VILLAGE OF UNION MEETING MINUTES April 11, 2012
The Union Village Board was called to order at 7:02 pm for the regular session. The Open Meeting Laws were displayed for public reference. On roll call: Hardbarger – Aye, Chipman – Aye, Vidlak – Aye, Keene and Brown - absent.
Minutes of the March 14th Board Meeting were reviewed. Chipman motioned to approve the March 14, 2012 Meeting Minutes. 2nd by Vidlak. By Roll, Trustee votes are as follows: Hardbarger– Aye, Chipman – Aye, Vidlak- Aye, Keene and Brown absent. Motion approved.
Claims and Accounts were presented. Chipman motioned to approve April Claims and Accounts. 2nd by Vidlak. Trustee votes are as follows: Hardbarger– Aye, Chipman – Aye, Vidlak- Aye, Keene and Brown absent. Motion approved. CLAIMS & ACCOUNTS APRIL 2012 NPPD FIREBARN* $ 88.20
WATER PUMP $ 424.37
FIREBARN (TOWN BLDG) $ 84.90
TOWER (WATER) $ 21.58
TRAFFIC LIGHT $ 21.58
AREA LIGHT RENTAL $ 12.98
STREETLIGHTS $ 597.98
SEWER PUMP $ 95.86
BALLFIELD $ 48.42
ALA HALL $ 30.88
WINDSTREAM OFFICE $ 61.50
WINDSTREAM FIRE $ 91.50
MELISSA HANSEN $ 849.15 MAR PAY
BALL INS $ 5347.00 VILLAGE W/C & LIABILITY INS
LOAN $ 265.64 RESCUE SQUAD
LOAN $ 618.44 STREET/SEWER
STEVE HEYEN $ 1487.46 MAR PAY
JOHNSON’S GAS N GO $ 412.98 GAS MOWER/TRUCK/URFD/56.03
LINCOLN STAR $ 134.20 PROPERTY AD
NPHEL $ 50.00 WATER TESTS
COLUMBUS TELE $ 28.00 PUBLISHING
UVFR $ 214.27 RESCUE SQUAD SUPPLIES
GREAT PLAINS ONE CALL $ 4.87 DIGGERS HOTLINE
MEESKE’S ACE $ 77.26 SEWER MAINTENANCE SUPPLIES
UTILITY SERVICE CO $ 1890.65 WATER TOWER MAINTENANCE
HOLIDAY INN KEARNEY $ 299.80 LODGING CLERK SCHOOL
MELISSA HANSEN $ 242.92 RENTAL CAR REIMBURSEMENT
OLSSON ASSOCIATES $ 500.00 2012 STREET SUPTD. CONTRACT
HONEYMAN RENTAL $ 272.50 STUMP GRINDER RENTAL KERNS EXCAVATING CO $ 4662.50 WATER MAIN AND CONCRETE REPAIR
$ 18,937.04 APRIL CLAIMS AND ACCOUNTS $ 77,484.81 GENERAL FUND BALANCE, AS OF APRIL 9, 2012 $ 1,277.18 DEPOSITS FOR APRIL 11, 2012 Correspondence: Continental Western is requesting workers compensation audit to be completed by the end of April. NDOR is requesting that the clerk review STIP document for 2012 and 20130-2015 future projects information for input. NPPD invited the village ot participate in a surplus auction for heavy equipment or rolling stock. Utility Service Company sent budget contract for FY 2012/2013 in the amount of $7562.60, same as last year. DHHS informed the village of paperwork due by Mar. 27th. All documentation has been submitted and approved for the water system. CCEMA is issuing ID badges for all village officials and volunteer fire and rescue by June. They want to schedule a meeting where all of us can attend and have our badges processed. Clerk will contact CCEMA to schedule. The clerk received a request to circulate a municipal initiative with an ordinance to be adopted if the initiative passes. Clerk sent a letter verifying that the petition is in proper form.
Clerk Report –Conestoga Softball is in the process of conditioning the ball field for the upcoming season. They have sprayed the weeds and sterilized the dirt in the infield to prevent plant regrowth. The infield needs approximately 10 tons of sand worked into it to help with drainage. I have been trying to see if we can get it donated, but I still need to find a way to transport the sand to the field by clean up weekend.
The ball park lights are working. There are fifteen to twenty halogen bulbs out. We were also trying to determine if we could add some kind of outlet near the ball field for various uses, one of them being a 220 outlet near the ball field to support kids’ carnival attractions. It is feasible to add a transformer to the ball filed lights power box which will reduce the power down enough to add 110 and/or 220V outlets. The pavilion has a 220 outlet, but the service to the concessions and pavilion is iffy at best. It currently runs on a 60 amp service that should be upgraded to 100 to 125 amp service to support the activities that are typically carried out at the pavilion and concession area. It is possible with this year’s activities to have safety issues or power outages due to the overloading of the circuits. I am researching upgrade process and costs. The electrician estimated around $500.00 to upgrade and put in a new panel.
Cass County has asked us for project inputs for a Keep Nebraska Beautiful Grant sponsored by Lowe’s. I got with the grant writer last week and pitched a few ideas. The ideas she seemed to think fit best into the criteria was rebuilding the dugout structures at the ball field. The roof of the last existing structure has rotted out and coming down. The grant writer is supposed to be getting back to me for more information if our project is chosen.
The Village Maintenance report: was given by Heyen. The village pumped 1,202,000 gallons of water for a total of 345pump hours and the lift station ran for about 6.1 hours per day. Part of the mop that put the station into alarm a couple of months ago was caught in the check valve and it burnt out the vacuum pump. It will take 4 to 6 weeks to receive parts. He took out pump and put in a spare he rebuilt. The relay also burnt out at the lift station. Heyen ordered 3 new floats. The John Deere mower is not running well. Heyen tuned it up. He noticed that the plugs are firing but the exhaust on one side isn’t getting hot. The mower may need to be brought in to A&M Green Power for servicing. Vandalism has been noted at the parks.
Fire and Rescue report given by Rob Kennedy. There were 2 Fire calls- 1 grass, 1 car, 4 rescue calls, one that was transported. The battery in the AED needs to be replaced. Batteries for our unit cost $232 and the pads cost $74 and are good for two years. It was suggested that we upgrade the AED to one that uses camera batteries, running $60 to replace. The pads for this unit are good for 5 years. This AED would cost $1600 – $1800. The board asked to see more information on this unit.
Union United Inc. report was given by Debbie Vidlak. The Burbee auction raised around $550 in concessions. We received a grant from Cass County Tourism for marketing Union Days and our 125th Anniversary celebration. We are working on purchasing a new sign for the village using local artists. Right now we have two designs that are being considered. The next activity will be Union’s Clean Up and Green Up being held April 21st and 22nd. There will be a roll-off dumpster, Highway 34 clean up, yard waste disposal, metal and tire recycling and plantings.
Water Meter Committee Report: Using the audit data, we determined that there are 114 meters that need to be ordered. 113 – ¾ inch and one 1” meter. The village has 18 pits that need to be replaced. We estimated 320 man hours, 20 eight hour days with two installers. Excavation costs are estimated at around $6,000. 113 METERS @ 110.50 12,486.50 1 METER @ 177.50 177.50 18 PITS @ 358.00 6,444.00 $ 19,108.00 Sales tax $ 1,050.94 ____________ $ 20,158.94 COST FOR EQUIPMENT 6,000.00 PIT EXCAVATION 4,368.00 PAYROLL FOR MAINTENANCE 250.00 PERSONNEL TRAINING HOURS ____________ $ 30,776.94 ESTIMATED COSTS 6,155.39 20% UNFORSEEN COSTS $ 36,932.33 TOTAL ESTIMATED PROJECT COST
NEW BUSINESS Nikki Hall was present to show cause for why her and her husband Joe should not be fined for continuing to allow their dog to run at large within the Village and why their dog should not be banned from the Village for being a potentially dangerous dog. On February 8, 2012 in its regular meeting, the Village Board passed Resolution 12-2 ordering (1) that the dog owned and kept by Joseph and Niki Hall be declared to be a public nuisance due to such dogs having been found to be running at large at various times within the Village of Union and for a fine of $50 to be levied each time such dog was found to be running at large thereafter; and (2) that the dog was to be declared a “potentially dangerous dog” as defined in Village of municipal code § 2-310, and that if such dog was thereafter have found to bite or nip at any person within the boundaries of the Village of Union and off of the premises owned by Joseph Hall or Niki Hall, such dog will be banned from the Village of Union.
Chipman stated that dangerous dogs need to be banned from the village boundaries if they can’t be kept under control. They pose a threat to the citizens. In one incident after the February 8, 2012 meeting, the Hall dog was chasing a child on a bike. The child lost control and wrecked the bike causing injury to the child. There was another allegation that subsequent to February 8, 2012, the Hall dog was running at large and knocking down garbage containers in the Village. Niki Hall was present to explain that the dog was only running lose for a few minutes before she was captured and put back in the house.
Chipman proposed Resolution 12-3, banning the dog from the village as of April12, 2012, imposing a fine of $100 for the dog being caught twice running at large, with the fine will be waived if animal is removed from the village within 30 days. 2nd by Vidlak. Trustee votes are as follows: Hardbarger– Aye, Chipman – Aye, Vidlak- Aye, Keene and Brown absent. Motion approved.
Four citizens were present to show cause that the Muhlbauer dogs should be declared nuisances. The owners will come home from work and let the dogs loose and then leave with dogs still running at large. The dogs are on the loose daily, leaving feces in neighbor’s lawns. The citizens also complained that the Muhlbauer dogs are barking at all hours of the night, to include at least one incident where the dogs were in front of a citizen’s window in the middle of the night barking at them.
Chipman motioned to approve resolution 12-4 by letter, from the chairman to Mr. Muhlbauer, finding Mr. Muhlbauer in violation of Village of Union Ordinance 2-304, dogs running at large and 2-324, dog licensing. The village clerk attested that neither dogs are licensed within the Village of Union. The Board held that beginning on April 21st , fines of $50.00 per day, per dog, will be assessed each time they are running at large. The Board gave until May 1, 2012 for Muhlbauer to license the dogs with the Village Clerk or be fined $50.00 per dog. 2nd by Vidlak. Trustee votes are as follows: Hardbarger– Aye, Chipman – Aye, Vidlak- Aye, Keene and Brown absent. Motion approved.
Chipman proposed Village of Union Ordinance, 1-107.1: Salaries, and gave first full reading.
Chipman motioned to appoint Union United, Inc. to organize the Village of Union’s 125th Anniversary Festivities, June 2 and 3, 2012 at the Union Parks. 2nd by Vidlak. Trustee votes are as follows: Hardbarger– Aye, Chipman – Aye, Vidlak- Aye, Keene and Brown absent. Motion approved. The Board felt that an enclosed message board in the Post Office is a good idea but the village can’t commit the funds at this time.
Vidlak motioned to adjourn at 8:23pm. 2nd by Chipman. Trustee votes are as follows: Hardbarger– Aye, Chipman – Aye, Vidlak- Aye, Keene and Brown absent. Motion approved.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for May 9, 2012, 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.