VILLAGE OF UNION
MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 11, 2013

The September Regular meeting was called to order at 7:01 pm at the ALA Hall. The Open Meeting Laws were displayed for public reference.  On roll call:  Hardbarger – Nay, Boardman – Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Seyler – Aye and Brown - Aye. Seyler motioned to appoint Vidlak as acting chairman in Hardbarger’s absence. 2nd by Brown. By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger – Absent, Boardman – Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Seyler – Aye and Brown - Aye. Motion approved.

Seyler motioned to open the Annual Budget Hearing at 7:02 pm. 2nd by Brown.  By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger- Absent, Vidlak – Aye, Boardman – Aye, Seyler – Aye, Brown – Aye.  Motion approved.  

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

Seyler motioned to close the Annual Budget Hearing at 7:50pm.  2nd by Boardman.  By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger – Absent, Boardman – Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Seyler – Aye and Brown - Aye. Motion approved.

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

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

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

Seyler motioned to adopt the 2013/2014 Budget as prepared by Ric Ortmeier and reviewed by the Board.  2nd by Boardman.  By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger – Absent, Boardman – Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Seyler – Aye and Brown - Aye. Motion approved.

Seyler motioned to set the property tax rate at .464369 for the 2013 Valuation.  This rate is in essentially the same rate as last year’s, and sets aside $23,800.00 for the General Fund and $16,200.00 for the Bond Fund, for a total of $40,000.00.  2nd by Brown.  By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger – Absent, Boardman – Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Seyler – Aye and Brown - Aye. Motion approved.

Minutes of the August Regular Board Meeting and August 29th Special Meeting were reviewed. Seyler motioned to approve August Regular Board Meeting and August 29th Special Meeting minutes.  2nd by Boardman.   By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger – Absent, Boardman – Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Seyler – Aye and Brown - Aye. Motion approved.

Claims and Accounts were presented.  Seyler motioned to approve September Claims and Accounts.  2nd by Brown.  By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger – Absent, Boardman – Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Seyler – Aye and Brown - Aye. Motion approved.
CLAIMS & ACCOUNTS
SEPTEMBER 2013
NPPD           FIREBARN*
 $     104.26

WATER PUMP
 $     535.98

FIREBARN (TOWN BLDG)
 $       22.11

TOWER  (WATER)
 $       22.11

TRAFFIC LIGHT
 $       22.11

AREA LIGHT RENTAL
 $       13.44

STREETLIGHTS
 $     611.01

SEWER PUMP
 $       69.24

BALLFIELD
 $       60.82

ALA HALL
 $       72.98

WINDSTREAM  OFFICE
 $       67.86

WINDSTREAM  FIRE
 $       90.28

MELISSA HANSEN
 $     835.30    AUG PAY

LOAN
 $      264.68   RESCUE SQUAD

LOAN
 $      618.44   STREET/SEWER  

STEVE HEYEN
 $    1578.70    AUG PAY

STEVE C. HEYEN
 $      540.25    AUG TEMP PAY

CARRAWAY COMPUTERS
 $     695.00    AUTOREAD IMPORT/EXPORT FILE

JOHNSON’S GAS N GO
 $      350.91   MOWER AND TRUCK

NPHEL
 $        15.00   WATER TESTS

BALL INS. SVCS.
  $    1008.00   UVFR LIFE INS. POLICIES

HD WATERWORKS
 $    6992.16    METERS & AUTOREAD EQUIP

MEESKE’S HARDWARE
 $        19.95    METER INTALL MISC.

KERNS EXCAVATING
 $    1297.60    LEAK REPAIR

FERGUSON ENTERPRISE
 $        66.00   WATER FOUNTAIN VALVE

$   14,395.49     SEPTEMBER CLAIMS AND ACCOUNTS
$   95,832.81     GENERAL FUND BALANCES AS OF SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
$   14,947.67      SEWER RESERVE ACCOUNT
$        687.24      Deposits FOR SEPTEMBER 11, 2013
$   97,072.23     Total Village Funds after claims and accounts paid
CORRESPONDENCE – No correspondence to report

CLERK REPORT – The clerk’s office received and responded to a request from LONM to provide them with occupational taxes break down for a survey they are conducting.  The Village only taxes $15 for Liquor Businesses in which Union has one, the Union Bar, $15 for communications businesses, in which Union has one, Windstream, and $5 for fire insurance companies in which Union has one.  We may want to look at our ordinance and figure out the going tax rates and what we can legally tax under occupational taxes to help raise revenue for Economic Development.  Some municipalities tax a percentage of profit rather than flat rate like we do.

Village Maintenance Report: Heyen reported 1,333,000 gallons of water pumped.  The water tower has a supply line leak.  Heyen pumped the water out of the area to find the leak at a compression fitting. He needs more information to repair it, but thinks if he cuts the bolts off the fitting and replaces them and tightens them down, the leak should stop.  He would have to shut the water tower down for a day to replace a piece of the line, and hesitates to do this at this time. He will continue to research and repair the problem.  Heyen found another mop head stuck in the lift station.  He still is unsure how a mop head could fit down someone’s toilet by accident.  Water leaks at the Holly Keene residence and Tellez residence are repaired.  Water meters at all active locations have been installed.  HD Supply will be in on Monday, September 16th, to finish installing programming.  The activation of meter system is tentatively scheduled for first billing October 15th for usage from Sep. 16th to October 15th.  A public concern is that this could allow for 13 billing cycles and an extra base charge for water and sewer paid each year.  A suggestion to start billing on the first Tuesday of each month instead of a set date would solve this problem.
Fire and Rescue: Boardman passed on that there is nothing to report.
Union United Inc. reported that both the signs are installed.  The fall clean-up is tentatively scheduled for September 21st and will include Highway 34 Cleanup and sign landscaping.  Approximately 20 volunteers are needed.
Old Business:  Eden Trees’ bid on Unity Park Tree care for $600 and Sorensen’s Shrub and Tree Care bid for $500 were considered by the Board. The bid is based on 4 applications; 2 pesticide, 2 fertilization, one of eachduring the spring and fall of every year.  Seyler motioned to accept Sorensen’s bid for Unity Park tree care in the amount of $500.  2nd by Brown.  By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger – Absent, Boardman – Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Seyler – Aye and Brown - Aye. Motion approved.
New Business:  Seyler motioned to adopt Resolution 2013-3, setting the minimum water use fee 0 – 999 gallons per month at $20.00 plus applicable tax and each addition 1000 gallons at $1.50 plus tax. 2nd by Boardman. By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger – Absent, Boardman – Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Seyler – Aye and Brown - Aye. Motion approved.

Seyler introduced New Ordinance 6-102: AN ORDINANCE TO BE ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF UNION, CASS COUNT, REVISING AND AMENDING THE PROVISIONS OF THE VILLAGE CODE 6-102 RELATING TO WASTE WATER TREATMENT RATES WITHIN THE VILLAGE AND TO REPEAL ORDINANCES CONTRARY THERETO.   Seyler read the title of Ordinance 6-102: AN ORDINANCE TO BE ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF UNION, CASS COUNT, REVISING AND AMENDING THE PROVISIONS OF THE VILLAGE CODE 6-102 RELATING TO WASTE WATER TREATMENT RATES WITHIN THE VILLAGE AND TO REPEAL ORDINANCES CONTRARY THERETO, and motioned to suspend the rules of the three separate reading and that ordinance 6-102: be considered for passage on the same day upon reading by number and title only and then placed on final passage.  2nd by Boardman. By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger – Absent, Boardman – Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Seyler – Aye and Brown - Aye. Motion approved.

Seyler read the title of Ordinance 6-102 and then read Ordinance 6-102 in its entirety.  Vidlak motioned to adopt Ordinance 6-102: AN ORDINANCE TO BE ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF UNION, CASS COUNT, REVISING AND AMENDING THE PROVISIONS OF THE VILLAGE CODE 6-102 RELATING TO WASTE WATER TREATMENT RATES WITHIN THE VILLAGE AND TO REPEAL ORDINANCES CONTRARY THERETO.  2nd by Brown.  By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger – Absent, Boardman – Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Seyler – Aye and Brown - Aye. Motion approved.  This ordinance sets the minimum sewer usage at 0-999 gallons per month for $29.00 plus tax and each additional 1000 gallons at $1.00 plus tax.  Gallons per month will be based on water usage.

Seyler motioned to adjourn at 8:32pm. 2nd by Brown.  By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Hardbarger – Absent, Boardman – Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Seyler – Aye and Brown - Aye. Motion approved.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for October 9, 2013, 7 pm 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.
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