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Meeting Agenda
1. Open Meeting
2. Roll Call
3. Consent Agenda
3.A. Approve Meeting Minutes
3.A.1. December 3rd, 2024 City Council Minutes 
3.A.2. December 3rd, 2024 Finance Committee Minutes 
3.A.3. December 3rd, 2024 Public Safety Committee Minutes 
3.A.4. December 3rd, 2024 Public Works Committee Minutes 
3.B. Accept the City Treasurer's Report
3.C. Approve the Payment of Claims Against the City
3.D. Mayor's appointment of Jennifer Robison to the Historic Preservation Commission. 
3.E. Mayor's appointment of Blaine Spanjer to the Airport Advisory Board 
3.F. Mayor's appointment of Howard Nitzel to the Airport Advisory Board 
3.G. Mayor's appointment of Greg Hier to the Airport Advisory Board 
3.H. Mayor's appointment of Pam Wendelin to the Civil Service Commission 
3.I. Mayor's appointment of Ken Marvin to the Economic Development Advisory Committee 
3.J. Mayor's appointment of Tod Allen as the Fire Chief.  
4. Items of Business
4.A. Consider authorizing the Crete Police Department to apply for the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office Improving Data Mini-Grant.
4.B. Consider approving the claims from Crete Ace Hardware in the amount of $1,374.73.
4.C. Consider Ordinance 2227 amending the Historic Preservation Commission 
4.D. City Engineer Appointment 
4.E. Consider Ordinance 2228 amending parking fees 
4.F. Consider Ordinance 2229 amending Utility Rates to be passed by ordinance 
4.G. Consider the Master Fee Schedule amendments 
5. Petitions - Communications - Citizen Concerns
6. Officers' Reports
7. Adjournment
Agenda Item Details Reload Your Meeting
 
Meeting: December 17, 2024 at 6:00 PM - Crete City Council Regular Meeting
Subject:
1. Open Meeting
Rationale:
  • In accordance with Nebraska law, a copy of the Open Meetings Act can be found in the back of the Council Chambers.
  • Items listed on the agenda may be considered in any order.
  • Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Subject:
2. Roll Call
Rationale:
  • Attendance of members will be recorded to determine the presence of a quorum for official actions.
Subject:
3. Consent Agenda
Rationale:
  • All items listed on the consent agenda will be approved by one motion and vote. No separate discussion of these items will occur unless the Mayor, a Councilmember, or a citizen so requests. If such a request is made, the item will be moved out of the consent agenda and considered separately.
Action(s):
Motion Carried:
Approved Consent Agenda Carried with a motion by Dan Papik and a second by Anthony Fitzgerald.
  • Dale Strehle: Absent
  • Tom Crisman: Aye
  • Anthony Fitzgerald: Aye
  • Ashley Newmyer: Aye
  • Kyle Frans: Aye
  • Dan Papik: Aye
Subject:
3.A. Approve Meeting Minutes
Subject:
3.A.1. December 3rd, 2024 City Council Minutes 
Attachments:
Subject:
3.A.2. December 3rd, 2024 Finance Committee Minutes 
Attachments:
Subject:
3.A.3. December 3rd, 2024 Public Safety Committee Minutes 
Attachments:
Subject:
3.A.4. December 3rd, 2024 Public Works Committee Minutes 
Attachments:
Subject:
3.B. Accept the City Treasurer's Report
Attachments:
Subject:
3.C. Approve the Payment of Claims Against the City
Attachments:
Subject:
3.D. Mayor's appointment of Jennifer Robison to the Historic Preservation Commission. 
Subject:
3.E. Mayor's appointment of Blaine Spanjer to the Airport Advisory Board 
Subject:
3.F. Mayor's appointment of Howard Nitzel to the Airport Advisory Board 
Subject:
3.G. Mayor's appointment of Greg Hier to the Airport Advisory Board 
Subject:
3.H. Mayor's appointment of Pam Wendelin to the Civil Service Commission 
Subject:
3.I. Mayor's appointment of Ken Marvin to the Economic Development Advisory Committee 
Subject:
3.J. Mayor's appointment of Tod Allen as the Fire Chief.  
Subject:
4. Items of Business
Rationale:
  • Action may be taken to discuss/limit discussion, to hear testimony in favor of or in opposition to, and to approve or disapprove any matter presented under this title.
Subject:
4.A. Consider authorizing the Crete Police Department to apply for the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office Improving Data Mini-Grant.
Discussion:
Police Captain Jon Pucket explained that this grant is through the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office. The purpose of this mini-grant contract is to provide funding assistance to law enforcement agencies to acquire equipment for eCitations and eCrash. The NDOT-HSO will provide funding assistance for either 75% of the equipment total. 
Action(s):
Motion Carried:
Approved to authorize the Crete Police Department to apply for the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office Improving Data Mini-Grant. Carried with a motion by Dan Papik and a second by Tom Crisman.
  • Dale Strehle: Absent
  • Tom Crisman: Aye
  • Anthony Fitzgerald: Aye
  • Ashley Newmyer: Aye
  • Kyle Frans: Aye
  • Dan Papik: Aye
Attachments:
Subject:
4.B. Consider approving the claims from Crete Ace Hardware in the amount of $1,374.73.
Action(s):
Motion Carried:
Approved the claims from Crete Ace Hardware in the amount of $1,374.73. Carried with a motion by Anthony Fitzgerald and a second by Tom Crisman.
  • Dale Strehle: Absent
  • Tom Crisman: Aye
  • Anthony Fitzgerald: Aye
  • Ashley Newmyer: Aye
  • Kyle Frans: Aye
  • Dan Papik: Abstain (With Conflict)
Attachments:
Subject:
4.C. Consider Ordinance 2227 amending the Historic Preservation Commission 
Action(s):
Motion 1 Carried:
Introduce Ordinance 2227 and move that the statutory rule requiring three separate readings be suspended. Carried with a motion by Dan Papik and a second by Anthony Fitzgerald.
  • Dale Strehle: Absent
  • Tom Crisman: Aye
  • Anthony Fitzgerald: Aye
  • Ashley Newmyer: Aye
  • Kyle Frans: Aye
  • Dan Papik: Aye
Motion 2 Carried:
Enact Ordinance 2227 amending the Historic Preservation Commission Carried with a motion by Dan Papik and a second by Anthony Fitzgerald.
  • Dale Strehle: Absent
  • Tom Crisman: Aye
  • Anthony Fitzgerald: Aye
  • Ashley Newmyer: Aye
  • Kyle Frans: Aye
  • Dan Papik: Aye
Attachments:
Subject:
4.D. City Engineer Appointment 
Discussion:
City Administrator Tom Ourada explained that the city engineer appointment is for one year. Ourada stated that JEO has been doing a fair job. 
Action(s):
Motion Carried:
Approved the Mayor's appointment of JEO as City Engineer for one year. Carried with a motion by Dan Papik and a second by Tom Crisman.
  • Dale Strehle: Absent
  • Tom Crisman: Aye
  • Anthony Fitzgerald: Aye
  • Ashley Newmyer: Aye
  • Kyle Frans: Aye
  • Dan Papik: Aye
Subject:
4.E. Consider Ordinance 2228 amending parking fees 
Action(s):
Motion 1 Carried:
Introduce Ordinance 2228 and move that the statutory rule requiring three separate readings be suspended. Carried with a motion by Dan Papik and a second by Anthony Fitzgerald.
  • Dale Strehle: Absent
  • Tom Crisman: Aye
  • Anthony Fitzgerald: Aye
  • Ashley Newmyer: Aye
  • Kyle Frans: Aye
  • Dan Papik: Aye
Motion 2 Carried:
Enact Ordinance 2228 amending parking fees Carried with a motion by Dan Papik and a second by Anthony Fitzgerald.
  • Dale Strehle: Absent
  • Tom Crisman: Aye
  • Anthony Fitzgerald: Aye
  • Ashley Newmyer: Aye
  • Kyle Frans: Aye
  • Dan Papik: Aye
Attachments:
Subject:
4.F. Consider Ordinance 2229 amending Utility Rates to be passed by ordinance 
Discussion:
City Administrator Tom Ourada explained that would amend the utility rates being passed by ordinance. 
Action(s):
Motion 1 Carried:
Introduce Ordinance 2229 and move that the statutory rule requiring three separate readings be suspended. Carried with a motion by Dan Papik and a second by Anthony Fitzgerald.
  • Dale Strehle: Absent
  • Tom Crisman: Aye
  • Anthony Fitzgerald: Aye
  • Ashley Newmyer: Aye
  • Kyle Frans: Aye
  • Dan Papik: Aye
Motion 2 Carried:
Enact Ordinance 2229 amending Utility Rates to be passed by ordinance Carried with a motion by Dan Papik and a second by Anthony Fitzgerald.
  • Dale Strehle: Absent
  • Tom Crisman: Aye
  • Anthony Fitzgerald: Aye
  • Ashley Newmyer: Aye
  • Kyle Frans: Aye
  • Dan Papik: Aye
Attachments:
Subject:
4.G. Consider the Master Fee Schedule amendments 
Discussion:
The amendment to the Master Fee Schedule was to add the $20.00 Mobile Food Vendor Permit fee
Action(s):
Motion Carried:
Approved the Master Fee Schedule amendments Carried with a motion by Kyle Frans and a second by Anthony Fitzgerald.
  • Dale Strehle: Absent
  • Tom Crisman: Aye
  • Anthony Fitzgerald: Aye
  • Ashley Newmyer: Aye
  • Kyle Frans: Aye
  • Dan Papik: Aye
Attachments:
Subject:
5. Petitions - Communications - Citizen Concerns
Rationale:
  • Citizen testimony may be limited to 3 minutes per person.
  • Please do not repeat testimony that has already be heard.
  • No action can be taken on matters presented under this title except to answer any questions or to refer the matter for further action.
Subject:
6. Officers' Reports
Rationale:
  • Reports may be given by Officers, Departments, Committees, or Councilmembers concerning the current operations of the City.
  • No action can be taken on matters presented under this title except to answer any questions or to refer the matter for further action.
Discussion:
Police Captain Jon Pucket stated the following:
  • Chief of Police Gary Young is out due to surgery.
  • Police Officer Jaden Acevedo has been working with his field training officer.
  • The department continues to work with document share software and everything is on track.
                    Library Director Jessica Wilkinson stated the following:
  • Provided the City Administrator, Mayor and City Council a spread sheet of programing numbers for the Crete Library and how it compares to other similar and larger communities.
  • Wilkinson also provided the November’s Director’s Report and mentioned that $36,983 is the total amount patrons saved by having materials in the library.
  • There were 29 on site programs and 5551 people attended those programs.
  • Monthly highlights included Erica Bauermeister visiting Crete and the musical instruments are up and ready to use.
  • The winter book sale has made over $1,000.
  • Teen night library after dark will be on Monday, December 23rd from 7pm to 11pm.
    Parks and Recreation Director Liz Cody stated that they have been working on inventory and the Food Bank of Lincoln food distribution is back to the fourth Thursday of the month at Tuxedo Park.
                    Councilmember Tom Crisman wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
                    City Administrator Tom Ourada stated the following:
  • Received a proposal for park design in the mid $30,000 range.  
  • Had a meeting on electric rate review.
  • Provided details about the solar farm; years ago the City of Crete started looking at partnering with Sand Hills Energy and 13 other MEAN- Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska communities. Some communities decided not to do it and some did. Crete is the second largest community participating with Sand Hills Energy with 1.6 megawatts.
  • Ourada explained that there are 40,000 panels in the solar farm and about 50 kilowatts will run one block and that solar farm will serve about 32 blocks of people. The solar farm is on land that the City of Crete already own. The land was purchased for a water well.
  • The location is really good at the depth we are doing the water wells. Water can be provided without a water treatment plant because it’s right between a nitrate layer and an iron layer. This works really well with our transmission line system and you can have the long-term occupation of the solar farm.
  • The solar farm will go live in 2024 and there will be a ribbon cutting with Sand Hills Energy and MEAN in January 2025 and elected officials will participate in that.
  • We have a 25-year long term purchase power agreement less than 6 cents per kilowatt hour with a ½ % a year escalator in energy. It is one of the cheapest power supply contracts we have. There is no transmission associated with it.
  • The solar farm has tile laminates and monitor the weather and go vertical to protect themselves.
  • There will be some tours to see the solar farm.
  • Councilmember Anthony Fitzgerald asked Ourada about the insurance on the solar farm. Ourada stated that Sand Hills owns and operates it.
     Mayor Dave Bauer stated that he asked City Administrator Tom Ourada to              provide some information on the solar farm since people were asking questions about it.
  • Bauer wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
Subject:
7. Adjournment
Discussion:
6:34 p.m.
 

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