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July 2018 Minutes7/23/2018 CITY OF TERRYTOWN
COUNCIL MINUTES The City of Terrytown Council met on Thursday, July 5, 2018, at 6:30 PM, for their regular meeting at the Housing Partners of Western Nebraska Community Room, 89A Woodley Park Road in the City of Terrytown. Notice of said meeting was published in the Scottsbluff Star-Herald according to law and council members were notified of said meeting. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM by Mayor Kent Greenwalt. Council Members present were: Tyler Feil, Jerry Green and Marcia Sherlock. Absent: Chris Perales. City Clerk Tamera Leeling recorded the proceedings of the meeting. The minutes of the previous meeting were dispensed with. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those in attendance. Mayor Greenwalt pointed out the location of the poster for the Open Meetings Act. There were no additions, changes, or emergency items added to the agenda. Property owner Michelle Roose requested that the City Council vacate an easement located between her property located at 86 Spring Valley Lane and the adjoining property, 85 Spring Valley Lane. For a number of years, these adjoining landowners have maintained the easement which is grass-covered and contains a tree and small flowerbeds. Ms. Roose realizes that the easement is for drainage but would like to construct a fence with an allowance to prevent water build-up. City Engineer Jeff Wolfe explained that due to the higher elevation of the nearby Union Pacific Railroad tracks, four storm water drainage easements were located along Spring Valley Lane to channel storm water run-off, if needed. This particular easement is not paved. Mr. Wolfe recommended that the City not vacate this easement in the event that it is necessary to allow for drainage or if storm water drainage improvements are necessary. Mr. Wolfe suggested as an alternative, an agreement for each property owner to allow for occupancy of the right-of-way be drawn up. At the City’s expense, this area would be surveyed and divided in half. The City would continue to maintain control of the right-of-way, but restrictions to construction of permanent structures be addressed. However, gardens, flowerbeds and open or porous fences would be permitted. Moved by Sherlock and seconded by Green to direct City Attorney Libby Stobel to prepare a property agreement for each owner to allow for occupancy of right-of-way and for this agreement to be presented for approval at the August 2, 2018, City Council Meeting for approval. Aye’s: Feil, Green and Sherlock. Nay’s: None. Motion approved. Adjustments to the minutes of the regular meeting of June 7, 2018, need to be made on Page 1, Paragraph 4 to include rewording. Moved by Sherlock and seconded by Feil to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June 7, 2018, with amendments. Aye’s: Feil, Green and Sherlock. Nay’s: None. Motion approved. Regular Claims (June 7, 2018 to July 4, 2018): KENO FUND: Nebraska Public Power District, Utilities, 121.66; A & A Porta Potties, Portable Toilets, 400.00; Carpenter Center, Contribution, 250.00; GENERAL FUND: Jirdon Agri Chemicals, Inc., Supplies, 842.37; Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply, Tools, 6.56; Nebraska Public Power District, Utilities, 323.22; Platte Valley Bank, Loan Payment, 27590.00; Simmons Olsen Law Firm, Legal Fees, 200.00; Scottsbluff Star-Herald, Publications, 262.26; TEAM Auto Center, Repairs/Maintenance, 81.84; Robert Blanco, Jr., Wages, 455.07; Hugo Chairez, Wages, 1124.31; Tamera Leeling, Wages, 985.43; Dennis McLaughlin, Wages, 931.34; Nebraska Child Support, Child Support Payment, 246.94; Charter Communications, Shop Phone/Internet, 121.34; Staples, Supplies, 102.02; Windstream, Phone, 7.71; Guardian Insurance, Life Insurance, 27.75; Principal Insurance, Vision Insurance, 41.55; Robert Blanco, Jr., Wages, 451.04; Hugo Chairez, Wages, 1073.80; Tamera Leeling, Wages, 918.66; Dennis McLaughlin, Wages, 863.76; Nebraska Child Support, Child Support Payment, 246.94; Blue Cross Blue Shield, Health Insurance, 2582.74; Allo Communications, Phone/Internet, 89.39; Bluffs Sanitary Supply, Supplies, 79.50; Capital Bank & Trust, Simple IRA Employee/Employer Contributions, 1613.47; Carpenter Center, Office Rent/Front Desk Supervision, 1172.00; Charter Communications, Office Phone/Internet, 28.53; Contractors Materials, Inc., Supplies, 178.00; Cyclone Express, Fuel, 427.30; Dana Cole & Co., Accounting, 1000.00; Frank Parts Company, Tools, 199.99; Panhandle Humane Society, Pest Control, 600.00; Independent Plumbing & Heating, Repairs/Maintenance, 69.15; Johnson Cashway Lumber Co., Repairs/Maintenance, 35.27; Judy Hoatson, Bookkeeping, 370.00; Kent Greenwalt, Mileage, 47.30; League of Risk Management, Insurance, 33.06; Moneywise Office Supply, Supplies, 57.97; Northwest Pipe Fittings, Inc., Repairs/Maintenance, 15.50; One Call Concepts, Inc., Digger’s Hotline, 65.43; Scottsbluff Police Department, Police Labor, 7683.33; M.C. Schaff & Associates, Engineering, 540.00; Simmons Olsen Law Firm, Legal Fees, 2775.00; Tyler Feil, Wages, 66.76; Jerry Green, Wages, 69.26; Roy K. Greenwalt, Wages, 230.87; Chris Perales, Wages, 69.26; Marcia Sherlock, Wages, 69.26; WATER FUND: Nebraska Public Power District, Utilities, 320.24; Hennings Construction, Repairs/Maintenance, 7140.00; Nebraska Public Power District, Utilities, 192.48; Enviro Service, Inc., Lab Fees, 20.00; City of Gering, Wholesale Water Sales, 10896.28; City of Gering, Utilities, 36.40; Terry Carpenter, Inc., Well Lease, 438.00; SEWER FUND: Nebraska Public Power District, Utilities, 2317.91; Hennings Construction, Repairs/Maintenance, 1675.00; Nebraska Public Power District, Utilities, 304.61; City of Scottsbluff, Wastewater, 12586.26; City of Scottsbluff, Stormwater PSA/Misc., 984.13; Enviro Service, Inc., Lab Fees, 173.00; Terry Carpenter, Inc., Land Lease, 150.00; Waste Connection, Trash Collection, 7130.85; STREET FUND: Hennings Construction, Repair/Maintenance, 11021.50; Nebraska Public Power District, Utilities, 267.53; City of Scottsbluff, Street/Curb Painting, 4531.00; Dale’s Tire & Retreading, Repairs/Maintenance, 49.00; Johnson Cashway Lumber Co., Repairs/Maintenance, 10.63. Moved by Sherlock and seconded by Feil to approve the payment of regular claims as presented. Aye’s: Feil, Green and Sherlock. Nay’s: None. Motion approved. City Administrator/Treasurer Lonnie Miller reviewed the May 31, 2018 Financial Statements. Financial Statements are available for public inspection at the office of the City Clerk. City Administrator/Treasurer Lonnie Miller discussed the City’s current contract with the City of Scottsbluff for police services. The annual cost of these services has not increased since 2006. Police Chief Kevin Spencer indicated previously that an increase in charges was necessary. Mr. Miller advised that he has visited with Scotts Bluff County Sheriff Mark Overman concerning law enforcement coverage. Sheriff Overman advised that his department is not in a position to provide law enforcement services 7 days a week/24-hours a day due to the limited number of officers. Mr. Miller sought advice on whether other law enforcement options should be reviewed. City Council members indicated that they are content with the services provided by the Scottsbluff Police Department and would like to continue our agreement with this department, in spite of additional charges for law enforcement services. Moved by Sherlock and seconded by Green to direct City Administrator/Treasurer Lonnie Miller to meet with Police Chief Kevin Spencer to discuss a potential proposal for law enforcement services and budget to be presented for approval at the August 2, 2018, City Council Meeting and not to pursue other options. Aye’s: Feil, Green and Sherlock. Nay’s: None. Motion approved. City Administrator/Treasurer Lonnie Miller requested that a date be set for the budget workshop. Mr. Miller explained that it is usually better to have a budget workshop at a different time rather than at a regular city council meeting. Mr. Miller advised that this is a multi-step process in which the budget must be published in the newspaper within a number of days prior to the approval at the city council meeting and that the budget needs to be submitted to the State Auditor and the County by September 20, 2018. Mr. Miller requested that the June 2018 Financial Statements be included in the preparation of the budget and requested that the approval of the budget be placed as an agenda item on the September 6, 2018, City Council Meeting. It was recommended that the budget workshop be scheduled for Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. City Clerk Tamera Leeling will check for room availability with the Housing Partners of Western Nebraska and will place a notice in the Scottsbluff Star-Herald. City Administrator/Treasurer Lonnie Miller stated the anticipation bond notes were recently deposited into the City’s bank account. Mr. Miller investigated the possibility of purchasing certificates of deposit to obtain a better rate of interest, but after reviewing the most recent bank statements, the City is receiving a better rate of interest in the present account. The City’s bank account is receiving a variable interest rate of 1.99% for June, 1.07% for May and 1.68% for April. The rate of interest for a 12-month certificate of deposit is 1.02% and 1.45% for an 18-month certificate of deposit. Mr. Miller recommends that no action be taken at this time. Mayor Kent Greenwalt advised that there continues to be a problem with people dumping old mattresses and sofas in alleys and in dumpsters around the City. He believes that suspects may not be residents of Terrytown. Police Chief Kevin Spencer advised that it would be possible to mount cameras on utility poles in some of the problem areas. The violation may be recorded on video but often times the parties responsible cannot be identified and the results might be disappointing. However, the video may provide some solutions. City Engineer Jeff Wolfe presented an update on the water project. At the June 2018 City Council Meeting, Bellevue Resident Jack Medearis addressed the City Council regarding an essential easement on his property. Mr. Medearis is planning to meet with City Engineer Jeff Wolfe on July 6, 2018, to finalize this new agreement. This is the last document required and once signed, it will be sent to the State of Nebraska for review and approval. Once approval by the State is granted, the bidding process can begin for Phase II of the Terrytown Water Project. City Engineer Jeff Wolfe reported that the City’s water bill from the City of Gering increased dramatically over the past month. Although citizens are charged a flat rate for usage, the City pays Gering by the gallon for water. Mr. Wolfe advised that if the water consumption continues to escalate at its current rate, the City will be paying more for water than the revenue it is receiving from selling it to the consumers. Mr. Wolfe explained that the City has some emergency ordinances to restrict water usage but those ordinances were enacted during the drought years in the 2000s with the intent of addressing water shortages. At that time, the water system was running on two City-owned wells which at that time could not pump enough to supply residents and while keeping the water tower filled for emergencies. With the new connection to Gering, water supply is not the issue. Mr. Wolfe urges the citizens to be good stewards of the water so that the utility customers do not have an increase in the rates. City Attorney Libby Stobel presented an update on Tax Lot 1030162/17A & 18A Terry Boulevard, which is owned by the City. Ms. Stobel made a request to Patriot Parks regarding the associated lot rent, but has not had any response from Patriot Park. Ms. Stobel reported that the owner of the trailer house had established utilities in his name and has made his first lot rent payment to the City. City Attorney Libby Stobel reported that the Municipal Code Book Committee will meet on July 24, 2018, to discuss the final three chapters of the proposed municipal code book. A special meeting will be held in August to review all of the suggestions and corrections compiled and to seek the Council’s approval of the proposed changes prior to submission to Municipal Code Services. Office Manager Tammy Leeling presented an update on the Panhandle Humane Society’s cat trapping. Staff from the Humane Society advised that the shelter was at capacity for cats so trapping operations have been halted until room becomes available. The Humane Society plans to run adoption specials and are working with Fort Collins, Colorado, to transfer some of the cats. Presently, it is too hot to trap during the day so when trapping resumes it will be performed during evening hours. Spot checks throughout the community indicate that the number of cats may be decreasing based on fewer reported cases. Office Manager Tammy Leeling requested assistance from Council and the public present at the meeting to select Christmas banners to be placed on the utility poles running along Terry Boulevard during the holiday season. Four new banners including hardware are needed to replace existing frail and worn banners. Banners have not been replaced for approximately the past five years. City Council Member Marcia Sherlock and Property Owner Michelle Roose volunteered to assist with the selection process. Police Chief Kevin Spencer reported that local law enforcement played local firefighters in a benefit softball game with the local law enforcement securing the win. Calls were up during the Fourth of July holiday. A proactive human trafficking enforcement activity was conducted in Sidney, Nebraska, resulting in one arrest. The Scottsbluff Police Department will be testing for one open patrol officer position on July 13, 2018. Also, a promotional exam will be conducted on September 14, 2018, for a sergeant’s position created due to a retirement. This promotional exam is open to the public, but currently eight officers from the Scottsbluff Police Department plan to test. A “Coffee With A Cop” event will be held on July 24, 2018, at the Scottsbluff McDonald’s. The National Night Out has been scheduled for August 7, 2018. City Engineer Jeff Wolfe explained Resolution 18-4 which is a Platte Alliance Water Supply (PAWS) Support Resolution. The PAWS project is a rural municipal water supply project incorporating 11 communities and additional rural water districts in Southeastern Wyoming and Western Nebraska, along the North Platte River basin. These rural municipalities are experiencing significant financial hardships to treat for nitrates, arsenic and uranium contaminates in the public water supply system. Upstream, in Wyoming, the water quality is significantly improved. The planning concept is to take water upstream in the Platte River, where only conventional treatment processes will be required and via gravity transmission, pipe the treated water downstream to the rural municipalities and water districts. The project will be a first multi-state treated water project for both Wyoming and Nebraska. The purpose of this project is to look into the feasibility of construction of a single water treatment plant and pipeline that would be a bulk water supplier to every community from Guernsey, Wyoming to Bridgeport, Nebraska. One treatment plant would allow for ease of addressing individual water quality issues, as well as reducing the overall operations and maintenance costs of treatment. This resolution states the understanding of water quality issues within the North Platte River Basin and allows the City to have a representative on the Nebraska PAWS Board to keep informed on the progress of the project as the Level II Study progresses. Moved by Green and seconded by Sherlock to approve Resolution 18-4 that supports the Wyoming Water Development Commission Level II Study of the Platte Alliance Water Supply (PAWS) Project and the formation of governance for a regional water system. Aye’s: Feil, Green and Sherlock. Nay’s: None. Motion approved. RESOLUTION No. 18-4 A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE WYOMING WATER DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION LEVEL II STUDY OF THE PLATTE ALLIANCE WATER SUPPLY (PAWS) PROJECT AND THE FORMATION OF GOVERNANCE FOR A REGIONAL WATER SYSTEM. W I T N E S S E T H WHEREAS, the City Council of Terrytown, Nebraska recognize that communities in the North Platte River Basin in southeast Wyoming and western Nebraska are experiencing deteriorating water quality and it is becoming increasingly difficult and costly to meet public water quality standards; WHEREAS, the Council recognize that this trend toward a lack of dependable water quality, if allowed to persist, will limit the ability of the region to sustain current and future growth and economic vitality; WHEREAS, the Council are aware that in addition to the deteriorating water quality, through the National Safe Water Drinking Act the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requiring monitoring of additional water quality constituents and placing limits on the levels of these constituents in public water systems that will continue to increase the cost of public water supplies; WHEREAS, the Council recognize that the best long-term solution for potable water supply in the Basin is a regional system approach, and that centralized water treatment will assist to off-set the long term cost increases impacting individual communities; WHEREAS, the Council recognize that a regional solution to domestic water supply will include an upstream water source(s), upstream water treatment, a potable water pipeline, and the wholesale selling of water to each community in lieu of each community attempting to solve the quality issues on their own at a higher cost; and WHEREAS, the Council understand that a regional system will require the formation of an organization to operate the system. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF TERRYTOWN, NEBRASKA, that the Council hereby reiterate their support for completion of the Level II Study of the Platte Alliance Water Supply (PAWS) Project, and the Commissioners hereby express their full support for the formation of Governance for a regional water system, and whole-heartedly encourage participation from all eligible communities in the Basin. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 5TH DAY OF JULY, 2018. Kent Greenwalt, Mayor City of Terrytown Attest: Tammy Leeling, Terrytown City Clerk There being no further business to come before the Council, moved by Green and seconded by Sherlock to adjourn to the next called meeting on Thursday, August 2, 2018, at 6:30 PM, subject to the call of the Mayor. Aye’s: Feil, Green and Sherlock. Nay’s: None. Motion approved. Mayor of the City of Terrytown ATTEST: City Clerk |
