VILLAGE OF UNION
MEETING MINUTES
MAY 10, 2023

Chairman Seyler called the monthly meeting for May to order at 7:00 pm at the Union Fire Hall. The Open Meeting Laws were displayed for public reference.  On roll call:  Seyler – Aye, Feek – Aye, Hill – Aye, Ruby – Aye and Fritschle- Aye. 

Item 7, Fire Report, was moved up on the agenda to allow for fire personnel to attend another meeting in Nehawka.   Kason Cade was in attendance to talk to the Board about a $75,000 grant the Fire and Rescue received for the purchase of a new Rescue Squad.  The new squad fills the need of emergency health services to be present in the Union area.  The current squad is located in Nehawka and presents a delay in response for Union members having to travel to Nehawka and back to Union, if the call is for this area.  The Fire and Rescue would need financial support, initially outfitting the squad with the necessary supplies, and then a share for the expenses for each year.  The Board was given sone details to look over and think about until next month.

Jim Noerrlinger was present to introduce himself to the Board as the new Secretary/Treasurer of the Nehawka Rural Fire Department.  He asked if Union would be willing to cost-share on a hydro-flow meter.  This tool would facilitate the testing that is necessary on the fire hydrants.  Noerrlinger will be back next meeting with more specific information for the Board to decide on.

Minutes of the April Regular Board Meeting were reviewed.  Feek motioned to approve April 12th Meeting Minutes.  2nd by Ruby.   By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Seyler – Aye, Feek – Aye, Hill – Aye, Ruby – Aye and Fritschle - Aye. Motion approved.

Claims and Accounts were presented.  Ruby motioned to approve May Claims and Accounts 2nd by Hill.  By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Seyler – Aye, Feek – Aye, Hill – Aye, Ruby – Aye and Fritschle- Aye. Motion approved.

MAY 2023
CLAIMS AND ACCOUNTS

NPPD:

WATER PUMP			 $   294.69 (EFT)	WATER FUND
FIREBARN (TOWN BLDG)			 $     82.42 (EFT)	FIRE FUND
TOWER (WATER)			 $   122.60 (EFT)	WATER FUND
AREA LIGHT RENTAL			 $     11.44 (EFT)	GENERAL FUND
STREETLIGHTS			 $   424.45 (EFT)	STREET FUND
LIFT STATION			 $   113.44 (EFT)	SEWER FUND
BALLFIELD			 $     78.95 (EFT)	PARK FUND
MAINTENANCE SHOP			 $     31.58 (EFT)	GENERAL FUND
CABOOSE			 $     31.58 (EFT)	GENERAL FUND
WINDSTREAM			 $     89.52 (EFT)	GENERAL FUND
RESERVES TRANSFER			 $   183.00 MAY MONTHLY TRANSFER (EFT)	SEWER FUND
CENEX FLEET FUELING			 $   245.51 R1500/MOWERS/MONTANA ($15.15- discounts)(C)	GENERAL FUNDS
NE DEPT OF REVENUE			 $    174.83 SALES TAXES (EFT)	GENERAL FUND
NRFD			 $24,791.88 ROOF REPAIR AND AC REPLACEMENT REIMBURSEMENT	GENERAL FUND
NPHEL			 $     294.00 MINERAL AND EPA TESTING (C)	WATER FUND
USPS	   		$    126.00 FIRST CLASS STAMPS	WATER & GENERAL FUNDS
MENARDS COMMERCIAL	   		$   377.76 TOILETS AND SUPPLIES FOR OFFICES	GENERAL
MELISSA HANSEN 			 $ 1645.81 APRIL PAY (C)	WATER, SEWER & GENERAL & STREET FUNDS
STEVE HEYEN			 $ 1924.69 APRIL PAY (C)	WATER, SEWER, STREET, PARK & GENERAL FUNDS
STEVE C HEYEN	    		$     47.10 APRIL PAY (C)	GENERAL FUND
SUMMER HELP			$   115.50 $10.50HR FOR 11 HOURS (C)	PARK
WILBUR-ELLIS			 $    60.00 HERBICIDES (C)	PARK FUNDS
LARM	     		$   670.71 WORKERS COMP AUDIT (C)	GENERAL FUND
TSC			$    117.93 PARK CLEANING SUPPLIES	PARK
PAPILLION SANITATION			 $   305.30 RECYCLE	GENERAL
INTUIT			 $     15.00 PAYROLL FEE (EFT)	GENERAL FUND
US TREASURY			 $   936.06 MONTHLY DEPOSIT FOR WITHHOLDING (EFT)	GENERAL FUND
MEESKE HARDWARE	 		 $    40.55 MAINTENANCE SUPPLIES (C)	GENERAL FUND
$         33,252.30 MAY CLAIMS AND ACCOUNTS
$      191,720.56 GENERAL FUND BALANCE AS OF MAY 10, 2023
$          9,011.20 PENDING DEPOSITS   
$        37,746.46 SEWER RESERVE ACCOUNT 
$        43,024.06 ARPA FUND ACCOUNT
           +  183.00 SEWER RESERVE TRANSFER FOR MARCH							                            $      248,432.72 IN VILLAGE ACOUNTS AFTER CLAIMS & ACCOUNTS PAID
CORRESPONDENCE- The clerk received a letter with fee information on our water tower maintenance contract.  It will remain the same this year, as last.  She also received a letter from Josh Charvat, the new Executive Director of the Cass County Economic Development Council, introducing himself.  The clerk scheduled him to visit at the June 14th Board meeting at his letter’s request.
CLERK REPORT – The clerk reported that she has participated in the monthly meeting with NEMA, for the FEMA Grant.  The next one will be June 13th.  
The status is in not know on our Pre-Application for WWAC funding for the water infrastructure project.  Nate will contact the necessary agencies.  He also set up a work group to seek other funding sources for our project. 
 The RFP ad has been published and will publish again on May 12th.  The clerk will mail the RFP to a list of siren companies compiled by MAPA, by the end of the week.
Village Maintenance Report: Heyen reported the well pumps ran for 213 hours, pumping 1,249,000 gallons of water.  Lift station processed 612,000 gallons of wastewater. Heyen reported that he believes the major residential leaks are fixed, but that they were towards the middle of last month.  He expects the gallons pumped to customers will be less in his next report. The lagoons are low. Heyen will begin to pump in water from the wells, as soon as he gets a few more measurements to assure leaks are fixed.
Union United Inc. Report: The group wants to purchase banners for the street but does not have an idea for a graphic yet.  The old, faded banners’ graphic was of the caboose.  The Board commented that they would like to see more color in whatever graphic is offered for review. 

New Business:

Heyen needs 20 credit hours in continuing education to renew his wastewater certification this December, and 10 for his water operator license. The Nebraska Water Environment Association is hosting a three-day wastewater class in Lincoln, August 21 through 23, that would satisfy those credits. The Utilities Section of LoNM is hosting a one-day backflow workshop in Beatrice August 15th. This workshop should get him close to the credit hours he needs for his water operator license renewal. 

Feek motioned to approve Steve Heyen’s class attendance and expenses in August, for his water and waste water continuing education credit hours.  2nd by Hill.  By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Seyler – Aye, Feek – Aye, Hill – Aye, Ruby – Aye and Fritschle- Aye. Motion approved.

People have been complaining about broken glass and graffiti down by the pavilion and rest rooms.  Union hasn’t had surveillance in that area since the last system was stolen.  Currently, the internet equipment needs to be upgraded and a new location needs to be found so it has line of sight to the water tower.  Ruby asked that Hansen work with Nextlink to update and move the internet equipment and to provide the Board with some information on security systems we could purchase for that area, at next month’s meeting. 

The Board discussed ideal areas for our third internet access site, provided by Nextlink by contract.  Fritschle motioned for the 3rd location to be in Todd Park.  2nd by Feek.  By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Seyler – Aye, Feek – Aye, Hill – Aye, Ruby – Aye and Fritschle- Aye. Motion approved.

The clerk is required to have eight continuing education hours to be in compliance with State Statute.  The League of Nebraska Municipalities is hosting the Municipal Accounting and Finance Conference in Lincoln on June 21 through June 23rd which will give her the hours that is required.  The hotel block for this event is $119 per night, and the conference with one luncheon is $425.
Feek motioned to authorize the Clerk to attend the Finance and Accounting Conference and two-night stay at the Cornhusker Hotel.  2nd by Ruby.  By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Seyler – Aye, Feek – Aye, Hill – Aye, Ruby – Aye and Fritschle- Aye. Motion approved.


Ruby motioned to adjourn at 7:40 pm. 2nd by Hill.  By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Seyler – Aye, Feek – Aye, Hill – Aye, Ruby – Aye and Fritschle- Absent. Motion approved.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for June 14, 2023 at 7 pm at the Union Fire Hall.  The Meeting Notice and Agenda will be posted for the public at the Village Office, the Union Junktion, and the Union Post Office by June 9th.



Charles J. Seyler II
Chairman     

                        
 				
		These minutes have been prepared by the village clerk and are certified to be true and accurate