September 5, 2023 at 7:00 PM - Beatrice Regular City Council Meeting
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1. ROLL CALL
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2. Proclamation – National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week – September 10-16, 2023
Discussion:
Mayor presented to Amber Nore of Mosaic.
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3. Proclamation – Big Give Gage Day – September 14, 2023
Discussion:
Mayor presented to Don Vetrovsky. close to his heart. 5th year, 72 non profit, started with 42 5 years ago, numerous sponsors this year, Shelby watson? co chair with Verdella. big give proud of foundation board, budget for & no administrative fees assessed. all $ donated, is turned over to them at full cost. $1.1 million over past 4 years, bigger & greater things will happen with addition of more non profits. Thanks for support. biggivegage.org, thank for proclamation.
Doyle - thank for leadership, enjoyed working for, cant do without him. past director of foundation, predecessor left & she came on, verdella came in out of blue & helped. DOn - what Shelby is able to do, verdella does other stuff...5th year working together with BCH. |
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4. CONSENT AGENDA
Discussion:
recess at 7:14 pm
proceed at 7:23 p.m. |
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4.a. Approve agenda as submitted.
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4.b. Receive and place on file all notices pertaining to this meeting.
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4.c. Receive and place on file all materials having any bearing on this meeting.
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4.d. Approval of minutes of work session meeting on August 21, 2023, as on file in the City Clerk’s Office.
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4.e. Approval of minutes of regular meeting on August 21, 2023, as on file in the City Clerk’s Office.
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4.f. Approval of minutes of special meeting on August 28, 2023, as on file in the City Clerk’s Office.
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4.g. Approval of Treasurer’s Report of Claims in the amount of $318,566.33.
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4.h. Approval of BASWA Report of Claims in the amount of $112,825.13.
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4.i. Approval of Pay Request #9 in the amount of $373,553.20 (Electric & Street), to 3FI, Inc., for the June 2022 hailstorm, as recommended by the Board of Public Works.
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4.j. Approval of Change Order #1 decrease in the amount of $869.28 and Final Pay Request in the amount of $69,999.86 to R.L. Tiemann Construction, Inc., for the Alley Reconstruction – 8th Street to 9th Street, Between Court & Market Streets – 2023 project, as recommended by the Board of Public Works.
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4.k. Approval of Pay Request #5 to Myers Construction, Inc., in the amount of $421,135.61, for the Water Main Replacements project, as part of the 2021 Water SRF projects, as recommended by the Board of Public Works.
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4.l. Resolution Number 7119 adopting the 2023 Downtown Revitalization (DTR) Program Guidelines.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Ruh - had some people concerned so want this discussed thought this was for bypass of downtown.
TT - applying for another DTR grant, have had a couple, redid 5th Street, 2nd facades, 3rd facades. DED changed rules as working through. DED requires us to set forth guidelines. eligible improements, signs, exterior walls, ineligible - interior improvemetns, roof,...also each participate puts in 25% match. max grant award looking for $400,000. only applicable if apply for grant & proceed with grant funding. |
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5. PUBLIC HEARINGS/BIDS
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5.a. Public Hearing to set the Fiscal Year 2024 Final Property Tax Request.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
TT - setting final property tax request. property tax for FY23 3.24??? for next year. tax rate 3.55031. res & ord to come forward later in meeting.
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5.b. Public Hearing for the consideration of the acquisition of real property from Larry Gehring, described as follows: The West Half (1/2) of Lot Three (3), Block Sixty-Four (64), Beatrice Original Town, now City of Beatrice, Gage County, Nebraska, commonly known as 413 Court Street.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
TT - old barber bldg, dilapidated, condemned. $3_____, recoup cost, agreed to give property to City. will deduct from what owes. also vehicles & will continue to collect. Fralin- value? TT - $8,0_____
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6. RESOLUTIONS
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6.a. Resolution Number 7120 executing the Contract for Donation of Real Estate and all necessary documents to acquire real estate from Larry Gehring.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
TT - prpoerty back taxes, will pay off & have clear title of property.
Kerr - what are we gonna do with cars? TT- salvage |
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6.b. Resolution Number 7121 executing the Naming Rights and Sponsorships for Professional Services Agreement between the City and Sportsman Solutions, LLC, for consulting services related to evaluating and securing supplemental funding and private revenue streams via naming rights and sponsorships in the City.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
had concept master plan, to make improvemtns. they go out & see who will sponsor various parts of park. they keep 30%, proposal 1 year contract ot see what they can do to fundraise some $$ to complete improvemetns & use lodging for other
Eskra- other towns?? TT - yes, on website portfolio. believe should have luck Fralin- just one park? TT - made sure Hannibal, if wish to include others come back |
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6.c. Resolution Number 7122 executing a Subordination Agreement with LMRRLR, LLC, and Rob L. Ruskamp and Leanne M Ruskamp, and Nebraska Bank to subordinate the security interests of the City to the superior indebtedness of Nebraska Bank.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
had a couple weeks ago, bank wants to increase $122 to $155,000. still 2nd additional 25 acres also, still have adequate collateral. CDBG loan paid off. 1 more year on LB840 loan to pay.
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7. ORDINANCES
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7.a. Ordinance amending Sections 17-181 through 17-187, inclusive; amending Division 2 of Article VIII, Chapter 17; amending Sections 17-201 through 17-205, inclusive; repealing Division 3 of Article VIII, Chapter 17, including Sections 17-206 through 17-209, inclusive, of the Beatrice City Code relating to nuisances.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
code committee slow down instead of rushing thru. codes committee looked at a few times. cleaned up. strung out in different places, make easier to understand & flow. walk through process. Not lot of changes, just tidy up a few things.
gary - first in long process. city attorney, only some you can do, people have rights, thoguth we could do somethings, however, did best we can with what law allows. Chet & nick have stepped up & working on a lot of properties. if any changes or suggestions, bring forward next meeting. TEd - did you shorten time frame? GB - some you can't TF - not really any wholesale chnages. length of time has been KErr- tobias explained they have 5 days, but have to serve them, if cant find them, keeps stretching. shorted best we could, but some beyond control. TEd - weeds, sometimes we just mow, if been notified & ignored, we just go do it & is there anything shortened down for multiple occurance, would have liked to see that, shouldn't ahve to go thru same hoops. TT - if nuisance, notice carries for 1 year. weeds, clock over, some properties there are after 1 time we take care of & try to acquire it Kerr - somewanted to bring height dow. Gary - can't legislate pride in comunity Fralin- also has 2 mile corporate limits. |
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7.b. Ordinance adopting the Biennial Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2024 and 2025
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
went over a couple weeks ago; no questions
Hnanah 1% motion - couple different things state statute limits amount of reeneu. one is ________ tax. other is restricted fund authority, sales tax. 1% voting on is saying we are able to increase we automatically get 2.5%, number does not increase property taxes in any way, not saying we are going to spend extra money, we can. state recommends we do this. Kerr 0 doe before? HB Yes |
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8. RESOLUTIONS
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8.a. Resolution Number 7123 setting the property tax request for the City of Beatrice for Fiscal Year 2024.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
tt - hearing earlier. setting preopryt tax for FY24 at 3.246,000??? sets at .355031 property tax levy
Doyle - budget process is huge process, put together really good budget. thank dept heads & admin, putting together 8 years of plans. lastly, mayors & councils go but city administrators don't go that often. some have had tenured, not many years ago, sometimes couldn't make payroll. congratulate Tobias for these efforts. very little debt & good cash recognition. |
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8.b. Resolution Number 7124 calculating the amount of unused restricted funds authority.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
no further discussion
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9. PUBLIC FORUM
Discussion:
margarat haith, 104 west granville, wanted to speak last meeting, want to address kudos to mayor morgan to bring to vote court street corridor proejct. commend all that voted yes, took alot of critism. thanked kerr for his no vote, understand & hadn't seen other plans. thoguth they would use existing one ways. drove existing truck routes, could see the one ways would not be possible. lot of prosperous businesses. downtown is not just court street. really think right way to go. do have a question, from what udnerstand, no money in this budget for next 2 years, then does this mean cannot go on to next phase until there is money.
last but not least, heard tired of hearing people that blame the council for the school building the new school. several spoke up & said they are not happy. should have voted in different members on school board. thank you for serving on coucnil. not an easy job. |
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10. DISCUSSIONS/REPORTS
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10.a. Community Development Department Overview.
Discussion:
chet, 6 years, 4 months, under rob for code enforcement worked that for 6 years, rob left in january. stepped up to cointue
nick 1 year code enforcement, when hired were going to split code enfrocement, & split town instead of admin assistant - rob left, June hail storm & decided to hire admin assistant - may hired Hannah bradney 4th in 4 years. tough position, handles complaint calls & such from public, burns people out, but doing well built in town, all starts with CDD. plan reveiw, site right, permits, handle inspections from footings to concrete & final occupancy. philosophy like to be proactive & out on streets. nick out daily 10-12 daily. handle complaints in between, many times already working the complaint. limited on what we can do with cases. bound by law enforcement 1st amendment, ???, can't just go on & take someone's property. some is personal preference & can't do that. conflict & personal standards Ted - some go back over & over, wait until 2nd complaint or do you go back?? Chet - typically go back prior to frustrating zoning- iniate most stuff. admin subdivisions, planning & zoning for erin buidlng permits average 500 per year, 2022 2,023 90% being roofs, most likely wont see that again, little higher, now at 735 permits still catching roofs Kerr- used to have people nto comply with getting building permits. supposed to post, in one ear out the other. KErr do you check on these? Chet - yes, have ipad they can check, if not will do stop work orders code enforcement over 1,000 per year. code enforcement fell off due to roof inspections. now at 730 as of today. prolonged weed season, weed, snow, and JMV/junk new construction projects - still investing in community, school, covered bridge new townhome going up plans to do other side, hydos with new gas station & go car wash recently completed their certificate of occupancy codes - also deal with life safety issues Property Maintenance Codes, sanitary, lack of drinking water, toilet, no heat, hording before & afters - ongoing complaint with foliage on street. took pp kids & shaved to ground. gonna get atta boy, not happy said it looks worse than before...never happy future projects - 2021 ICC codes, working on 2015 codes curently dempsters cleanup - tearing down one bldg in future, one near colalpsing zoning regulations - campers living in them. difficult to supervise. parking on yards - owner occupied home repari - working with SENDD - loking to move away from demolishing everything to keep in home instead of tearing down if possible rental inspection program - have a lot of substandard rentals in town, would like to see committee to look into. Fralin- thankless job, appreciate what do, not easy Ted - had unused funds for bldg demos, do not feel we should not use it...is it a manpower thing or?? chet - last year was weird year with permits & rob leaving. have 2 set to do, until dempster came up, will eat remainder of budget. number of garages. Ted - never let your lack of funds stop you, if need more, wont get a no vote from him while he's on council. please ask |
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10.b. Beatrice Community Food Pantry Update.
Discussion:
thanked all involved. 45 volunteers 15 board members. big operation & proud of how it looks somewhere between 6-7,000 families serving this year.
tahnked contractors, subcontractors, marv goossen general contractor - put in 600-650 hours of his time working on improvements. if haven't gone to visit, go down. open M & TH, usually Tues? |
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10.c. Discussion on proposed utility rate increase.
Discussion:
gary - brought up at last meeting. whatever decide to do will go back to BPW, know their job & don't want to go around them. want to consider raise rates a flat TT - 2022; 2023 wpc; 2015 elecric. inflation 29% if don't raise at some point, consider keeping up on the charges would go back to departments. total residential $241,000, can be budgeted since its a fixed cost. not raising rates not hardship for industries to come in. propose residential $2.00 month - raise commercial $2.50 & residential $1.00 - waterline projects, etc. not enough that would be too much of hardship on anyone.
Mayor - infra structure fee, not rates. Barnard - electricity is cheap, need to keep up on inflation costs like everything else has gone up. cost of living has gone up, if we don't raise our cost at some point will go from both ends. Ruh - don't disagree, but infrastructure dont' think those are fair for lower income paying same amount, they pay infrastructure. look at changing to percentage instaed of flat fee. talked about recycling on ask the mayor - mayor stated done need $2-3 tacked on their bill. Barnard - how would you find out how much income is? Ruh- smaller house/use less think charging everyone the same fee when everyone uses different amount isn't right. KErr- more they use, more they pay on consumption.Ted - simplest solution, is rate inrease, more you use more you pay, but gary proposing flat rate. some meters don't use anything, gone 6 months a year, can sympothis with but ruhr, that would be rate increase, but would not vote for rate increase, all dept have surplus cash. Take back to BPW, to give recommendation |
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11. MISCELLANEOUS
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11.a. The next regular City Council meeting is September 18, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. in the BPS Administration Building Board Room. There will be a Special Meeting on September 29, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room, for the purpose of approving final claims for FY23.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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