September 8, 2026 at 6:30 PM - 1st Council Regular Meeting

1. The City of St. Paul Council will hold two (2) meetings on Tuesday, September 8, 2026; the 1st Council meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. regarding: (1) 2026-2027 City of St. Paul "Notice of Budget Hearing and Budget Summary"; and (2) the Regular Council meeting will commence immediately upon adjournment of the budget hearing.

2. Mayor Mike Feeken calls City Council 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 Feeken 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. 

3. Per Nebraska State Statute13-506(1), Each governing body shall each year conduct a public hearing on its proposed budget and budget statement.  Such a hearing shall be held separately from any regular scheduled meeting of the governing body and shall not be limited by time.  After such a hearing, the proposed budget and budget statement shall be adopted, or amended and adopted as amended at a separate and distinct meeting, and written record shall be kept of such hearing.
Public hearing regarding the City of St. Paul's proposed 2026-2027 Budget and Budget Statement. 
a. Mayor Feeken opens the public comment period regarding the City of St. Paul's proposed 2026-2027 Budget and Budget Statement.
b. Mayor Feeken closed the public comment period.  

4. Mayor Feeken adjourns the meeting regarding the proposed City of St. Paul's Budget and Budget Statement.

5. Mayor Feeken calls the Regular City Council to order.

6. Submittal of Request for Future Agenda Items

7. Reserve time to Speak on an Agenda Item

8. PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Feeken opens public hearing regarding the consideration of adopting a long range 2026 One (1) and Six (6) Year Street Improvement plan.

9. Discussion pertaining to the modifications (REDLINE COPY) of the "Interlocal Law Enforcement Services and Transition Agreement" between the City of St. Paul Police Department and the Howard County Sheriff's Department.

"Move to direct the Mayor and City Attorney to negotiate with Howard County modifications to the "Interlocal Law Enforcement Services and Transition Agreement"; to request that the Operational Transfer Date be moved to _____; and to present a final negotiated agreement to the City Council for consideration at its first regular meeting in October 2026." 

10. Mayor Feeken opens a public comment period regarding the 2026 One (1) and Six (6) Year Street Improvement Plan.
a. Closes public comment period.
b. Approve the City's 2026 One (1) and Six (6) Year Street Improvement Plan.
c. Approve Resolution 2026-05; whereas the City of St. Paul has conducted a public hearing in accordance with the requirements of the Board of Public Roads Classification Standards. 

11. Discuss - Approve / Deny City of St. Paul's Transfers for Fiscal Year End 2025-2026 = $407,436.64:
Light to Police $178,500 (operating); Light to Park $66,800 (operating); Light to Street $5,000 (light poles); Water to General $23,359 (US Wages); Water to Park $7,000 (operating); Sewer to General $23,359 (US Wage); Landfill to Park $13,247 (operating); General to Swimming Pool $13,000 (operating); Street to General $23,359 (US Wage); Street to General $41,820 (Snow Blower); and Street to VP Bond $11,992.64 (Street Assessments).
NOTE: The 2025-2026 Sinking Funds transaction was approved on May 18, 2026.

12. Discuss - Approve / Deny the proposed 2026-2027 Budget and Budget Statement.  

13. Discuss - Approve / Deny Resolution 2026-04, whereas the 2026-2027 property tax requests be set at $701,969.69 for the General Fund and $277,777.77 for the Bond Fund. The total assessed value of property differs from last year's total assessed value by 5.48%. The tax rate, which would levy the same amount of property taxes as last year, when multiplied by the new total assessed value of property would be 0.462838 per $100 of assessed value. The City of St. Paul proposes to adopt a property tax request that will cause its tax rate to be 0.462884 per $100 of assessed value.  Based on the proposed tax request and changes in other revenue, the total operating budget of the City of St. Paul will decrease last year's budget by 3.83 percent.  A copy of the resolution will be certified and forwarded to the Howard County Clerk on or before October 15, 2026.

14. Discuss - Introduce Ordinance #1072, "Annual Appropriation Bill" of money for the operation of the General and Utility Funds of the City of St. Paul, in Howard County, Nebraska, appropriating the sums of money deemed necessary to defray all expenses and liabilities for the fiscal year commencing on the first day of October 2026 and ending the last day of September 2027. The following sums are hereby appropriated to defray the necessary expenses and liabilities of the City of St. Paul, NE during the fiscal period commencing October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2027, to wit: (1) Operating Expenses $6,055,236.00; (2) Capital Improvements $2,749,697.00; (3) Other Capital Outlay $431,480.00; (4) Debt Service $2,945,996.00; (5) Other & Transfers $587,396.00; of which $979,747.46 is to be raised by property taxation. 
***Introduce Ordinance, with NO second or roll call
***Waive three (3) readings of Ordinance, with a second and roll call
***Final Passage of Ordinance, with a second and roll call
 

15. Discuss - Approve / Deny vacating the west ten (10) feet of the 3rd Street right-of-way between Davis and Elm Streets in Block 32, Original Town, St. Paul, NE.

16. Consent Agenda Items: Discuss - Approve / Deny: (1) Minutes August 17, 2026 (special) and August 17, 2026 (regular); (2) Zoning Permit Minutes August 24, 2026; and (3) Disbursements of September 8, 2026. 

17. South Central Economic Development District (SCEDD) had a formula calculation error in the cell blocks of the RCRP Grant. 
Discuss - Approve / Deny which account will absorb the overage of $22,674, the Keno or General Fund.

18. Discuss - Approve / Deny returning City of St. Paul Police Department donated carpet back to Bryan Robinson.

19. Discuss - Approve / Deny transferring City of St. Paul funds in the amount of $75,000 from the Sales Tax Money Market #504420 to the Sales Tax Checking #300277 regarding the transfers into: (1) Street - Motor Vehicle Tax; (2) Fire Station Proceeds; and (3) 25% Infrastructure when sales tax proceeds are deposited into the City account from the NE Treasurer's Office.

20. Sergeant Holmes updates:
(1) Activity Report.

21. Utilities Superintendent Helzer updates

22. Mayor Feeken updates:
a. Claim against City at 917 Custer Street claiming electrical workers broke fence post (Claim turned into LARM). 
b. "The Den" Rural Economic Development Loan Grant (REDLG) payments have been brought to current.
c. Doug Cramer, Hamilton Business, has installed the City of St. Paul's new server.

23. Public Announcements

24. Closed Session: The City of St. Paul reserves the right to go into Closed Session when it is clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or to prevent needless injury to the reputation of an individual and if such individual has not requested a public meeting.

25. Mayor Feeken adjourns City Council meeting

26. Informational Items:
a. Elmwood Cemetery Board Minutes June 10, 2026.

 

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

The City of St. Paul abides by the Nebraska Open Meetings Act in conducting business.  A copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act is on display in the meeting room as required by Nebraska State Law.
The Mayor and City Council reserve the right to enter into an Executive Session at any time during the meeting, in accordance with the Nebraska Open Meetings Act, even though the closed session may not be indicated on the Agenda.
It is the intention of the Mayor and City Council to take up the items on the agenda in sequential order.  However, the Mayor and City Council reserves the right to take up matters in a different order to accommodate the schedules of the City Council members, person(s) having items on the agenda, and the public.  The City of St. Paul reserves the right to adjust the order of items on the agenda.
Anyone wishing to speak may be limited to three (3) to five (5) minutes per person.  Please utilize the podium and clearly state your name and address for the record and the agenda topic you wish to speak upon in a professional manner.