VILLAGE OF UNION SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES MARCH 20, 2024 Chairman Seyler called the Union Board to order for a special meeting at 7:05 pm at the Nehawka Community Building at 217 Sherman Ave. Nehawka, NE. The Open Meeting Laws were displayed for public reference. On roll call: Seyler – Aye, Feek – Aye, Fritschle – Aye, Ruby-Aye, Hill – Aye. Nehawka Board Chairman Neu, Trustees Dineen, Begemann, Anson and Kruger were present. Attorney Tom Prickett and Fire Chief Ryan Adams also present for the joint special meeting. Mr. Prickett noted that he had prepared and emailed a Letter of Intent for an interlocal agreement between Union, Nehawka and Waconda SID. The letter included that a second ambulance would be purchased with a $75,000 grant, Union and Waconda would be responsible for the cost to stock the new ambulance to get it in service, approximately $20,000 and that Nehawka Rescue wanted a $12,000 investment each year to support the present and future of the program, from Nehawka Village, Union and Waconda SID. The Union Board discussed that they weren’t prepared to allocate $12,000 to the rescue department. This would be over 20% of real property taxes collected and budgeted for the Village of Union. The original number discussed prior to the ambulance’s purchase was $5,000, with $7,000 already budgeted for the Fire Department. Waconda representative stated that the SID wasn’t meeting for a while, but that the community would be willing to donate the same until the SID can meet and approve the interlocal agreement. Nehawka Board suggested selling the squad with the Fire Department’s declaration that there is no room for the ambulance at the Union Fire Bays. The ambulance has been stored there temporarily, and efforts being made to find funding to add a bay to the Union facility were set aside. The other issue is that Rescue department has seen a loss of volunteers and are in need of EMTs and drivers since the Union volunteers manning the ambulance on the Union side have left the area. The discussion led to the issue that we would not be able to sell the ambulance for what it’s worth with the new State limitations on age of equipment being put in service. The ambulance purchased would be considered obsolete, if taken out of service and transferred to a new department, within two years. The Nehawka Board and Fire Chief suggested a two-month timeline to research grants for fire house expansion and to recruit EMT’s and Fire personnel. Ruby motioned to allocate $5,000 each year to Nehawka Rescue efforts upon execution of an interlocal agreement with Nehawka and Waconda, with a consideration to sell the additional squad if efforts to recruit EMT’s and house the ambulance are unsuccessful. Any proceeds from the sale would be used to add emergency medical equipment for the Fire Department to use on the Union side. 2nd by Hill. By Roll, Trustee votes as follows: Seyler – Aye, Feek – Aye, Fritschle – Aye, Ruby-Aye, Hill – Aye. Motion approved. Hill motioned to adjourn at 7:51 pm. 2nd by Ruby. By Roll, Trustee votes as follows: Seyler – Aye, Feek – Aye, Fritschle – Aye, Ruby-Aye, Hill – Aye. Motion approved. The next regular meeting is scheduled for April 9, 2025 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 April 4, 2025. Charles J. Seyler II Chairman These minutes have been prepared by the village clerk and are certified to be true and accurate