City Council - Regular Meeting

At this time, we'll call the meeting to order and inform the public of the location of the open meeting act posted in the council chamber and accessible to members of the public. This time, we'll ask for a moment of silence followed by the pledge of 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. Roll call, please. Granquist, here. Arns, here. Webb, here. McCarthy, here. Beckman, here. Jensen, here. Langy,

here. Hilderbrand here. Mayor, I'm here.

At this point in time, uh, will be the public comment opportunity. And so, we'll remind everybody you have five minutes. and open it up for talk here. Whoever wants to come forward, feel free. Jim McKenzie, I want to further address the city electricity tax as it currently sits and the proposed increase included in the NPPD lease agreement. The current lease agreement rate or city electricity tax is stated at 12%. It is actually just slightly under 14.5% of the customer's electricity charges. You see, the electricity tax is calculated on top of itself. The electricity tax is charged on top of the city electricity tax and on top of the state gross revenue tax. So when you calculate it as a percentage of the NPPD electricity charge, it's actually 14.5% today before any increase. And if you add the city sales tax, the city of Norolk adds a 16.5% burden to c to citizens electricity bills. 16 and 12% burden. And I confirmed it with Randy Gates. So 16 and 12% Isn't that enough? That is a very, very significant burden on Norfolk citizens electricity bills. I ask that you don't increase it anymore. I'm fine. Pass the NBD agreement. I think it's a fine thing, but don't increase the citizens tax burdens any further. Many citizens are already struggling to pay their electric bills and their other bills. We cannot continue to add more and more burden

onto the citizens. I also request that the city electricity tax aka lease rate not be discussed during close session on the NPBPD agreement. Discussion of increasing taxes does not fall under the umbrella of protection of public interest. In fact, it's exactly the opposite. I believe that discussing that tax during a closed session is a violation of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act. Thank you.

Nice thing is I don't believe we will be talking about the tax [clears throat] David Jansma. I too am in agreement on the increase in attacks for MPPPD. I think it's too much. I think we don't need it right now. I think we need to watch our checks and balances otherwhere. Also, if it is true as per the closed session, if this is also in discussion, that's totally wrong. We as citizens have the right to an input and to hear what's going on because it affects us. This isn't something private that there's legality about. It's up to us to hear what the people that we elected how they represent us so we know down the road whether we choose to use you again or not. It's time to worry about the people you're supposed to represent and ask our opinions. Plain and simple. Thank you. Brad Brooks. Um, [cough] [clears throat] we've got to have a little uh happy news. Um, I want to commend Will and all his people in the street department for the work that they've

done so far this winter. Um, I've seen them out laying down uh the necessary chemicals ahead of time. they got out ahead of it and uh I just think they need to be uh commended for that. So, are you trying to get your street moved up on the list? [laughter] No. Okay. All right. Just just checking.

I think it's already high on the list. So, Anyone else? Jo Vandro. Uh [cough and clears throat] not an eloquent speaker here, but I just wanted to come up with some good news. Uh something that you guys don't hear a whole lot. I think that you guys as a council, the previous council members um and mayor and the city administration has done an excellent job in our city. It shows people are proud to live here and it's drawing people here. In my career, I speak to a lot of people out on the streets every day. I go to the farmers market and I speak to people every day. um during the summer obviously. Um but I find it very intriguing to me that one time I spoke to a gentleman looked very familiar to maybe a brother of a guy I went to high school with. I was like hey I said are you related to so and so. He goes no actually no I'm not even from here. I said oh. I said what what brought you here? He goes well my wife has a friend that lives here. we came to visit and they said we went downtown and

we just fell in love with downtown. And they said we fell in love with the art. I don't understand the art. It's not my thing, but I appreciate people that appreciate it. It's something that is prideful for our community. Everything that we've done has made an impact on everybody in this community. And he decided to move here. Then him and his wife decided to move here. They have a remote job and they have a young baby and they're raising their family here. And that drew his I think it was his mother-in-law from Kansas to come up here as well and moved up here because she loved the downtown and the community. It's something that we all should take pride in and I think it's something that you all should be very proud of. I think it's everything everybody should be proud of in the community. Um, you know, there's a lot of gripe about taxes and where that lies. I just want to I pulled this off of the city website. I just want to bring to light where the burden really lies. It's not necessarily the city. And that this is off of the city's website. This is the most recent graph that I could find, but we have 56.96% of property taxes going to the public school district. Number two, we have 20.11% of property taxes going to the county. We come in at a 16.69%. So, I don't think it's a North Fork spending problem. Yes, there's obviously wise use of tax dollars and making wise commitments and investments in the community, which I think is being done. I just want to let everybody know that it's not just the city and that you guys are doing a wonderful job and I encourage everybody to go to other meetings with the county and the school board and address property taxes where the majority of the property taxes are being taken. So, I just want to commend

you guys on doing a wonderful job. I think you guys are fighting a good fight. I think that you guys are doing amazing. So, I encourage you all to continue investing in Norfork and continue doing a good job because citizens are seeing it, outside communities are seeing it, and I think we're going to be a very great community that will draw from a vast variety of places because people come and visit family, people come and visit friends, and it draws and it will grow. So, keep doing what you're doing.

Thank you. Anyone else have anything to say? Going once. All right, we'll move on to recommended action items. Um, first off, I need approval of the consent agenda, removing item number 11 and putting it on the full agenda. I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda minus 11.

Second. We have a motion second. Please vote. All council members voting in the affirmative. Motion carries. All right. And the approval of the full agenda with number 11 added to it. So move. Second. Motion second. Please vote. All council members voting in the affirmative. Motion carries.

All right, we are on to special presentations, which I'm assuming most people are here for that tonight or unless you came for the public comment period, but it looks like we have some people here tonight and we will get into that. Our first recognition is the Northfor High School Unified Cheer Team. I'll read these off here. Okay, there we go. Honoring the Northfor High School Unified Cheer Team. Whereas the Northfor High School unified cheer team has demonstrated exceptional talent, commitment, sportsmanship, and teamwork throughout the 2025 2026 season. And whereas in just its third year of existence, the unified cheer team has embodied the values of inclusion, collaboration, and school spirit, earning a state championship title in the unified sideline cheer category for classes A, B, and C. And whereas following a third place finish among six teams in 2024, the team exhibited remarkable growth, perseverance, and determination to achieve a first place finish for the second consecutive year. And whereas the dedication of student athletes, coaches, and supporters has brought distinction to Norfor High School and a great pride to the Northfor community while serving as an inspiration for future generations of students. Now therefore, be it resolved that I, Shane Clawson, mayor of the city of Norfork, along with the city council, do here recognize and commend the Northfor High School unified cheer team for its outstanding accomplishments and proudly celebrate its 2026 state championship victory.

Way to go, [applause] [applause] I see we have some members here of the team if you mind coming forward. And Congress or I'm sorry, Councilwoman Sue Beckman will help me out. I got

you got a raise. We bumped you up. I have a silence. I think we're a little ending up in chairs. Good for you.

All right. All right. Here we go. Ready? Three, two, one.

[clears throat]

So, you guys have a cheer for the city council. They need a lot of help. From [laughter] the from the comments tonight, we need a lot of help. So, [clears throat] anyway, who am I who's I giving this to? You give it to one of the coaches. Yeah, we'll take [snorts] it. Thanks, guys. Thank you. [applause] [applause]

[clears throat]

Oh, there you go. Let me say faces. All right, moving on to our next honore or recognition. Going to honor the North for High School girls wrestling team. Whereas the Northfor [snorts] High School girls wrestling team demonstrated outstanding determination, resilience, and teamwork throughout the 2025-26 season. And whereas the Panthers successfully defended their Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coach Association Girls State Dual Championship title by defeating Millard South with a 47-32 victory in the championship duel. And whereas the team showcased perseverance and competitive excellence throughout the tournament, overcoming early adversity, navigating a 16 team bracket, and responding with focus and composure to secure their place in the championship final. And whereas key performance throughout the championship duel, including critical pins by several members of the team, exemplified the depth, strength, and unity of the Panthers lineup. And whereas senior Beverly Babeldike sealed the championship victory with a decisive pin to clinch the title for the second

consecutive year, highlighting leadership and competitive spirit for the team. [snorts] And whereas the back-to-back girls state dual championship reflects the dedication of the student athletes and coaching staff and it continues to set a high standard of excellence for Northfor High School wrestling program. Now therefore, be it resolved that I, Shane Clawson, mayor of the city of Northfor, along with the Northfor City Council, do hereby recognize and commend the Norfor High School girls wrestling team for their outstanding camp accomplishments and celebrate their 2025 class A state championship victory. Do we have anyone here this evening that can FORWARD [applause] for a picture.

At least Here [laughter] we go. Three, two, guys. Thank you. [applause]

[clears throat]

All right, [clears throat and cough] got some more stuff to recognize here. So, okay. Item number 23, recognition of the Engineering Excellence Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Nebraska for the North Fork Riverfront Development and Benjamin Avenue reconstruction projects. Anna will be coming forward.

[snorts]

Good evening, mayor and council. Um, uh, in working with, um, JEO, um, we'll talk about the North Fork Riverfront Development Engineering Excellence Award. Um, JEO had applied for this award through the American Council of Engineering Companies of Nebraska as part of its 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards. Uh, the Engineering Excellence Awards uh recognize projects across Nebraska that demonstrate engineering skill, innovation, leadership, and dedication to public service. Um the uh application that JEO put in for the North Fork Riverfront development was for a um the water resources category [snorts] and they had received the make sure I say it right. Um the um received the honor with distinction award um for water resources. And we do have a representative from JO here if you would like to

Sure. come up and say anything about the project or the award. Sure. I'll just I'll keep it brief. It was a great honor to work with Stephen and Anna on the project. Um this is the types of projects we really enjoy doing. Uh making communities we live and work a better place. So I'll just keep it short and sweet. Um the uh award there will be a a statewide gala. Um it's actually in [cough] West Omaha in April, April 15th give or take. So um we'll be coordinating more on that. Um the one last thing is we also did apply for the national awards which will be um were judged last week and we should know more about that one any time now. So and that awards is in Washington DC.

That is in Washington and the Gala [clears throat] for that one is in May. Y okay. Thank you. Thank you. Um the next uh award that we had received was for the well that Shimmer received and submitted uh on behalf of the city of Norfolk is the Benjamin Avenue project. Um Shimmer and Associates um was the winner for that award. It's a merit award in the category of transportation. Um, and Doug Holly is here to say a little something about that award as well. So,

do I get like 20 minutes? Yeah. Doug, [laughter]

um, the thing I was excited about with this award is there's been a few new faces on the council, but there's a lot of existing faces that were involved during the project. Um, same with the administration. Some administration has changed, but um, it was just so fun to work with the city and it really is a partnership. It's not just the engineering firm. It's really a partnership. U, but the last thing I want to say is just driving Benjamin, the most exciting thing is there's been very little business turnover. Um that was a painful project as you guys know, but there's been very little business turnover along that corridor. Um those businesses now um get an opportunity to thrive with that new infrastructure. So it just it's so fun to be part of that and see such a rewarding project. So with that um just thank you. So

thank you. Thank you.

And they'll be honored at that awards dinner as well. So, um, if you guys have any questions, comments, um, I enjoyed working with both of these companies. Um, it was the first day I started four about four years ago. Uh, the Benjamin or the, um, North Fork River development project had already been let out um, and awarded to a contractor. And then the night of my first day, my first council meeting, the Benjamin Avenue project was awarded. So, I jumped right in on both of those projects. And um it's, you know, one of the reasons I love engineering is to be able to see those projects designed and constructed and be a part of that process and see how awesome they turned out in the end. So, thank you.

Thank you. [cough] Anyone have any comments? thanks for all the hard work. All right, brings us to item number 11. Consideration approval of the engineering design services contracts with McCclary Engineering, Inc. for the Tahazuka softball complex projects phases A and B in the amount of 102,500. Move consideration of approval of the contract. Second.

Motion second. Nate, would you come forward and discuss this with us?

Thank you, mayor and councel. Um, I'll go ahead and give some uh feedback or some background on um on this project just so we're um kind of up to speed on on because it's been a long time coming. Um this start this started in 2022 where we did the Tazuka master plan. Um we had 11 public meetings during that se that time including a work session with council um to get feedback from the public on what they wanted to see at Zuka Park and we came up with a master plan and um this is this is part of that um process. Um diamond uh we also did a parks and rec master plan with another 14 public meetings during that time and an online survey as well to get more feedback on where the direction of the parks and rec department was going. Um so in in all we've had 25 public meetings and stakeholder meetings um throughout the community to um um bring us uh um to where we are today. Um this is part of uh the design work uh LWCF grant that we applied for. Um this um was a resolution that was brought before council to apply for the grant about a year ago and we did um win that grant to um expand our our softball complex. Um the design here that in front of you today is 71,000. Half of that is um grant funded. The other half would be Kino. Um and this would include the field design, layout, the grading, lighting, um um the spectator areas, ADA access, and um everything that we need um for that site. Um it's also uh a second field design which is another 31,500 um for um designing the second field. So we can start preparing for that and get some of that design work done as we as we seek funding. Um so total is 102,000. Um those funds are coming from the KO dollars that we've we we have um um from

our KO agreement that we that we um received this year. Um, in all, um, in terms of our usage, we have, um, over 1,800, um, um, field reservations that we have out at Taha, 1,000 over 1,000 of those are, um, softball. That's 57% of our usage. Of those softball fields, 74% are played on fields one, two, and three. Um and so we are we are um currently um we have a bottleneck in the summertime in May, June, July is what we have. Um we're feel we're playing um 18 to 23 games per week um on those fields. Overuse um a healthy amount of games on a field is 10 per week. Overuse is is is 18 and up. Um so we are we are maxed out um on fields one, two, and three. Um, fields four and five aren't usable because they're too short. They kind of got cut off because of the road. Um, and then A and B are for the for the for the younger ages. Um, because that is also short. So, um, we do not have any 300t fields, which is industry standard for adult softball adult softball complex. Um, and so that's kind of where we're at on capacity. Um so again just in in some closing remarks here the project was it's is publicly supported um we are leveraging federal dollars um um with grants to to make this project come come through. Um we are looking at the overuse of our fields that we have. A complex is nice because it's all contained right there. There's restrooms right there. There's concessions, you know, those are all important um for for play. Um and having good quality fields is also important. Um so we recommend that we um award the

design contract to Mclau Engineering. I'm open for any questions on the contract or any anything else that you might have.

Nate, I got just a couple questions on it and then one comment also. Um I I noticed in the uh breakdown that you have here, one of the things that I saw both on uh A and B was um irrigation design and for like 3500 per each that way. And my uh question or concern or comment on it was um uh through you know good times or bad or whatever uh over at Johnson Park uh the designer JEO tossed it back on the sprinkler contractor per se to do the design and then that went in as a construction document review item or a submitt item that way. And so is that their cost? I was wondering if you know that there's $7,000 there between the two whether whether we do it on one or since A and B are going to be very similar and B is just being um you know graded on out whether we needed to double up on on that or not. And I I you know it appears to me to be a unit price situation too to where it could come back as as a credit against a contract that way.

Yep. It it is an it is an add-on and um that was you know a good thought something I actually thought about while sitting over there. I don't know that we necessarily need that second one. Um we do need to know how much water we're going to need and how many heads we're going to have for for each field. Um and we will mimic the same design on each on each field. So, I don't know that we need to pay for the second one, but I think paying up front to give us that number as we bring in all the infrastructure because there's no water or sewer in that area yet. Um, I think it would be important. Um Um, but we do not need to we do not have to do that second do the irrigation design in the second in the second design work. Um, does that make sense? Yeah, that's what I I was going well they're basically mirror images and so y if we get it designed once it's it would be in our and then the only other uh well I was seeing um so the uh phase A that includes a whole bunch of things along with getting the fields all built and the LWCF compliant design documents and all that stuff that way. And then phase B, you know, isn't quite to that same extent that way because we're not looking at getting into a construction situation. And I I had realized and it just happened to be that I was there for another bid at the time, but there was also a phase C that was a layout of the street getting over to First Street, which I know uh Stephen had talked some that, you know, this was going to be done via chaff dollars and I was assuming that's why that's not part of this document.

Um that's correct. We wanted to separate these cuz um this is uh focused on the the grant um portion of this project. Um we are bringing the road and the sewer um it to the I think the next council meeting is what we should be ready to bring that forward next at the next council meeting for the road and because it'll be important to make sure that we um design all the drainage and everything according to our our road plans that we have going through there. We want to make sure that the road is to the north of all the youth fields and the parking is is um to the north of of the parking for all the youth fields as well. So that way we don't have kids crossing roads anymore. So um

I guess that was my big concern about it was okay, we're going to be impacting this with more and more vehicles and more and more people. Right now it's quite interesting being down there with the traffic situations and y and younger people you know older people y they bounce. We'll bring that at the next the next meeting. Thank you.

Questions questions for Nate. Come on. Hello, Mayor and Council. I'm Dave F. Um, I just wanted to talk in support of this, mainly because there's been some questions I've heard about not having enough fields or having too many fields. Back when I was playing and when you guys probably played, we played at Memorial Field out in the parking lot with all the rocks and and the the parts of cement out there. These guys all have groom field now. And we have a lot of adult teams yet, which like you said, 57% of them is on the three fields of the comp complex where all the other kids have like seven or eight fields. But we do need more fields. And I think it's mainly a scheduling problem. When I used to play and some of you guys used to play, we played in the daytime, no night games at all that I remember. Now all the kids and the adults play at night. Well, that shrinks everybody on to about 4 hours and we don't have enough fields to do that and that's why there's a pretty big log jam. So, I just want to talk in support that we do need more fields. we do need these fields and those are some of the reasons unless you want your kids to go back and play in the concrete like I did. That's what it's going to take. So, thank you guys for listening.

Thanks, David.

David Jansma, I have one question. If I understood it correctly, you said you have two fields that aren't usable because of the [clears throat] the length. They they they used them, but it's not preferable. Is it possible to expand the lengths of those? We would have to re we would have to reconfigure the road. It all of it's going to take construction, either reconfiguring the road or changing the field. We'd have to change the field. Um, we'd have to turn it, but it's also not in a complex. These are isolated fields. Which which ones are they? Where are they? Four and five.

I don't know where. South in the park. Yep. To the to the west.

So, I would think if we're looking at expanding, that'd be something we would be considering so we get usage out of all the fields no matter what we have to do. I mean, and if traffic's an issue, they're supposed to be going pretty slow anyway over there anyway, crosswalks and things like that, but if we have two fields that we claim are unusable because of the length, I don't know. When I played and coached, I'd love to have a short field, more home runs and easier on everybody, [clears throat] but uh I would think that's something we ought to consider rather than going through all this mess. But why would I anybody listen to me? Thank you,

Nate. I do have a question or a comment on that. So, [clears throat] it's not that these two fields are not usable, they're just not adequate for adult softball. Correct. They're still being used, these two fields.

Yes. And so um in the in the master plan um it is to um once we have a a complex to the north is to is to no longer use field field five and turn that into a multi-purpose field which we are also short-handed on soccer fields. Um and then field four would would be a um um a championship um girls fast pitch which there is room for that uh Seth Langy. Um I'm actually coming up here to talk as a community member this time. Um usually you guys see me up here as an engineer or somebody with a project that's going on. Um to speak to these fields. Um I have uh two daughters that play softball for Kelly the Kelly's organization, one son that uh played steel baseball. Um to say that field and field 5 aren't utilized, they are completely utilized. Um there are teams that are uh 13U 14U that actually practice on those fields every night. Um, and on that field five, which is the furthest west one, that's been being utilized by kids that are in that lower range of that steel organization, uh, that would be played on skin fields all the time. So, to Nate's point, these fields are overutilized, and it's all of them. So, just to give you guys that quick uh, synopsis of it, um, I am a coach. I've coached softball for my daughter for uh oh I think six years now and my son for about three years now. So uh just firsthand experience guys. Thank you

Hi, my name is Dale Koy and thanks for this opportunity to speak. Um, I just I guess I had a question for Nate. You gave a lot of numbers of the current usage historically. Do you have you done any numbers like from in the past like the last decade, the decade before, the decade before that? I mean, have we seen a historic increase every decade of usage on the fields? Um, our our records um the school was doing a lot of the scheduling. um before before we got here. So, we only have recent data. Otherwise, I don't have apples to apples. Okay,

that's what I was questioning if we could justify it. I mean, I think there's wants and needs and I've talked about that to you guys before that we get this free money for grants, but it's a legacy cost going forwards of fields that we have to take care of. We're have we're going to have to take care of them for eternity. Um they've made a lot of great improvements out there updating the back stops and and the field areas. I think it looks really nice aesthetically. But my question is um back when Jim was umpiring in adult softball and Dave could probably attest to this too, but we probably had twice as many teams playing adult softball in the mid 80s than we do now. I think their participation's down probably 40 40% to 35%. I think I see it more as of a scheduling pro pro problem than a field problem. Um I think it was brought up here before we played our our our t-shirt league was down in the parking lot of Memorial Field and it was done during the day and junior high coaches coached coached the teams. Um we eliminated four softball fields down by the library when we put in that park. I guess I question the foresight of that. We should have been addressing where we were going to relocate those fields before we eliminated and create creating a a crisis in the scheduling. It it just doesn't it doesn't make sense to me. Um but I could justify this a little more if I knew the actual usage compared decade to decade. Working for the parks department for 10 years, I don't feel that there's any more usage. I'd say there's less usage. um the utilization of field four and field five. Um [clears throat] all those fields sit empty all day. The adult softball only plays Monday through Thursday and that's probably going to get less if that keeps diminishing. I I

guess just looking forward, it's great to have this free money, but there is a cost associated with it. And uh the actual need for that field going forward is something you guys have to look at. It's wants versus needs. And in our budget that we have right now, the the shortfalls in the budget and the challenges we have, I think we have to be looking at every penny. So, thank you.

I'd like to comment on on that. Um, so, um, I mean, our our usage is definitely up. Our we can see that in our revenue. We're going to be at $700,000 in revenue in the department um um this year and we were at 450 just just four years ago. Um, so we can we see the usage going up in our dollars. So that shows that our usage is is on the rise. Um, as far as what what it costs to maintain a field, right now we're averaging um around $20,000 per field annually. And we have another $12,000 in revenue coming in for each field. Um, so there's about an $8,000 cost to the city. It's not about being a profit center though. So, um, you know, it really depends on where you want your fees and how much you want to charge to to um recoup. I think we're doing very well at this point, but um but that's just, you know, conversations that we have during um during budget time. So, those are the costs um for the fields and uh um if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer those. I do have a comment I'd like to make. Um, being the parent of a daughter who played at the very highest level of softball in the country, not in Norfork. We played um I've been all over the United States watching my daughter and her teams play. And when we would talk about Norfor because every year you got to pick one tournament that you could go to that was a local tournament if you had some like so for example we there was one Norfor player that was my daughter. So we would always say can we

go play in Norfor and to be honest with you the fields are are we need this. I mean that's my my personal comment. I've seen the best fields in the in in the United States. I've seen the worst fields in the United States and we currently rank I mean I I know Nate is I've told Nate how I feel about field two and the canoe that you have to use to to when it rains the canoe that you have to use to get from home to first. Um, so I'm I'm just want to say uh that uh this is going to be a welcome addition and um I I I personally believe that Northfor would uh be able to uh get a uh tournaments to come. I mean, I've seen I've seen I've seen what great fields can do in this state, let alone this country. And I I would say that a great field great fields and a great complex is is paramount to getting any kind of stuff. So, um I guess I'm going on record saying I fully support everything we're doing with Tahazuk. I think it's a great idea.

I do have We did check our cell phone usage out there. We had 90,000 um cell phones out at Taha last year. Um and we um we know that each tournament that we bring in brings anywhere from 7,000 to $60,000 in in in sales tax um into the community um through um the Visitors Bureau's um data that they provided. Um, all right. Anybody else have any comments or questions on item number 11? [snorts] Let's see. We have a motion to second. Please vote.

All council members voting in the affirmative. Motion carries. [clears throat] All right, this brings us on to item number 24. Consideration of ordinance number 5970 exite an ang annexing attractive land generally located 1/4 mile west of the intersection of East Benjamin Avenue and Highway 35 on the south side of Benjamin Avenue. I'll make a motion for consideration.

Second. We have a motion in a second. Um, Steve, got you on to discuss this. Mayor and council, this is the annexation for the plat that came through, I believe, at the prior council meeting for um, Hawk Crossing. That's the subdivision uh, directly south of the I think it's the vet center there on the Northeast Community College campus. And so it's showing up here on the screen. Um so they will be dedicated they'll be dead as a function of the of this buildout. Uh this is a a an initial phase of the larger buildout of that whole tract um to the west of this. Um, and as a function of this buildout, they'll be putting in city water, city sewer, uh, and intending to dedicate the streets to that to the city for for ongoing maintenance. Um, so with that, they needed to annex it. So, this is a um they've provided a a request for annexation that is attached uh to the agenda packet as well. I'd answer any any questions that council would have around that.

Steve, I'm going to bring up the topic that you and I and Hilda Brandt discussed earlier, which was drainage around that area through the college um [clears throat] through that area all the way down um south of town. And the maintenance along Victory Road that's going to be there, I believe, is still Madison County. Does that change to Northfor having the

the maintenance? Yes, we I believe we do plow the snow in this section just as a function of an agreement with with the county. We we change off on some areas of town. I think we plow this area. Um but yes, within this within this smaller section here, at least for now, we would be doing the maintenance on that. It is a brand new section. There's not a lot of maintenance there. Um there is a drainage um situation coming off of that vet center there on that approach on that north approach. Uh that that that issue remains. We do not consume that issue. That issue remains with uh Northeast Community College and we're working with Northeast Community College uh [clears throat] you know to rectify any issues that exist as a function of that.

I I would say it also the county and how it affects us as a city. Don't you think?

Well, from a long from from a overall drainage perspective of this area, um I mean c certainly they have to the subdivision to the south has to comply with our drainage design criteria manual as a function of dealing with the increase in runoff that'll come off of this site. Um, as we look at, uh, we did have a study back here that about four or five years ago that we partnered with, uh, NRD on that looked at this entire drainage basin here in the northeast side. Um, the intent of that drainage study was to structure future drainage improvements. Um, I did have a conversation with the NRD office here about four months ago. Uh, they had, they said at that time they indicated there was a lot on their plate. they want us to come back here in early spring this year um and sit down and have those conversations. So, we're currently working to schedule a meeting with Northeast Community College, the NRD, and the city to to look at this a little bit right in this specific area, but also just looking at the broader drainage issues going on in this northeast area and and how that, you know, what parts or pieces of the study that was done five years ago. Can we start to put some planning behind for for implementation here in the near future?

And and that's why I bring it up. I know that was part of our conversation is getting uh everybody in this area on the same page and having a discussion. And in a way, I feel it'd be more prudent to put this on hold or table it until we have these conversations of the issues that we have and maybe address those before we get there. I mean, we can certainly do that. I don't know how I don't know how any outcome of addressing those larger issues are going to have an impact on this particular 10acre parcel and and any well, the drainage problem is straight across the street.

The drainage issue is we're going to inherit a drainage issue is what Cory is saying. I think we're going to inherit a drainage issue when it's not our issue. So previous to this, somebody's going to have to accept the responsibility of the drainage issue before we right accept this annexation. The the I mean specifically if we're talking about the drainage issue that's coming off of the approach that that that issue is owned by Northeast Community College as a function of that approach that that doesn't shift from the it's not a county issue right now. It's a Northeast Community College issue right now as a function of the annexation. Yeah, that does come into city limits, but everything's going to move south. I mean, we

Yes, we all know that all that water from the north is coming south and all the way down to the river as it goes out by Off-Road Ranch basically. Correct. Correct. with that drainage goes from from here that drainage all goes west and goes through a set of double I think it's double or triple um it goes through a set of culverts there probably about 1,000 ft west not [snorts] not right here in this area so just we can cut to the chase here so basically what you're saying is you're concerned about future drainage current drainage and the drainage coming onto that development or that chunk of property and you don't want to inherit uh

any drainage prior to having it resolved before and taken into the city. Uh yeah, right now if you drove along Victory or Benjamin right there, just past that intersection, so just to the west of that intersection, there is erosion of the brand new road. Yeah. So my that is coming off. My question my question to you is that the county has this is a legitimate concern of yours enough to table to address that concern before you can make a educated decision on the annexation. Correct. To me I see it as an issue that we're going to inherit that I think needs addressed before we bring it into the city. All right. So that's that's the that's the question at hand then ultimately. So

well I don't know what anybody else feels. I'm going to I'm going to go ahead and make the motion to table it. And if it fails, it fails. If it makes it through, it makes it through. But I think it needs addressed before we move this into uh annexation. So, I'll make a motion to table. [clears throat] I'll second the motion.

All right. We received a motion, a second, and because the motion table, there is no discussion. So, please vote. Voting in the affirmative. McCarthy, Granquist, Arns, Jensen, Web, Hildebrand, Beckman. Voting in opposition. Langi. Motion carries. Okay, that moves us on to item number 25. [cough and clears throat] Consideration of the approval of an affluent purchase agreement between Total Energies Hydrogen Holdings USA LLC and the city of Northwork for a nonbinding transaction terms water supply agreement.

Move for consideration.

Second. There's a motion in a second and Steve M. Mayor and councel um this here is a non-binding water terms agreement to pro provide effluent uh to a business looking to come into the northeast corner or northeast industrial area uh south of that e south of the ethanol facility. Um the the the function of the of the business will be to produce an e- naturatural gas or an electrified night or electric natural gas is what the E stands for. Um again this is a non a non-binding water terms agreement. It establishes the terms uh that will be negotiated as part of a binding a future binding agreement that would be negotiated um with total energies over the next 3 months. The important part of this was they wanted to secure in this document uh the volume of effluent that would be reused or available to their facility that is in uh subsection 10 of the agreement uh I'm sorry subsection uh three of the agreement under quantity uh up to 630,000 gallons per day of effluent. So what they want to do is they're going to take what effluent is is effluent is the water that comes out of our wastewater treatment facility after it goes through all the treatment processes that is then released to the Elhorn River. Um we will capture up to 630,000 gallons of that and pump that up to uh that facility where they would use that for processed water. Um so again that's the significant component in here is that 630,000. Um we've also written in here at this

point um a tenative price of $8 or I'm sorry 8.5 cents per barrel. Um and uh it's it's hard to hard to see that but that's that's very close to what we charge for treated water coming out of our domestic treated facility. Um, so it's a good price. Um, it certainly covers the cost of the treatment and and pumping that the effluent up to that facility. Um, this [clears throat] project is they're in the process of securing three or four other agreements very similar to this with some other for some of their other raw products. Um, that would be primarily CO2 uh and electricity. So, any questions? Best way to kind of think about this is here about six years ago, the Mat Gas Company built a plant kind of up around uh New Core, a little bit south and east of New Core. That facility extracts nitrogen and argon gas out of the air, puts it into pipes in the ground. Uh that's kind of a very similar type process. uh the plant itself would probably be about triple the footprint of that [clears throat] um fairly benign process. The raw product comes to them either underground or through the through the electrical system and the final product would get pumped into one of the gas lines that runs through that area, Black Hills or Tall Grass Energy. No no additional train traffic, no truck traffic, nothing like that. Any additional comments?

Right. Seeing none, we have a motion to second. Please vote.

All council members present voting in the affirmative. Motion carries. This doesn't [clears throat] mean brings us to our item number 26, potential close session for the protection of public interest to suck contract negotiations regarding a potential Professional retail operations pro agreement with N Nebraska public power or NPPD. May I have a motion to go into close session for the protection of public interests to discuss Nebraska public power N PPP NPD contract negotiations.

So move your honor. Second.

Please vote. Voting in the affirmative. McCarthy, Granquist, Arns, Langy, Web, Hildebrand. Voting in opposition, Jensen, Beckman. Motion carries. The motion carried. Again, this close session is for the protection of public interest to discuss Nebraska Public Power District NPPD contract negotiations. track negotiations. May I may I have a motion to come out of close session? So move. Second. Motion second. Um please vote.

All council members voting in the affirmative. Motion carries. We are adjourned.