VILLAGE OF UNION MEETING MINUTES September 14, 2011

The Union Village Board met in regular session on September 14, 2011.  Chipman motioned to open the Annual Budget Hearing at 7:03pm at the ALA Hall.  2nd by Vidlak.  Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger, Jr. – Aye, Brown – Aye, Chipman- Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Keene - Aye. Motion approved.  The Open Meeting Laws were displayed for public reference.  On roll call: Hardbarger, Jr., Brown, Chipman  Vidlak and Keene.

Ric Ortmeier was present to go over budget paperwork with the Board and answer any questions for meeting attendees.

Chipman motioned to close the Annual Budget Hearing.  2nd by Brown.  By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger, Jr. – Aye, Brown – Aye, Chipman- Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Keene - Aye.  Motion approved.

Chipman motioned to open final tax request hearing. 2nd by Vidlak. By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger, Jr. – Aye, Brown – Aye, Chipman- Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Keene - Aye. Motion approved.

No comments.

Brown motioned to close the final tax request hearing. 2nd by Vidlak. By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger, Jr. – Aye, Brown – Aye, Chipman- Aye, Vidlak – Aye, and Keene - Aye. Motion approved.

Chipman motioned to open September’s regular meeting.  2nd by Brown.  By Roll,Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger, Jr. – Aye, Brown – Aye, Chipman- Aye, Vidlak – Aye, and Keene - Aye. Motion approved.

Chipman motioned to pass the allowable growth increase of 1%.  2nd by Vidlak.  By Roll,Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger, Jr. – Aye, Brown – Aye, Chipman- Aye, Vidlak – Aye, and Keene - Aye. Motion approved.

Chipman motioned to adopt the 2011/2012 Budget as prepared by Ric Ortmeier and reviewed by the Board.  2nd by Vidlak.  By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger, Jr. – Aye, Brown – Aye, Chipman- Aye, Vidlak – Aye, and Keene - Aye. Motion approved.

Minutes of the previous Board Meeting were reviewed. Vidlak motioned to approve the August 10, 2011 Meeting Minutes.  2nd by Brown.  By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger, Jr. – Aye, Brown – Aye, Chipman- Aye, Vidlak – Aye, and Keene - Aye. Motion approved.

Claims and Accounts were presented.  Chipman motioned to approve September Claims and Accounts.  2nd by Brown.  Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger, Jr. – Aye, Brown – Aye, Chipman- Aye, Vidlak – Aye, and Keene - Aye. Motion approved..

CLAIMS & ACCOUNTS SEPTEMBER 2011 NPPD           FIREBARN*  $     128.28  BALLFIELD**  $       44.74   WATER PUMP  $     553.99   FIREBARN (TOWN BLDG)  $       20.00   TOWER  (WATER)  $       21.02  TRAFFIC LIGHT  $       20.00  AREA LIGHT RENTAL  $       12.24   STREETLIGHTS  $     539.43   SEWER PUMP  $       97.01   ALA HALL  $     124.35  LEAGUE OF NE MUNICIPALITIES  $      294.00   UTILITIES DUES  WINDSTREAM  OFFICE  $       66.45  WINDSTREAM  FIRE  $       87.53  MELISSA HANSEN   $     754.80    AUG PAY  ALLIED RECYCLING  $    1220.30   MONTHLY TRASH CONTRACT   LOAN  $      265.64   RESCUE SQUAD  LOAN  $      618.44   STREET/SEWER    STEVE HEYEN  $    1115.00   AUG PAY  JOHNSON’S GAS N GO  $      368.34   MOWERS/MAINT TRUCK  MEESKE’S HARDWARE  $       94.75    KEYS/GROUNDS MAINT SUPPLIES  EMS BILLING  $       96.42   RESCUE BILLING  LEAGUE OF NE MUNICIPALITIES  $     266.00   MEMBERSHIP DUES  NPHEL  $       62.00   WATER TESTS  KERNS ESCAVATING CO  $     550.00    WATER LEAK REPAIR  USDA   $ 21209.00   SEWER BOND PAYMENT   GREAT PLAINS ONE CALL      $         3.03   DIGGERS HOTLINE 

Correspondence: None

The Clerk’s Report:

The clerk reported that 3 of the 5 Village’s Board of Trustees had petitions of recall filed against them; Dwain Hardbardger, Jr., Paul Vidlak and David Chipman.  The Cass County Election office received the signed petitions today with enough signatures to require a recall election.  The election office is verifying the signatures.  The public asked how much it could cost the Village if an election was held.  Chipman stated it could be up to $3000.  The clerk said she thought it could be closer to $6000 if there were more than one election.

The Village Maintenance report: was given by Heyen.

The village pumped 1,395,000 gallons of water, up a little from last month. Lift station ran for about 6 hours per day, 188 hours for the month.

Heyen reported that he trimmed the limbs on B St. and that the clutch on the mower broke.  He replaced the belt and sharpened the blades.

There is another water leak on Larue St., possibly a main.  Kerns will be in town on Monday to assist in the repairing of the leak.  Heyen has been checking the main shut off valves and they are full of silt. It will be difficult to impossible to shut off lines to isolate leak.  He may have to drain the tower to fix the leak.  Water may be down on Monday the 19th, for a few hours.

DHHS representative Roger Rhylander inspected the Village’s water system last Tuesday, finding no write-ups.  He suggested that Heyen prepare a continuity folder in case someone needed to come in and do something with the system in his absence.  He gave Heyen the option to continue chlorinating on a regular basis, but Heyen said from the complaints he’s heard from the residents, they would rather not continue chlorinating unless it is mandated by the State.

Rhylander also suggested, when Heyen explained that the water pumps are still surging, that the Village install a soft drive that would start and stops the pumps more gradually.  The cost for this equipment is approximately $2500.

Fire and Rescue reported by Louise Stewart.

Sirens tested OK.  The call count reported from 2 Rescue and 2 Fire.

A young man came in and cleaned the Fire house kitchenette and supply room for community service.

The raffle drawing was held on Sept. 6, 2011 and winners have been posted at the post office and Nehawka Bank.

The Rescue Squad needs a new fuel filter.  Louise will be pricing them and will let us know whether one of their volunteers, or Murray Repair will do the work.

There is a federal mandate that radios need to be operating on narrow band by the end of December of 2012.  High fines will be assessed for any use of wide band after January 1, 2013. The Fire and Rescue radios need to be reprogrammed.  The estimated cost will be $350 - $450. Cass County IT is working on a grant.

The Fire and Rescue volunteers will be hosting a spaghetti feed for the Erixson family.  It is tentatively scheduled for Sunday October 16th from 1:00 – 6:00 pm.

Union United Inc. report was given by Debbie Vidlak.  The August fundraisers made close to $3000.

Fall Clean-Up was held last weekend and thanks go out the many volunteers that planted trees and picked up trash in the park and along the highway.

Vidlak also reported that Union United’s Adopt-a-Highway sign has been vandalized with vulgar language.  Plans are being made to either replace or repaint the sign. 

Volunteers are needed for upcoming fundraisers.  Union Hill Vineyard has asked Union United to help with their first grape harvest.  We will be on call for weekends starting the last in September to the 2nd weekend in October.  The grapes are tested weekly and when they are ready they need to be harvested and delivered to the wine producers within a short window of time.   Volunteers need to be 15 years or older and a total of 15 to 20 volunteers are needed.

Spirits of Union event is being planned and will be held this year October 29th in the park.

OLD BUSINESS:

Chipman opened the discussion by stating that, with the major challenges facing the Village at this time, the easiest solution to the Seyler Family’s complaint against Waconda Welding would be for John Pfahl and C.J. Seyler to work it out.  Seyler stated that there are zoning ordinances that need to be followed.  Pfahl has told Board members that the Seylers have trespassed on his property and nuisances are being maintained on their property as well as many other properties around Union.  He submitted pictures for the Board to review. Pfahl also complained that the Seyler’s dog is loose on his property regularly. Amy Seyler said that Pfahl is thinking about her brother driving over his property and Pfahl’s dogs have been known to wander onto their property.  C.J. Seyler stated that Pfahl has never confronted him and asked him to stay off his property.  Pfahl disagreed and told the Board that he walked over to Seyler’s property on July 4, 2010, to ask him to not shoot fireworks off on his property and Seyler did not recall it.

Chipman stated that we all need to make peace in Union.  There are nuisances on many properties and Amy Seyler, with her service on the health board, should know what it’s like to deal with the many nuisance issues that the Board faces.  The Seyler’s should agree not to trespass on Waconda Welding property, and Pfahl should move items in question from the proximity of Seyler’s property because safety is important.

The Seyler’s agreed to stay off Waconda Welding property, going as far as finishing their fence line.  Pfahl agreed to move the steel beams and dumpster away from the Seyler’s property line.

The Board voiced their appreciating for their compromise.

NEW BUSINESS

Chipman motioned to approve the Brazzle’s request for a special permit to consume alcohol at the Village Parks Pavillion and associated areas for a wedding reception on October 2, 2011 from noon to midnight.  2nd by Brown.  Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger, Jr. – Aye, Brown – Aye, Chipman- Aye, Vidlak – Aye, and Keene - Aye. Motion approved.

Bobby Brown requested approval for the Brown Bottle to sponsor and hold a MMA event associated with the Omaha Ring Wars, sometime in the October-November time frame in the Village Parks.  This kind of event usually brings in 2000 spectators.  The ring and bleachers would, preferably, be assembled in center field to use the surrounding fence.  The vendor would supply the ring and bleachers and provide security and procure other law enforcement, if needed.  He also requested a Special Designated License to sell and serve alcohol at this event.

Chipman motioned to allow the Brown Bottle a single MMA event in 2011and approve the Special Designated License for this event.  2nd by Vidlak.  Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger, Jr. – Aye, Brown – Aye, Chipman- Aye, Vidlak – Aye, and Keene - Aye. Motion approved.

The Main Street Building Lot committee, organized to come up with ideas for the Wiysel property acquired in 2007, proposed a plan to donate said property to individuals or entities under certain conditions.  The individual or corporation must send a solicitation to the Village Office postmarked by April 1, 2012 and agree to do the following:

1. Remove and/or demolish the current structures on the premises or refurbish the current structure, to include the south retaining wall, no later than October 1, 2012. 2. Place a commercial structure on the property no later than September 1, 2013.

The Village will provide the individual or entity who is awarded the property after a committee convenes to review the solicitations, by June 1, 2012:

1. A general conveyance deed with right of reverter to Village, if commercial property is not constructed by September 1, 2013. 2. Free sewer and water hook-up.

The committee submitted an ad to be published in the Lincoln Journal Star, Plattsmouth Journal, Midwest Messenger, The Penny Press and the Omaha World Herald.

Chipman motioned to approve the committee’s proposal to offer the Village’s Main Street lot for donation with presented details.  2nd by Keene.  Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger, Jr. – Aye, Brown – Aye, Chipman- Aye, Vidlak – Aye, and Keene - Aye. Motion approved.

Vidlak motioned to adjourn at 8:30pm.  2nd by Brown.  By Roll.  Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger, Jr. – Aye, Brown – Aye, Chipman- Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Keene - Aye. Motion approved.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for October 12, 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.