VILLAGE OF UNION MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 10, 2011
The Union Village Board met in regular session on August 10, 2011. Chipman motioned to appoint Gaille Brown as interim - Chairman in Dwain Hardbarger’s absence in accordance with Village of Union Ordinance 1-109. 2nd by Vidlak. Trustee votes are as follows: Brown – Aye, Chipman- Aye, Vidlak – Aye. Keene, delayed, Hardbarger, Jr., absent. Motion approved. The meeting was called to order at 7:01p.m., at the ALA Hall. The Open Meeting Laws were displayed for public reference. On roll call: Brown, Vidlak and Chipman. Keene delayed. Hardbarger, Jr., absent.
Minutes of the previous Board Meeting were reviewed. Chipman motioned to approve the July 13, 2011 Meeting Minutes. 2nd by Vidlak. By roll, Trustee votes are as follows: Brown -Aye, Vidlak-Aye, Chipman-Aye. Keene delayed. Hardbarger, Jr., absent. Motion approved.
Claims and Accounts were presented. Chipman motioned to approve July Claims and Accounts. 2nd by Vidlak. By roll, Trustee votes are as follows: Brown -Aye, Vidlak-Aye, Chipman-Aye. Keene delayed. Hardbarger, Jr., absent. Motion approved.
CLAIMS & ACCOUNTS AUGUST 2011 NPPD FIREBARN* $ 97.99 BALLFIELD** $ 44.74 WATER PUMP $ 415.50 FIREBARN (TOWN BLDG) $ 20.00 TOWER (WATER) $ 20.00 TRAFFIC LIGHT $ 20.00 AREA LIGHT RENTAL $ 12.24 STREETLIGHTS $ 539.43 SEWER PUMP $ 110.09 ALA HALL $ 78.39 COLUMBUS TELEGRAM $ 116.56 MINUTES & NOTICE PUBLISHING WINDSTREAM OFFICE $ 66.42 WINDSTREAM FIRE $ 87.57 MELISSA HANSEN $ 739.70 JUL PAY ALLIED RECYCLING $ 1202.24 MONTHLY TRASH CONTRACT LOAN $ 265.64 RESCUE SQUAD LOAN $ 618.44 STREET/SEWER STEVE HEYEN $ 1015.91 JUL PAY JOHNSON’S GAS N GO $ 290.67 MOWERS/MAINT TRUCK MEESKE’S HARDWARE $ 111.72 KEYS/GROUNDS MAINT SUPPLIES EMS BILLING $ 11.97 RESCUE BILLING HACH COMPANY $ 34.39 WATER TESTING SUPPLIES NPHEL $ 98.00 WATER TESTS NE CITY UTILITIES $ 350.00 SEWER JETTING STEVE HEYEN $ 9.02 POSTAGE REIMBURSEMENT BALL INS. $ 897.00 UVFR LIFE INSURANCE GREAT PLAINS ONE CALL $ 5.88 DIGGERS HOTLINE
Brown directed the Board to move Old Business A up on the agenda. Chipman motioned to accept the Allied Refuse and Recycling, aka Papillion Sanitation, waste removal proposal for a five year contract with regular rates set the first year at $16.75 and senior rates at $15.50 with the potential to increase a maximum of 3% each year after. In addition the Village is to received dumpster service at the Union Parks and a roll-off dumpster up to 3 times a year for village clean up for landfill costs only. 2nd by Vidlak. By roll, Trustee votes are as follows: Brown -Aye, Vidlak-Aye, Chipman-Aye. Keene delayed. Hardbarger, Jr., absent. Motion approved.
Keene arrived at 7:27 p.m.
Brown moved up the Water Meter Committee report up next in the agenda to receive information from HD Waterworks representatives Mr. Julius and Mr. Martin. They gave proposed figures on water meters and metered pits along with the reading equipment. Samples of the meters were looked over and questions answered. In the end, Mr. Julius suggested a full audit of the equipment at each residence in order to prepare an accurate list of the materials needed to go forward with the project and installation. Mr. Martin will provide personal support to Steve Heyen during the audit process.
Correspondence:
League of Municipalities sent sticker changes to the Open Meeting Laws Act for our poster. The Community Development Block Grant for the Main St. Bldg. Study is officially completed. Olsson Associates sent new 2 yr. contract to be reviewed and adopted at our next regular meeting. The US District Court for Southern New York District sent info on Class Action Lawsuit concerning JP Morgan Chase and Co. We hold and have been paying on Street Bonds financed by companies involved in the lawsuit. They are claimed to have violated federal antitrust laws by, in our case, rigging bids for municipal bonds. No action is required to stay part of the lawsuit. The Village received Strategic Discussions for Nebraska publication from UNL and a notice from the US Dept. of Commerce on government unit surveys arriving in October.
The Clerk’s Report: The Village’s debt to the US Treasury for back withholding taxes, penalties and interest has been paid off. The Village received release of lien notices that the IRS had placed on all municipal properties last March. The Bescheinen lawsuit to abate nuisances and pay fines has been filed.
The Village Maintenance report: was given by Heyen.
The village pumped 1,348,000 gallons of water. Lift station ran for 7.6 hours. The Montana mowing deck has been repaired and is working well. A water main leak was discovered at Larue and B Streets. Kerns Excavating was called in to dig up area and assist in the repair. All went well. Heyen estimates the contracting costs to be $800 - $1500. Heyen reported vandalism at Todd Park. The walkover bridge was taken out. The Village propane tank had graffiti on it as well, but washable paints appear to have been used.
The water tower is overflowing, not from the top as expected, but appears to be from the same gasket we had problems with after the tank cleaning last spring.
Heyen has asked the board members present to assist with the copper and lead testing required by the state. Samples need to be collected at residential sites and the water must be run at the faucet a set amount of time before sample can be gathered. Vidlak, Brown, Chipman and Keene agreed to take the sample. C.J. Seyler agreed to take the fifth sample.
Heyen has been eliminating weeds in the village with round-up.
Fire and Rescue reported by Louise Stewart. Louise requested a moment of silence for Rick Erixson and his family. Rick was killed in a motorcycle accident last week and his family’s home burnt down this afternoon.
Sirens tested OK. The call count reported from 4/13 to 8/10 9 Rescues and 13 Fire and Rescues. For the first time in 20 years, the UVFD has to cancel the Labor Day Weekend Pancake Breakfast. The raffle will be held in September 5th at 11:00am.
The Rescue Squad will be available for Union Daze events this weekend.
The UVFR appreciated the Thank You card for their services at Union United’s Firework Event.
Union United Inc. reported that the Zoom and Groom raised $825 for Union Daze and the Feral Cat program. The Wohlman Auction concessions raised over $800. The upcoming fundraisers are Union Daze, August 13 and 14 and The 2nd Annual Golf Tournament August 20th at Grandpa’s Woods.
NEW BUSINESS
Chipman motioned to have clerk pay off back sales taxes, interest, and penalties owed from April 2008 to September 2009 an amount around $1863.00. 2nd by Keene. By roll, Trustee votes are as follows: Brown -Aye, Vidlak-Aye, Chipman-Aye, Keene- Aye. Hardbarger, Jr., absent. Motion approved.
CJ Seyler presented his complaint against Waconda Welding citing Section 5.55 on Union’s Zoning Regulation for C-2 Highway Commercial District. Commercial properties that abut to residential properties may be required to put up a fence. Open Storage of commercial materials must be screen by a wall or fence. On July 11, 2011, John Pfahl, owner of Waconda Welding, moved a metal trash dumpster and steel posts close to Seyler’s property line. Mr. Seyler requests that the Board intervene and have Waconda Welding erect a fence to close in elements stored on the commercial property. When Seyler asked Mr. Pfahl to just move the posts, he refused. Chipman commented that Mr. Pfahl had spoken to him about the incident. Chipman stated that Mr. Pfahl is upset because Mr. Seyler trespasses on Waconda Welding property.
Chipman suggested that the clerk send a letter to Mr. Pfahl with pertinent information about the complaint and request that he be present at the next meeting before the Board takes any further action.
The proposed Utility Ordinance modification is tabled until the next meeting.
Union United requested a special permit for the public consumption of alcohol in the Village parks for Union Daze being held on August 13 and 14th. The Board limited the time for consumption from 8:00am to 10:00pm. The area will be North of the B Street Alley at Larue to 1st St. ending in the ball field. Chipman asked the clerk to contact the Cass County Sheriff to see if there were any other stipulations required. Chipman motioned to approve Union United’s request for a permit. 2nd by Vidlak. By roll, Trustee votes are as follows: Brown -Aye, Vidlak-Aye, Chipman-Aye, Keene- Aye. Hardbarger, Jr., absent. Motion approved.
Chipman motioned to purchase1000 gallons of prepaid propane from Drake’s Propane Service for the Village Offices at $1.83 per gallon. 2nd by Vidlak. By roll, Trustee votes are as follows: Brown -Aye, Vidlak-Aye, Chipman-Aye, Keene- Aye. Hardbarger, Jr., absent. Motion approved.
Bob Harrah requested time to speak to the Board. He said he owns the shop and vacant lot next to it and realizes it needs to be cleaned up better. He will be selling the place in the near future and wants it recorded that Keene’s Cuts sewer line runs beneath the vacant lot in a Y. He will be working to get rid of most of the stuff, but one of the cars he uses for parts and there are parts being stored there to fix his ’65 wrecker. Those are the things that will be kept there until the place is sold.
On July 17, 2011 the Health Board met to discuss the condition of the Wiysel Garage. The roof collapsed over a year ago. They have requested that the garage part of the property needs to be either replaced, or demolished. In 2010, the building inspector reported that the entire structure has not been maintained over many years.
There has been some interest in buying commercial properties in the downtown. The community is interested in a downtown movement but the state of the properties is a deterrent. Wiysel’s Garage is the most noticeable mess when driving down Main Street.
Chipman motioned to adopt the Health Board’s findings in Resolution 11-13, declaring the Wiysel Garage a nuisance. 2nd by Vidlak. By roll, Trustee votes are as follows: Brown -Aye, Vidlak-Aye, Chipman-Aye, Keene- Aye. Hardbarger, Jr., absent. Motion approved. Vidlak motioned to adjourn at 8:57pm. 2nd by Keene. By roll, Trustee votes are as follows: Brown -Aye, Vidlak-Aye, Chipman-Aye, Keene- Aye. Hardbarger, Jr., absent. Motion approved.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for September 14, 2011, 7pm at the ALA Hall. The Meeting Notice and Agenda will be posted for the public at the Village Office, the Union Branch of the Nehawka Bank, and the Union Post Office.
Dwain Hardbarger, Jr. Chairman
These minutes have been prepared by the village clerk and are certified to be true and accurate.