VILLAGE OF UNION
MEETING MINUTES
AUGUST 11, 2021
Chairman Seyler called the monthly meeting for August to order at 7:00 pm at the Union Office at 500 Main St. The Open Meeting Laws were displayed for public reference. On roll call: Seyler – Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Crook – Aye and Ruby-Absent, Hill - Absent.
Minutes of the July Board Meeting were reviewed. Vidlak motioned to approve July Meeting Minutes. 2nd by Crook. By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows: Seyler – Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Crook – Aye, Ruby – Absent, Hill -Absent. Motioned approved.
Claims and Accounts were presented. Crook motioned to approve August Claims and Accounts. 2nd by Vidlak. By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows: Seyler – Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Crook – Aye, Ruby – Absent, Hill - Absent. Motion Approved.
AUGUST 2021
CLAIMS AND ACCOUNTS
WATER PUMP $ 445.86 (EFT) WATER FUND
FIREBARN (TOWN BLDG) $ 127.10 (EFT) FIRE FUND
TOWER (WATER) $ 164.44 (EFT) WATER FUND
AREA LIGHT RENTAL $ 11.44 (EFT) GENERAL FUND
STREETLIGHTS $ 424.45 (EFT) STREET FUND
LIFT STATION $ 84.90 (EFT) SEWER FUND
BALLFIELD $ 81.62 (EFT) PARK FUND
MAINTENANCE SHOP $ 31.58 (EFT) GENERAL FUND
CABOOSE $ 31.58 (EFT) GENERAL FUND
WINDSTREAM OFFICE $ 82.00 (EFT) GENERAL FUND
RESERVES TRANSFER $ 183.00 AUGUST MONTHLY TRANSFER (EFT) SEWER FUND
JOHNSONS GAS $ 549.99 GAS TRUCKS, MOWER, MONTANA, BUSH HOG (C) GENERAL, SEWER, PARK FUNDS
NE DEPT OF REVENUE $ 327.92 SALES TAXES (EFT) GENERAL FUND
STAPLES $ 120.38 OFFICE SUPPLIES (EFT) GENERAL FUND
NPHEL $ 83.00 COLIFORM (C) WATER FUND
LONM $ 376.00 YEARLY MEMBERSHIP DUES (C) GENERAL FUND
LONM UTILITIES SECTION $ 397.00 YEARLY MEMBERSHIP DUES-UTIITIES (C) WATER, SEWER FUNDS
OLSSON $ 1408.12 WATER SYSTEM STUDY(C) WATER FUND
MELISSA HANSEN $ 1439.33 JUL PAY (C) WATER, SEWER, GENERAL, FUNDS
MICHAEL CONTRERAS $ 1543.67 JUL PAY (C) WATER, SEWER, GENERAL, PARK FUNDS
STEVE C HEYEN $ 94.19 JUL PAY (C) PARK FUND
STEVE HEYEN $ 1648.31 JUL PAY (C) WATER, SEWER, GENERAL, PARK FUNDS
INTUIT $ 6.00 JULY PAYROLL FEE (EFT) GENERAL FUND
NMCA $ 20.00 CLERK’S ASSOCIATION DUES (C) GENERAL FUND
MEESKE HARDWARE $ 28.71 MISC MAINTENANCE ITEMS (C) SEWER FUND
NE RURAL WATER ASSOC $ 300.00 WATER/SEWER OP TRAINING (C) SEWER & WATER FUNDS
UTILITY SVC CO. $ 2585.71 3RD Q WATER TOWER MAINT CONTRACT (C) WATER FUND
MENARDS $ 425.68 OLD WELL SIDING AND MISC WATER FUND
USPS $ 182.00 FIRST CLASS STAMPS, POSTCARD STAMPS (D) WATER, SEWER, GENERAL FUNDS
B & S TRUCKING $ 25.00 BALANCE ON INVOICE 1376, WELL DIG WATER FUND
US TREASURY $ 1134.48 MONTHLY DEPOSIT AUGUST WITHHOLDING (EFT) GENERAL FUND
MELISSA HANSEN $ 57.68 REIMBURSEMENT MILEAGE (C) GENERAL FUND
LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR $ 77.28 JUN/JUL MINUTES PUBLISHING GENERAL FUND
$ 14,498.44 AUGUST CLAIMS AND ACCOUNTS
$ 172,434.60 GENERAL FUND BALANCE AS OF AUG 10, 2021
$ 3,916.82 PENDING DEPOSITS
$ 33,863.12 SEWER RESERVE ACCOUNT
+ 183.00 SEWER RESERVE TRANSFER FOR AUG $ 195,899.10 TOTAL IN VILLAGE ACCOUNTS AFTER CLAIMS & ACCOUNTS PAID
CORRESPONDENCE- Clerk received a complaint about the grain elevator by the railroad. The grain bins are being emptied and causing a bad odor and dust particles to spread through the park area. Residents in the area are having respiratory issues and the grain dust is sticking to private property. The clerk contacted the new owner’s representative to inform them of the complaints and ask what is being done to clean up the mess that is left behind. The clerk was told that the bins have been left standing with corn in them for years, and that the clean out process is messy, but will be done by the Fall. The first bin cleaning should be finished and cleaned up after August 11.
UNISON, a cell tower leasing agent, contacted the Village by mail proposing a leasing possibility at 500 Main St. The Board asked the Clerk to look into the details and the income possibility with this.
The clerk has been corresponding with the IRS about quarterly tax deposits that exceeded the quarterly cap in 2020. She received a notice last week to notify the Village that the correspondence was received and one this week claiming her contact was not authorized by the Village, even though it has been her signature on tax filings since 2009. The correspondence went on to list a number of steps the Village must take to abate penalties from the late tax deposits. The clerk stated that after speaking to an IRS agent in March, she took the steps he advised and sent Form 843 with a letter for the abatement of these penalties in March. The clerk will contact the Village Attorney and find out what still needs to be done.
CLERK REPORT – The clerk filed the required documents with NDEE and a request for grant disbursement for the Well Pump Replacement project. The Village should be receiving $26,000 by the end of the month.
The clerk was notified by DHHS that the Village is a candidate for MAP assistance for improving the sustainability of the water system. The clerk and maintenance staff met with the MAP representative to discuss the water systems needs in order to become more sustainable.
Village Maintenance Report - Steve Heyen was present to report the wells pumped 2,132,000 gallons of water, running an estimate of 418 hours. 2,100,000 gallons of wastewater was processed through the lift station. The new pump was estimated to pump 85gpm, but Heyen reported that it is pumping more like 120gpm.
Another major leak was found under the concessions stand. Heyen said he either needs to run a new supply line from the main, or remove the concrete in the rest rooms to search for the exact location and repair it.
UP thought they found a leak at their trailer and hired a contractor to dig it up. The contractor found no leak. The excess water was determined to be ground water.
Heyen reported that the chemical pump needs to be replaced. He needs to repair pump and purchase 24D and Round-Up to spray the lagoons again before the lilies start to spread. The clerk was asked to open up a business account at Tractor Supply Co., since we are unable to pay for items without Board approval of the payment at a meeting.
Fire Report- No one present to report.
Union United Inc. Report: There are still a few spots open for golfing pairs at the Union United Annual Golf Tournament, scheduled for August 14, 2021. The group has been asked to harvest one field of grapes for the Union Vineyard this year sometime next month.
NEW BUSINESS: Vidlak motioned to authorize the Clerk and Chairman to open up a separate checking account to transfer American Rescue Plan Act funds into. 2nd by Crook. By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows: Seyler – Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Crook – Aye, Ruby – Absent, Hill - Absent. Motion Approved.
Crook motion to table Weight Restriction Ordinance until September 8th Board meeting, or whenever the Ordinance is completed. 2nd by Vidlak. By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows: Seyler – Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Crook – Aye, Ruby – Absent, Hill - Absent. Motion Approved.
The Board discussed what items and projects need to be budgeted for next fiscal year. For the park, the Board wants to budget $3,500 for field conditioner on the ball field and $500 to upgrade the electricity at the pavilion. They also want to see if it is possible to set aside $5,000, each fiscal year until we have enough funding for new playground equipment. The clerk will find out if this is a legitimate use of property taxes, or if the Village has to use enterprise funds.
The Board also decided to spend $40,000 on street repairs, $3,000 for Fire Board needs and $5,000 for a heating solution for the Maintenance shop. The clerk was also asked to look into funding sources for new sidewalks. The Board wants to know how municipalities recoup funds spent on property owners’ maintenance responsibilities.
Crook motioned to adjourn at 7:53pm. 2nd by Vidlak. By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows: Seyler – Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Crook – Aye, Ruby – Absent, Hill - Absent. Motion Approved.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for September 8, 2021, directly after the Budget Hearing, 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 September 3rd.
Charles J. Seyler II
Chairman
These minutes have been prepared by the village clerk and are certified to be true and accurate