VILLAGE OF UNION 
MEETING MINUTES 
JUNE 14, 2023

Chairman Seyler called the monthly meeting for June to order at 7:05 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 – Absent and Fritschle- Absent. 

Minutes of the May Regular Board Meeting were reviewed.  Feek motioned to approve May 10th Meeting Minutes.  2nd by Hill.   By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Seyler – Aye, Feek – Aye, Hill – Aye, Ruby – Absent and Fritschle - Absent. Motion approved.

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

JUNE 2023
CLAIMS AND ACCOUNTS

NPPD:


WATER PUMP

    

$   224.69 (EFT)

WATER FUND

FIREBARN (TOWN BLDG)

    

$     81.39 (EFT)

FIRE FUND

TOWER (WATER)

    

$   128.30 (EFT)

WATER FUND

AREA LIGHT RENTAL

    

$     11.44 (EFT)

GENERAL FUND

STREETLIGHTS

    

$   424.45 (EFT)

STREET FUND

LIFT STATION

    

$   105.81 (EFT)

SEWER FUND

BALLFIELD

    

$     78.95 (EFT)

PARK FUND

MAINTENANCE SHOP

    

$     31.58 (EFT)

GENERAL FUND

CABOOSE

    

$     31.58 (EFT)

GENERAL FUND

WINDSTREAM

    

$     88.77(EFT)

GENERAL FUND

RESERVES TRANSFER

    

$   183.00 JUNE MONTHLY TRANSFER (EFT)

SEWER FUND

CENEX FLEET FUELING

    

$   299.96 R1500/MOWERS/MONTANA ($18.57- discounts)(C)

GENERAL FUNDS

NE DEPT OF REVENUE

    

$    222.53 SALES TAXES (EFT)

GENERAL FUND

OMAHA WORLD HERALD

    

$      70.62 RFP PUBLISHING

GENERAL FUND

NPHEL

    

$      15.00 COLIFORM (C)

WATER FUND

USPS

   

  

$       96.00 POST CARD STAMPS

WATER & SEWER FUNDS

AMERICAN RECYCLING &

   

  

$    807.55 VILLAGE CLEAN UP ROLL-OFFS

GENERAL

MELISSA HANSEN 

    

$ 1586.81 MAY PAY (C)

WATER, SEWER & GENERAL & PARK FUNDS

STEVE HEYEN

    

$ 2246.66 MAY PAY (C)

WATER, SEWER, STREET, PARK & GENERAL FUNDS

SUMMER HELP

    

$   283.50 $10.50HR FOR 27 HOURS (C)

PARK

OLSSON

    

$    96.25 NBCS (C)

STREET FUNDS

FRONTIER COOP

     

  

$  929.90 PROPANE AND TANK RENTAL (C)

GENERAL FUND

CORE & MAIN

    

$     87.86 METER ACCESSORIES (EFT)

WATER

PAPILLION SANITATION

    

$   289.90 RECYCLE (EFT)

GENERAL

INTUIT

    

$    10.00 PAYROLL FEE (EFT)

GENERAL FUND

US TREASURY

    

$ 1090.56 MONTHLY DEPOSIT FOR WITHHOLDING (EFT)

GENERAL FUND

$          9,523.06 JUNE CLAIMS AND ACCOUNTS

$      195,433.14 GENERAL FUND BALANCE AS OF JUNE 13, 2023

$          6,684.29 PENDING DEPOSITS   

$        37,746.46 SEWER RESERVE ACCOUNT 

$        43,043.51 ARPA FUND ACCOUNT

           +  183.00 SEWER RESERVE TRANSFER FOR JUN E                             $      273,567.34 IN VILLAGE ACOUNTS AFTER CLAIMS & ACCOUNTS PAID

CORRESPONDENCE- The clerk received a proposal from Unison to take over the AT&T lease on the water tower.  The clerk was notified by letter that CitiBank is ending their credit program with Staples Commercial More Account on 7/31/2023.

CLERK REPORT – The clerk reported that she has participated in the monthly meeting with NEMA, for the FEMA Grant.  The clerk worked on the RFP process, to include responding to vendor questions, reviewing bids and preparing bid information and copies for the Board and public.  

Village Maintenance Report: Heyen reported the well pumps ran for 230 hours, pumping 1,376,000 gallons of water.  Lift station processed 612,000 gallons of wastewater. NPPD reported excess water flowing at Morton’s place. The F-550 has a bad manifold gasket and the harness is rusted.  Chairman told Heyen to take it to Michael’s Garage for repairs and authorized Heyen to purchase a power pruner at TSC.

Ruby arrived at 7:10pm.  Fritschle arrived at 7:12pm.

FIRE REPORT:  Gerken was present to report to the Board.  The Fire department is currently trying to get reimbursed for the Waconda Fire. The NEMA, CCEMA AND the National Guard were called in to manage and deploy equipment and services. The department recently purchased a bare bones Class A pumper for $615,000, bonded.  The purchase could lower insurance premiums for properties serviced by the Rural District by increasing the ISO rating.  The water supplies in Union and Nehawka are still lacking for the highest ISO rating.

Union United Inc. Report: The Kelsays were present to talk about a special clause in their Life Insurance which provides a small donation to a non-profit organization each year. They would like to donate it to Union United. They would just need a 30-day notice to prepare the paperwork.

Old Business: 

The Clerk explained to the Board that she didn’t have all the information she wanted to present to the Board on security camera systems that are available for the concessions and pavilion area.

Feek motioned to table the item until July 12th meeting to wait on more information.  2nd by Hill. By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Seyler – Aye, Feek – Aye, Hill – Aye, Ruby – Aye and Fritschle- Aye. Motion approved.

New Business:

Josh Chavat was present to introduce himself to the Board as the new Executive Director for the Cass County Nebraska Economic Development Council.  The Council is committed to providing support for the smaller rural communities that may have been neglected in the past.  The Council would like Union’s support, and as a small community that would be at about $2 per resident.  Josh will try to touch base with us each quarter to give an update on what the Council has been doing and will try and find ways to assist us in our development challenges. 

Kason was present with more information on Union’s support of a second rescue squad for the district. Nehawka has a $75,00 grant for the vehicle. Union would be expected to purchase the starting supplies, a radio, the graphics, insurance and provide maintenance, if any.  The supplies and graphics would be a one-time cost of approximately $10,000 for supplies and $5,000 for graphics.  The insurance annually is about $700 and suggested budgeted maintenance about $3,000.  The clerk explained that the amount being asked for is approximately 40% of the annual general funding for the Village, but there are funds that could be added to the support.  The squad would also be supporting Lake Waconda, so the Board asked if the Fire Department could contact them and see if they could help us fund the new rescue squad. Ruby motioned to table the decision until the Fire Department could attend meetings with Waconda and Nehawka to discuss additional support and contract structure of the effort.  2nd by Fritschle. By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Seyler – Aye, Feek – Aye, Hill – Aye, Ruby – Aye and Fritschle- Aye. Motion approved.

Ruby motioned to approve splitting the cost of a hydro flow meter for the community three ways with Nehawka and Lake Waconda.  2nd by Hill.  By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Seyler – Aye, Feek – Aye, Hill – Aye, Ruby – Aye and Fritschle- Aye. Motion approved.

Hill motioned to approve a prepaid propane contract with Frontier Coop for 750 gallons delivered to 127 Main St. and 1600 gallons to 500 Main St. at $1.55 per gallon in the amount of $3642.50.  2nd by Ruby.  By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows:  Seyler – Aye, Feek – Aye, Hill – Aye, Ruby – Aye and Fritschle- Aye. Motion approved.

The Board looked over the Northboro playground equipment system from GameTime for Todd Park. The system itself is about $60,000 with the addition of another swing set.  With installation, rubber mulch and possible compliance with ADA, the estimate for the project is about $100,000.  The Board would like to partner with Union United on funding.  There are grant sources, including the NE Game and Parks Division, to install playground equipment that can be applied for.  The Board came up with fundraising ideas, like Co-Ed softball tournaments, pancake feeds, movie nights in the Pavilion, and possible raffles. The Village has about $25,000 set aside for the Playground project, with approximately $5,000 more this year from general funds to support Parks and Recreation.

The Board reviewed four proposals for emergency siren systems.  The proposals came from HQE, ALERTUS, ATI Systems and Table Rock Alerting Systems, affiliated with Sentry Siren.  HQE’s proposal was $31,140, but only included a roof mount for the siren.  With the addition of the pole, which the Board felt was needed, the cost came out to be $47,595. ALERTUS’ proposal included high tech software and equipment that was unnecessary, and was on the high spectrum of the proposals at $54,979.  ATI’s proposal was comparative at $35,361, but had prescribed maintenance that seemed a little daunting, and possible yearly maintenance costs to company technicians.  Table Rock’s proposal included installation of a 50-foot utility pole, required little to no maintenance and came in as the lowest bid at $29,400.  All the systems were omni-directional speaker systems with controllers that have UHF/VHF capabilities, as requested.  All but the Sentry Siren System had some type of voice capabilities.  Hill motioned to accept Table Rock Alerting Systems proposal at $29,400.  2nd by Feek.  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 8:31 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 July 12, 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 July 7th.

Charles J. Seyler II
Chairman     

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