City (Utility Deposit) Heritage Bank account and transferring it into the City Checking account; this is to pay disbursements. 

11. Discussion regarding the St. Paul Police Department submitting a grant application for in-car computers and the upgrade of the Police Departments dash and body camera's (possible action).

12. Discuss - Approve / Deny the St. Paul Police Dept. purchasing an additional police vehicle in the approximate amount of $14,000, along with additional funds for equipment in the amount of $5,000; the equipment would be for a dash-camera, light bar, siren, radar, etc.

13. INFORMATION ONLY: The second (2nd) City Council meeting in January 2022 will be on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 7:00 p.m., due to the Martin Luther King holiday.

14. Utility Superintendent Helzer updates

15. Chief of Police Howard updates:
(1) All City of St. Paul police cruisers has Automated External Defibrillator's (AED's) in the Units to be utilized; the AED's came from a grant;
 

16. City Council member updates

17. Mayor Bergman updates:
(1) the later part of December 2021 the City's Insured Cash Sweep (ICS) account interest rate will decrease from .85% to .45% per Citizens Bank & Trust (12/22/21);
(2) the hiring of a St. Paul Development Corporation Community Programs Coordinator per the ad in the Phonograph Herald on Wednesday, December 22, 2021;

18. Public Comment Period - restricted to items on the agenda

19. Public Announcements

20. Closed Session: Pending Litigation; Strategy Session with respect to real estate purchase; and prevent needless injury to the reputation of an individual

21. Mayor Bergman adjourns City Council meeting

22. Informational Items:

23. This agenda, including supporting documentation, is available for public viewing during normal business hours at the City Office, 704 6th Street, St. Paul, Nebraska.