City Council - Regular Meeting

Would you please join us in the pledge of allegiance?

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. As required by section 84-1412 subsection 8 in Nebraska statutes, notice is hereby given that a copy of the opens meeting act is posted for your examination on the wall inside the door to the city council chambers where we have roll call. I'd like to welcome our guest to tonight's meeting. Could we have roll call, please? Graves

here. Alexi here. Anderson here. Klein here. Shepard here. We have a motion for approval of the agenda. I'll make a motion to approve of the agenda. I'll second. Motion by Mark, second by Clay Shane. Shane and Clay. Clay was second. Yep. Seconded. Shane second by we have roll call, please. Graves, yes. Alexi, yes. Anderson, yes. Klene, yes.

Shepard, yes. We have a motion approve the consent agenda. I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda.

I'll second that. Motion by Clay, second by Shane. Approve the consent agenda which includes minutes from the March 2nd council meetings. There's monthly treasures report. Um if anyone looked at it on the council sales tax received which were December sales an increase of about almost a little more than $64,000 over the prior year. So I don't know I don't think that's all inflation. I don't know what was going on in December that would had that big of increase spending the money.

Uh monthly water report fire department membership update. Um we have one resigned and currently 46 active members. Special donated licenses were administratively approved broke bean broker coffee house and pub dinner for the shattering community hospital at Chad State College on March 20th and wild bar and grill circle life fundraiser at the Dallas County Fairgrounds on April 10th. Anyone have any questions about any of those items that are in the consent agenda? If not, could we have roll call, please?

Graves, yes. Lexi, yes. Anderson, yes. Klein, yes. Shepard,

yes. Okay, first item on the agenda business-wise, John Reed with monthly report. Well, good evening everybody. This one might go a little longer. Uh if you received your printed copies earlier, it's a little wordy, so I'm going to try to cut it down a little bit. But uh under business and housing assistance, uh we have received two business loan inquiries over the last month, and they're both really good-looking inquiries. So, uh I'm looking forward to working with them. Uh it's taken them a little longer. referred them to the SBDC for uh help getting their package together, but uh it's two really good opportunities for us. Interestingly, we also received two inquiries over the last month around housing assistance and somehow uh it's gotten out that the city of Shadron is offering free money to help you with down payment on your house. I don't know where that came from, not but I've had two separate people on two separate occasions call me about it. So the list that I provided in my report is what I've been sending out uh to refer to that. There are agencies that can help with that, but it's certainly not coming from us. It's more state and a little bit of federal. So uh again, I'm going to try to integrate um those opportunities with our mission overall. uh particularly once we move into focusing on housing uh after we get some of the child care stuff resolved. I think uh we can certainly offer a little bit of assistance in that as well. So there are a number of programs available. Um I also want to acknowledge that we have had a couple uh new business offerings this month. KZ Nails had their grand opening which is a great store if I mean those people are super nice. The store is very wellappointed and uh I wish them the best of luck. I think they're going to do really well. We also opened Love for All and Helens is going to be reopening as Mohawk uh

very soon. So, we'll have another dining option here in town. So, despite the the two big closings we've had, we've had some very good uh news over the last month. Um I going on to the website activities. I want to thank this city of Chadron again for your cons continued support of Golden Shovel. The number of hits on our social media have increased by 20% since December which is great news for our visibility and reflects well on our partnership with uh that company. I've been focusing on partnering with some of the other agencies uh the Rotary uh the chamber and a couple of uh regional agencies to help raise visibility of both our efforts and our uh social media and folding theirs into ours as well. So when they have something new that's relevant to us, I put it up on our on our media and they do the same for us and it's working out really good. So um and I'll speak a little bit about those meetings here in a minute. um uh for workforce development. Uh our round table had to be rescheduled to this Friday. One of our key uh participants got really sick, so we had to reschedule, but it's I'm sorry on this Thursday at 3 at the NDC office. Uh we're going to have a so far we've had quite a few um confirmations. So, I'm looking forward to that that meeting producing some really good results for us. Uh and that's uh tabbed under workforce development because uh those efforts impact our worst our workforce in a few different ways. Uh you can't hire if your people don't have a place to bring their kids and people aren't going to move here if they don't have a place their kids. We have a real need and you know I don't want to you know harp on it every month but the reality is there are a lot of resources available. The thing we're struggling with is finding somebody uh or finding people in the community that want to take advantage of and start a company.

So uh Once we uh identify those folks, we've got a lot to offer. So, um I have made a full presentation to the Rotary Club last week. Uh I've also made introductions to the chamber and the travel and tourism industry. That goes back to what I was talking about earlier about our social media. Uh we we're all in agreement that uh we can partner together and leverage both of our resources uh to help raise our visibility. Um uh as far as Safeway goes, I have introduced and established over grocery store short chain to the leadership team at Alberts and Safeway in the hope that they can come to some kind of agreement. Um we'll see how they go. That that's still ongoing, but uh I also went down to the IG in Valentine. IGA is a really neat uh uh business model. They they uh sell their stores like like a like a franchise, like a McDonald's, and they come in and support. They do the marketing for you. and uh they're doing very well in Valentine right now. So, I got one of their um startup packets from them and maybe we can work something out with this local vendor and IGA. Uh the big thing with IG and the local vendor is they have uh regional distribution. That was the big problem that we had with one of the bigger chains u Aldi uh was interested in property but they don't have distribution up here. These two companies actually have distribution locally. So hopefully we can work something out with that. There is also another entity not in the grocery market that is starting to express interest very high level basic inquiries right now in the property be a great great addition to our business community. Uh but it's not a grocery store. So I would love to see them come in to be great for all of us.

Anyway, I guess the short story there is good progress being made on the safety stuff. Uh we talked a little bit about Pizza Hut to a couple people. I think that's going to fill pretty quick. So, uh I'm not as concerned about the Pizza Hut. Okay. They were actually putting a roof on it today. So, that's good news for us, too. Um so my summary since last month is uh I have met with 29 local business leaders, residents and organizational administrators. Um I have people stopping in now the the office is actually getting activity. We get walk-in business from not not necessarily business but walk-in inquiries from residents. We get a lot of phone calls now. People want to know what's going on. people want to know. Um, the fact I the fact that the that local residents are actually interested in what's happening is great news for everybody. We haven't despite the setbacks we've had, we still have a community that's engaged in what we're trying to accomplish. And I think um I think we're going to have a really good year in 2026. I want to thank the council and the public uh for supporting us in what we're trying to do here. And I'm happy to take any questions.

Seems like quite a bit positive like hopeful things that you covered in there. Yeah. Yeah. Good to see. Yeah. I I I think so too. I think uh uh the fact that u if we focus on the negative and the that just emphasizes it, you know, the negatives that we're facing right now are nearly as big as they were three months ago. So, those seems like positive moves in chatter. We've we've had some conversations about Yeah, this was one of my walk-ins. Yeah,

but you know, you're really incorporating a lot of entities throughout the community to work together to overcome these obstacles. So, I'm glad to see that. Thank you. Yeah, it's important. I think we were with silos previously and the reality is these organizations that we're talking about we can help each other and there's and it doesn't cost me anymore time doesn't cost the city any more money for all of us to work together and and help where we can. So that's the plan. Building my network, I guess, is how it

C on our agenda. Would someone care to I can I'd like to introduce resolution 2026-25 for its approval. I'll second that motion by Shane, second by Mark. Resolution number 26-25, which is to recommend award of a bid for the purchase of a 2025 or newer utility tractor with an equipment tradein option for the Shad Municipal Airport and Scott Shmer's here to tell us about it.

Good evening, Mayor. Good evening, council. I'm Scott Shremer, your city parks cemeteries and airport superintendent. Yeah. So talked to George and Shane about this in the agenda meeting. This is a new one for me. Not really a farmer guy. So haven't done any farming since I was animal cook a went out to bid. We got three different bids on the on the tractor. Actually looked at all of them. None of them really met what we were kind of looking for, but it was kind of my more of my stupidity than anything. I just I'm just not up to it. But we required a minimum of 100 horsepower tractor, but we were asking for a four-cylinder. The three-cylinder that came in below bid was the one that actually meets and actually we were asking for 85 horsepower on the PTO takeoff, which is this tractor comes in at 88. So, it actually does more than what we asked it to do. So, talking with the city manager, talked with our city attorney and it looks like everything was good. So, we made a recommendation to purchase this tractor which came in under and then we're going to not trade in the other tractor and uh try to sell it probably on an auction.

So, that I was I need pictures. So, so I went on online and um I was surprised that I couldn't find a good picture on Massie Ferguson's website, but you They show you pictures. I suppose they didn't even The only one I seen was just like that with a loader on the front of it because every picture I I seen had a loader on the front of it. Yeah. It looks pretty nice. And it's four-wheel drive front assist. Yeah.

And I I want to give credit to Scott for doing this because this is out of his realm just a little bit as far as those kind of things. We don't do this on a regular basis. So when you start about all the technology and everything else that's starting to be more and more developed. I mean, all the newer vehicles, all anything that's with that, you know, it's impossible to keep up with everything. So, when you we're talking three cylinder versus four cylinder, it still has the horsepower that we need to do those things and and those are the things that, you know, we we just have to take into consideration when we start looking at them. So, it's a good deal for what we're looking at. Any other questions?

It's the only one that came in within the budget as well. Is that correct? Correct. The other one that they bid out, uh, both of those came from Butler. Uh, the other one would be close if we used the trade in. Uh, we had the money in the budget to pay for the other one. The other one was astronomically high. It was that through Alliance director. It would be nice to It was over 100,000 for that director. It's double. Yeah. 139 I think is what it came in. I can't remember. Right. Be nice. Easy to get parts, too. Yeah. Yeah. The last one, uh,

last year we, uh, we had issues with that tractor and had to get it fixed. The one we have right now, uh, they had to bust the tractor apart to fix the transmission on it. What, uh, they offered as a trade in is basically what we spent on it last year to get it fixed. So, uh, parts are going to become an issue for that tractor. So hopefully it can go to somebody that needs it for something a little less than what we use it for. Any other questions? If not, roll call, please. Great. Alexi, yes. Anderson, yes. Klein, yes. Shepard,

yes. Someone to introduce resolution 26-26. I'll introduce resolution 2026-26 and move for its approval. I'll second motion by Mark, second by Kevin. Resolution 26-26 is to recommend award of bid for the fourth street water main project. Tori is here to tell us about it.

Yeah, Tori Zuber. I'm with the water sewer department, 1590 South Maple. Um so we went out to bid um we had five estimates. Um Hennings Construction was actually the lowest one on this bid. Um but um they backed out on us last year with that street project. So we weren't real comfortable with them again. So we went with that next bid which was uh pale wood and they came out at uh 317,800 or $82.50. Um so we chose to go with them. If something falls through with Kale Wood, then uh we recommend that we take BER as the construction as a secondary bid for that. Um, and benders came in at $323,35 even. And just for public record, they're they're both under the engineers estimate of 339,000.

I I think an important thing to note here is probably the recommendation of our engineering firm MCS signed by Michael Olsen in the last paragraph that he recommends not hiring not giving the award to Henning's construction. I kind of concerned about that. Adam, do you have

I don't have any concerns actually. Hennings didn't they failed to honor their bid the last project and statutoily you you can decline. And it's one of the areas you can decline the lowest bid if you've had experience with provider or contractor and they have directly caused problems for your project. And in this instance, Hennings did. They they were the low bid and then they walked away from the project the last time we got the bid here. So I I concur with the engineer and their their methodology and how they decided to do this. else have any comments or questions? If not, we have roll call, please.

Graves, yes. Alexi, yes. Anderson, yes. Klein, yes. Shepard, yes. Yep. And George, with Hennings, we'll watch. They continue if they do good work as future goes and they come back and bid again. At this point, like the engineers indicated, right now we don't know what they'll do. They may just walk back once. Time will tell them. Yeah, that's what stood out to me. They they said they don't have other work that they can point to right now. Yeah.

Okay. Item E on the agenda. Someone to introduce that. I'll introduce resolution 2026-27 and move for its approval. I'll second that.

Motion by Kevin, seconded by Shane for resolution number 26-27, which is to approve the final plat for lots 101 to 105, Bridgeview 6th edition in addition to the city of Shatan, Dodge County, Nebraska. a of lots five to nine, bridg fourth edition and lot C, bridge view fifth edition situated in the west half of the west half of the northwest quarter of section 21 township 33 north range 48 west of the six principal Meridian Dodge County Nebraska otherwise known as Cedar Drive.

Good evening Mayor Janet Johnson. Um, this uh final plaque was at the planning commission meeting a week ago. Um, and it is exactly like you saw it in preliminary platform form a month ago. Um, unfortunately it is in Denver today. It's supposed to be on its way back from the person that was to sign it, but it is didn't make it here for time. for George to sign it. So, George, we'll be needing to sign it later in the week if you all approve it tonight. I was hoping to have it for tonight's meeting, but it's not here. But, like I said, it is exactly the way you saw it in preliminary platform. I don't know if anybody has any questions. It's the last step. Um later at at next meeting, we'll probably be um awarding the bid for our sanitary sewer project that goes along with the replatting of this property that we discussed.

And then will those properties be up for sale? Um the properties, the lower properties on this plat that have the street in front of them will be eligible for to be sold. We don't we only have one lot that will be eligible for sale because all of the infrastructure will be in place. Then once again I said it last time or inquired about it last time my the gentleman that has a lot 105 105. Um, we've been in contact because we are taking some of his property away for that 30 and that's the signature that on the plat that's in Denver. Yes.

But he's he's signing off on it then actually is the representative for him because that gentleman is deceased. Okay. So is the attorney for the estate is signing off on it. Any other questions? Could we have a roll call, please? Thank you. Thanks, Graves. Yes. Yes. Anderson, yes. Klein, yes. Shepard, yes.

Okay. Um, proclamation for public transit week. Go ahead and read it. I don't have a copy. Sorry. That's fine. You're good. Well, I designate this to Mark or Kevin. I think Mark read the last one.

Yay, Kevin. Go for it.

Oh, these glasses. uh proclamation of transit week March 15 to 21, 2026. Uh whereas public transit provides Nebraskans with access to medical, business, school, social, and supportive services. And whereas public transit allows individuals to remain independent, contributes to economic development, reduces traffic congestion, decreases carbon emissions, and improves mobility in both rural and urban areas. And whereas public transit provides the only public transportation service for many smaller towns and rural counties in Nebraska. And whereas Nebraska is served by two urban transit systems, two small urban transit systems, and over 50 rural transit systems providing some level of service within eight 89 89 Nebraska counties. Is that a typo? And whereas Nebraska has numerous public transit employees who provide service to Nebraskans and meet stringent educational requirements and professional standards. And whereas the Nebraska Association of Transportation Providers recognizes the important role that public transit professionals play and wishes to acknowledge that role. And whereas public transportation in the state is provided by collaborative effort of the Nebraska Department of Transportation and Federal Transit Administration to provide resources to transport individuals every day.

Now therefore, I, George Klein, mayor of the city of Shatter, Nebraska, hereby proclaim the week of March 15 to the 21st, 2026 as public transit week in the city of Shadron. And I do hereby urge all citizens to take due note of the observe dated the 16th day of March 2026. So it's hard to believe this is like our fourth year. It's already come up for the transit week. And as we have done in years past, we will be offering the free hamburger days on Friday for the writers and anybody who wants to come down there. And free will donation is totally accepted if somebody wants to do that. Um, I always offer the council members to ride on the bus one day, 15 minutes, but I haven't seen one yet in three years. So, maybe one of you guys want to or a couple of you want to join us and see what it's like. Um, maybe if you have a driver's license, we might let you drive. Don't tease it. Um, we have had a lot of positive feedback with our city transit and a lot of people that really accept like it especially with the fact that we've gotten the um van which we use with certain certain locations or certain riders with wheelchairs and whatnot. So, it's been a real positive. Um, we've got a great crew of drivers who are just get along great with them and they love to drive. So, um, like I say, if you ride the bus, you might get a meet some of these riders and get some feedback from them or they, you know, back and forth. The, um, the hamburgers will be from 11 to 1 and we're asking people that ride that day to bring two cans of food equal $2 and that way we can give that to the um, pantry for to help them out too. So, that's what we're offering there. Um, we used to have stuff the bus. But since we

don't have the old bus anymore, we just have we can't give up our old our new one to go do that. Um basic and we'll have a drawing. We'll have five passes. We have five drawings which we've done each year and hopefully that's acceptable to the council and all and it's kind of rewarding to the people and actually the ones that have been winning them deserve them which is really nice. You know, they needed them. So not saying that nobody deserve them but you know what I'm saying. Open mouth insert foot, right? No. Um, I think that's it. Do you have any questions about it? You have a full crew now? Yep, I do.

And it's uh it's funny. I have no women. They're all males. And I'm That's great. And they're all really good. We have a new one. Um, and they all get along. So, if one needs off, they back each other. We don't do the school kids anymore as a scheduled ride, but you know, if they call up, the parents call up and say, "Hey, Mark needs to get to school today because he didn't wake up on time." You know, we'll get him to school. Do you have a lot of um Shatter State College people that college kids? Yeah. Um, I would not so much right now because of the fact that it's been Easter vac or break and all and it's kind of been slow, but we do normally

and um and they really enjoy it too. So, and they tell their friends, right? Their friends tell their friends. And you still pick up kids after school though, don't you? Yeah.

Yeah. As long as they're on like you needed some rides. Yeah. We put them on there and the drivers go down there. I have one particular rider who just I'm going to do the school kids. So, Sure. They're yours. I put them on his if he's scheduled that day. So, yeah, we help out anybody that we can as best as we can. Um medical and all as well. So, um I know they have um gotten rid of the dialysis here in Shadron, but um Kimell has come up with a program where they actually drive up here and pick up whichever dialysis patients we have and take them twice a week down to Scots Bluff. That's a long haul, but you know, at least they're getting their dialysis, so that's worked out. We only had one in town that we had to worry about.

So, that's been taken care of. Well, that's good service. Then we have these nice gentlemen uh who likes to ride the bus all the time, but he says he can't see, but we help him out. He always asks who's who's driving, not who that is. He goes, I have to know their name because they can't see them. So, he's a a pleasure to have on the bus. Everybody is. So, well, it's a question. It's a good service you guys offer. Just one question. Friday, if I show up for lunch, can they cook me a grilled cheese sandwich? This is Lent. And Fridays in Lent, you have same from me.

They can give you the hamburger without the hamburger. I want about three slices of cheese. You take your bun, put it on the grill. Little we even have to go boxes. But I have to say, George, it's funny because when you walk by the office all the time, I always want to stop you, but as soon as you get to a certain point, you put your head down and I can't get your attention. I think next time I'm gonna stand in front of you and stop you. How many uh how many cats are you up to in the office? What's that? How many cats in the transit office? How many cats? Cats. Yeah, I I thought I saw a new one the other day. You did? That's lover boy.

Lover boy. There are um pieces couldn't go in and meet him. You can have our conversation piece. It's interesting how many people stopped by to see him and and talk to us about, you know, the rides and all, but yeah, the big black and white one. He loves to trip people. Don't come in. All right, that it.

Awesome. Thank you. I would like to make a motion to approve a claim of Mark Ray for fuel reimbursement for the league municipal conference. I'll second that. Motion by me, second by Shane. Question about it.

We have roll call, please. Graves, abstain. Alexi, yes. Anderson, yes. Klein, yes. Shepard, yes. I'd like to make a motion to approve the claims list that totals up to $447,79948. I'll second that

motion by me, second by Shane that list. Anybody have any questions? I have one comment. It still seems like and I know there's v rules about various departments, but I think we're still paying some sales tax on lodging for people in travel status. So, need to watch that a little more. Anyone have any other questions about I noticed there was a fairly good. Oh yeah, municipal supply. for water parts for the water department. $23,000.

Seemed like rules that were put in. Tough to get them in. All the meters had lead in them. Yeah. And the new state said you have to have no lead in them anymore. Before they used to have quite a bit of lead in them, even though they were never part of the water touching, but Right.

Yep. Anyone else have any other questions? If not, could we have roll call, please? Graves, yes. Alexi, yes. Anderson, yes. Flying, yes. Shepard, yes.

We do not need a resolution to excuse a council member. Public comment. Anyone wishing to address the council at this time on a matter not on this agenda may now do so. Individuals are allowed a total three minutes to speak. Going once, going twice. Don't seem to have any answer or comments. City manager report.

Thank you, mayor. I just got a couple quick things that I want to just mention out to the public. one is the library is closing for them to make that move. Um we are trying to get everything coordinated. Uh they are moving over to Second and Shatter Avenue where the old pink uh location was. Uh Rosella is getting her crew lined out. Uh we will have more discussions with some of our supervisors this week to assist her and then I know that she's reaching out to several different volunteer organizations too as well to help out with that. So, if the the public could be patient with us while we're trying to get this done in a timely manner, I greatly appreciate it. Uh the huge wind that we had this last uh week, I I know there's a lot of branches and things got blown around everywhere. Um I'm just bringing out the dial of truck is available by the city uh to help out with any of those kind of cleanups or anything that you would have um for those things. It is a huge service that we do offer as a city. Um allowing people to get some of those things cleaned up in a timely manner. Uh along with that too, I wanted to comment and and just let the council know too that during that windstorm, I know the police department was called out several times for different things that fell down. Um and then uh we had some quick responses by several of our departments to get out there and help get the things cleared out of the way along with some of our local that helped out with some of the electricity issues too that we had. And then the last thing that I just have to say is appreciate the fire department and what they do. Um they uh responded during those high winds. I know they're also being sent out to do some of these big fires around the state. Appreciate what they do, the sacrifices that they do um for the families in their professional lives in order to assist

others that need that's not in our immediate vicinity. They have helped us out in the past, too. So, it's a good thing to reciprocate some of those services. That's all I have for you. Thanks. I have one question. Is the name pink coming down? Yes, I believe it is. I'm not 100% sure. I guess I don't know, but I was under the impression they were going to cover it or do something with it, but I'm not % sure. I hope it does. Didn't ask that particular question. The library banner.

There we go. Might have to. Okay. Council closing comments. We'll start with Mark. Uh I was happy to see that uh that some of the the trees are being removed as part of the NRD grant. I saw maybe one of the first ones was was being removed today. So, they're starting that progress and and uh I hopefully it'll make the town look better and it'll be safer for people walking into those dead trees. I have those are the ones with the orange stripe on it.

Yes, those are the ones that are being identified as being the first ones. But in conjunction with that too, according to what Pat O'Brien was saying, he said they may have some additional funds. The bid process for removal on some of them came in quite a bit lower than what they had anticipated. And so that they are going back and looking at some more areas to take care of some more things. So thank you. I don't have a whole lot tonight. I was just going to note that um Friday at 7 PM is the uh middle school high school band concert. Um, and we've we've got some talented uh musicians in our high school and middle school band. I always enjoy going to those, not not just because my daughter's in it, but because they're they're good kids. They play well. They're mostly on time, mostly in tune. So, I look forward to that. In accordance with that, uh, you know, the I know the high school band was is getting ready to do their, uh, big rib fundraiser, so hopefully everyone got around and ordered their ribs and meat before they ran out. Uh, I want to thank Julie and the transit crew for everything they do and hope everybody gets around to getting trying to get on a ride sometime this week and telling them thank you. That's all I've got. Um, as Tom mentioned, I just like to reiterate the dry conditions that we have. Um, we definitely need to pray for rain thanks to the fire department if those that got transferred or volunteered to have assist with the conditions. I

wasn't aware that anyone here and and I made me think of our fire back in the was it 2006 12 when we had the bad fire and the a fund was started and it received a lot of donations and I heard a little bit about the Western the fund that's operated primarily out of Scotsluff and Alliance starting to do some of that. I want to call your attention to that. And then kind of on a positive note, Nebraska volleyball team is coming to play in Chatter. So I shouldn't probably shouldn't mention that. I want to make sure I get tickets. So don't beat me out of line.

I'm camping out up there. I'm sorry. And for St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, if you're celebrating, uh, be safe out there. I turn. Okay. Just uh want to remind everyone of the green gala this Saturday at the Shadron Art Center. It's good cause. Um, and then I'd like to end tonight with a little uh Irish blessing that I found online. Um, so happy St. Pats every everyone. It's a day that reminds us of community friendship and maybe a little luck of good luck along the way. May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back and may the town continue to grow stronger together. That's all I got. Make motion to adjurnn.

I'll make a motion to adjurnn. I'll second by Shane, second by Kevin to adjourn. Any discussion on the journey? Could we have a roll call, please? Graves, yes. Alexi, yes. Anderson, yes. Yes. Shepard, yes.