City Council - Regular Meeting

Council order, 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 of the 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. Before we have roll call, I'd like to welcome the guests that we have this evening. We have roll call, please. George Klein

here. Shane Shepard here. Mark Graves here. Kevin Alexi here. Anderson here. We have a motion to approve the agenda. I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. I'll second that. Motion by Clay, seconded by Shane to approve the agenda. We have roll call, please. Clay. Yes. Shephard, yes. Graves, yes. Alexi, yes. Anderson, yes. Um, could we have a motion to approve the consent agenda?

I move to approve the consent agenda.

I'll second. Motion by Mark, seconded by Kevin to comprove approve the consent agenda which includes minutes from the city council meeting from February 2nd, monthly treasures report for the month of January, the water report for the month of January, fire department membership update. Um there was one person resigned from the department, another brought on as a probationary member. So they kept their roster 47 active members, which is I consider good. Their limit is 50. So there's room for three more. If you're so inclined, it's an admirable thing to do. I certainly never did it, but those that are have the time, the physical stamina to do it, I think it'd be well received. and special designated licenses that were administratively approved was wild bar and grill bosses night at the Shadron volunteer fire department on February 21st and so could we have roll call please any pardon me any questions about any of those items could we have roll call please

yes Shepard Yes. Grace. Yes. Alexi. Yes. Anderson. Yes. Item B on the agenda. I want to introduce resolution 26. 2026-18. I'll introduce 20 or resolution 2026-18 for its approval.

I'll second that. Motion by Shane, second by Mark for resolution 2026-18 to approve application for a specially designated license for TNT's Bunk House Bar and Grill LLC. It's in connection with a wedding reception to be held at the Dallas County Fairgrounds on May 16th. And this is the first time that Bunk House Kar and Grill has submitted an SDL which is a reason it's not been wasn't administratively approved. Um have any want to have any questions? If not, okay, could we have roll call, please?

Klein, yes. Shepard, yes. Graves, yes. Alexi, yes. Anderson, yes. Okay, I see you on the agenda. John Reid with the executive director with Northwest Nebraska Development Corporation monthly report. Hi everybody. Thanks for having me again. Uh did everybody get a copy of the report?

Great. Okay. So, um under business assistance this month, uh we found a really good partner in the Center for Rural Affairs. I had a meeting with a gentleman named Randy Waters. Uh they are I'm sorry, Randy Waterman. They are an organization that offers financing for a lot of different areas that we're looking to improve. organization. I also took a business. My goal here will be similar efforts I think it's real low. I want to thank the council again tools. I wasn't so I actually got a copy of 3D renderings for business market.

They've got a lot of tools available just now. So, um, I'm really looking forward to getting, uh, our full dollar out of that organization. Um, after that LB840 grant got passed earlier this month, I put together a meeting for this Friday, uh, we're going to have, uh, the early childhood laboratory, a couple of uh, state agencies, a couple of local uh, interested parties as well in my office on Friday to come together and try to figure out how we can get that money spent. Uh right now uh we have a lot of funds available not only through the NNDC but there are other organizations. This childhood uh this child care problem that we're experiencing is uh well recognized and there's a lot of funding and technical support available for people that want to start a child a childare business in town. We just got to get the right people in the right room at the right time to maximize it. So that's what's going to be this Friday. I've only got it scheduled for an hour, but I suspect we'll go long and I'm really looking forward to getting some results from I think uh I think the people that are going to be involved are the ones that we need to have as part of the discussion. Um uh the I'll be meeting with the chamber also on the 26th of this month and at that time I'm going to schedule a presentation with Janelle at the college um they have an internship program there that I really want to get in front of the chamber of commerce. this program kind of went away about three years ago and I think getting her in front of that group is going to be a good opportunity to start taking advantage of the internship program that they have to offer local businesses. Um, and then as far as uh recently closed back efforts, I've had a

couple of discussions with Safeway this month and um they've made it clear that they're not willing to pay for an appraisal and they're not going to come down So, um I think I made a trip to Scots to see how that that closed the store they have down there is doing that's been closed for almost four years now and they are actually taking care of it. So, they keep the lights on. They did some concrete work in the parking lot recently. Uh they're doing their due diligence as far as not letting it go to go to seed. So, I guess we got that in our favor, but um they're being very inflexible with the price. So, there's going to have to be some more effort. That's why I hope this Randy Water thing works out because he can he can bring some resources to bear if we can find somebody interested enough to take it. Uh and then um just as I was planning to go to lunch, everybody realized the Pizza Hut was closing. Signs started coming down unannounced and I The employees were as shocked as the rest of us were. Uh, but I immediately got a hold of Mike and Dave Stop. Their Stop Properties is the company that owns this particular location. They've got a 100 locations across the country. They've got a couple other restaurants as well. And they were very forthcoming and took my call and uh they asked me if I could recommend a local real estate agent that would be willing to work with them instead of their corporate agent. and we found somebody put them in touch and it looks like they're going to take all the equipment out of that facility as well as the tables and everything else which is actually a good thing because the back fill isn't going to necessarily be a pizza or need pizza. So, we've talked to a couple of small pizza places in Rabbit City, and I talked to Tasha at Twisted Turtle in Rushville to see if they might be interested.

And both of uh both of the people that I've talked to let me tell the whole story. So, I don't think it's I think the pizza's going to be a lot easier to film in the safe way, obviously. And then lastly, we did have our annual meeting uh at the on the 30th of January. We elected a new member, Matt Reeves, Pallters. He's been on our board before and I didn't have to go through my sales. He was happy to come back. So, u glad to have him. I really want business to be involved in our board. Uh and I think he's a real good He helped with that fly. So, uh, that's pretty much it. Does anybody have any questions?

Okay. Thank you. Appreciate you. Thank you.

Okay. Um, next on the agenda, our annual library report, Rosella. Mr. Mayor and council members, good evening. I'm Roselat, the Shadron Public Library director, and I'm here to present the annual report of the library for the fiscal year 2425. All right. So it was a a year of transition and of many projects. Thanks to the shovel ready grant, we were able to improve the exterior of the library. We placed new windows on the east and north side of the building. Um and can show the one of those probably the biggest of the windows. And if you come to the library, you will see that it looks almost like a painting. Very beautiful, very well done. Then we um rep substituted the old fire escape door and emergency stairs. And um now we have something solid that probably will be rust free for years. The old stairs was uh made of iron and concrete. And the the concrete was constantly um breaking up. So we had to repair every year. And the metal was really in bad shape, too. So we did we start the tacking point um on all the surfaces

exterior surfaces of the library. The new addition the part of the library that was built um in 1963 didn't have much damage but the front part of the library with the soap stone bricks had um lots of cracks. um the mortar in many places had um come out and so it took lots of work and we're not finished yet. We will take um place again in spring. The mortar doesn't really set well when temperatures go down below 40 degrees. Of course, we have had many days over, but it's okay. All right. So, we still provide all the services that we can. Uh we do lots of photocoping. Very popular for Christmas time. So, when everybody wants to write their uh family uh little annual reports. So uh lots of printing uh reference questions tax forms um this is the season they come and people come and uh they ask us to print the tax form for them. We don't give a tax advice absolutely applications we try to help people to navigate apps and other things. um reading advisories. So many people don't know what to read or they need a new author. So we try to advise them. We do lots of inter library loan almost 200 every year. We do research for people

when needed. And also we have a series of science backpacks that contain binoculars, contains uh little telescopes and guides for for families to rent and study science at home a little bit. All right. So programs of course one of our most popular it's story time every Thursday 10:30 a.m. and uh little kids 6 months old to 100 years old can come and enjoy. We usually read books and then offer the kids a little craft to do so they can start to learn the manuality of gluing of cutting with the scissors and get prepared for school and also a little snack. Um right now we have the winter reading program going strong and people can read and uh then write down what um what they're reading at to the end they will receive a little prizes and um that is going strong too. We have 40 people right now sign it up. Um, summer reading program, another favorite. When uh summer comes and many kids get bored because there is no school, summer reading program kicks in and we offer lots of different uh um crafts and things to experiment with. So, one year we did a little bit of metal detecting.

Kids like that. Then book club. The book club is really going strong. We have a 12 members. Uh keep in mind that um even big libraries sometime have book club of six seven people. So our it's very strong. There are lots of friendships that have been formed there and it's a way for people that come from another community to start to integrate in in children and start to make the first connections. So we also have a teen advisory board. Of course we still do the yoga for adults and also craft for adults. Um the next this one you can skip it because it's most of the same thing. Okay. I have Thank you. I have some samples of the programs that we have offered during the year. Uh the first one was tasting vegetables and different kind of exotic fruits that was uh for the little one and if I remember well was done with the extension office. Um color our world was the theme of last year program. So you can imagine how fun it was for for the kids. sip and paint that was for the adults and we sipped but wear mocktails not cocktails. uh junk journaling. It's very very popular. Basically, people prepare the and decorate their journals and that is for adults and it's so popular that every two or three months we have to reoffer

um the little seed library. We have start a seed bank for those who wants to try to experiment with gardening. We had 38 people signed up last year and getting different seeds. Many of the seeds were donated and um it was very very generous. The community was very generous. the magic show uh that has become one of the kids favorites but also the adults latch hooking it's a a craft with kind of hook and you can make um rags so you can see there is diversity in what uh what we offer and paint by the number that it's u self-explanatory all right so some statistics The number of visits through the year was 89,274. We offer 1999 programs between adults and kids. Uh we have now 2,359 card holders and we receive 2345 questions. So we always strive to bring speakers and this year we had a really a good variety. Mr. Eden is uh an historian very very well renown and he presented the tale of a Frenchman Francis Busher which was one of uh the owner of the pray

many many years ago Mr. Randy Kaine presented about El Emmett EMTT Crawford, the person gave uh the name to the Crawford community. Uh Dr. Mchuan and Stephanie Glass and Nataline Schwint were three poets. So who said the poetry is that absolutely thriving. Um we cooperated with other entities keep Shadum beautiful. They help us during the summer reading program, the extension office. Same thing of course CSC and then we had um a program slashgrant with the University of Lincoln on biod diversity and you can see there um Mr. Ros smire and then some kids uh visiting the Briggs ponds to study the vegetation and the life. All right. So technology is a big part of what we offer. So we have 13 computers for the public. One scanner, two photocopers, three printers, two one fax machine. We offer Wi-Fi and also the services of the maker space technology statistics. So 2321 were the people that use the computers for the adults and 1,49 the kids. The package space was used by 225 people. And for what we know, uh, the Wi-Fi was used 725 times. However, people can go there at night or early in

the morning and we wouldn't be able to catch it. So, um, so um, collections. Oh, sorry. I put 23 24. So the number of collections we have 22 collections they include um adult fiction um non-fiction children different collections um IPNA which it's a very interesting collection about indigenous people of North America large print and so on um number of physical materials deleted sorry Number of physical materials we have is 33,267. We deleted 2756 items. We added,442 and um sorry. Oh my god. Um I forgot to put there how many but if you want I will send you how many people use the database and how many uh audio book any books please go on. So um circulation all in all was 12,66 items for the adults and 7,67 for the young people. Other items in circulation 247 items electronic material circulation 12,377. That's it's a number that I forgot to

put in the other slide that it's how many books and audio books were um circulated and for a total of 32,297 unit. Okay. Uh so what is new now? Um we are going to start the renovation project and uh we will move the library temporarily to a different location which is uh a big endeavor. So any questions? So, it's kind of a comment that moving the library temporarily will be challenging, I'm sure.

Yes. It's like to take an elephant and push it through a little door. Um, those are the photos of our staff currently. Uh, Miss Miss Jamie Goffer, library assistant. Uh Carl Specher is our assistant director, children's librarian, fresh and new Rene Fern and the other part-time library system Sharon Turlo and they really work hard for us. So anybody have any questions? No, that's veryformational.

It's always impressive. Uhhuh. the numbers or statistics that you have about how much the library is utilized. It's uh I think if the general public was watching that I think they'd be surprised. Yes. But it's what we are supposed to do. Yeah. I like to see the the electronic utilization, the ebooks and the audio books, but also that the physical is is still

Yeah, it still is still balanced. There are two different crowds. And so the one that use electronics very seldom come to the library and the ones that love books. So they they utilize more the space. So very interesting how people prefer to do their learning and reading. And just so I'm on record and I cannot back out of this, when you get ready to move, I I will help. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We need all the help. Really? He's on the record. You have a comment?

Sure.

Well, it's not on tonight's agenda. I've looked at it. okay with it, but it's not on the agenda for this evening. No, I know it's not there tonight. That's why I'm asking because I I just wonder. Well, I I've been asked and I won't keep anything back to sign the contract and we'll approve ratify the signing of it at the March meeting. The first one in March. Yeah. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Perfect. Yeah. Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Yep. Okay. Um, next on the agenda, proclamation for problem gambling awareness month. And I've asked Kevin to help read the proclamation. Whereas the National Council on Problem Gambling and Nebraska Council on Problem GA gambling have designated March 2026 as problem gambling awareness month. And whereas problem gambling is a public health issue affecting millions of Americans of all ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds. And whereas problem gambling has a significant societal and economic cost for individuals, families, businesses, and communities. And whereas problem gambling is treatable and treatment is effective in minimizing this harm to individuals, communities, and society as a whole. And whereas numerous individuals, professionals, and organizations have dedicated their efforts to the education of the public about problem gambling and the availability and effectiveness of treatment. And whereas the National Council on Problem Gambling and Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling, invite all residents of Shatter, Nebraska to participate in Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Therefore, I, George Klein, mayor of the city of Shadron, do hereby proclaim the month of March 2026 as problem gambling awareness month in Shadron, Nebraska, and encourage all citizens to support the National Council on Problem Gambling and Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling in their efforts to mitigate gambling related harm nationwide, dated the 16th day of February, 2026.

Okay, moving on to item F. I'll introduce resolution 2025-9 and move for its approval. I'll second motion by Shane, second by Clay for resolution 2025-9, which is to approve the sidewalk improvement plan for the 2025 2026 fiscal year and authorize applications to be received. Is that a is that a typo? Should it be 2026-9?

Yes. Thank you. Anyone have any questions or just as a kind of information for the general public? um eligibility. Um it's to be for owner occupied residential properties and it can be for materials and labor for the repair or total replacement of an existing sidewalk or the installation of a new sidewalk. up to $1,500 for a four foot wide sidewalk and up to a maximum of $3,000 for a five foot wide sidewalk, which is um if a sidewalk requires curb cuts, the program will reimburse the homeowner up to $500 with the cost of installing a curb cut. So, um if anyone's interested, um they should take advantage of this. Um the applications open up on date on

March 1st and end on May 22nd. We've had a number of people that have improved sidewalks in their area and would like to have that more of that come be expanded. Okay. Questions about it?

Just uh the dates in my mind were a little different. They were February 18th, 2026 through May 22nd of 2026. I think you meant you said something about March. I just want to make sure off of the improvement plan. So I guess they're okay. So So the the dates are actually February 8th, 2026 is when we're accepting and 18th

18th and uh May 22nd, 2026 is when uh the ending for the application process is okay. Couple extra weeks.

Hey, any other questions or comments? If not, could we have roll call, please? Klein, yes. Shepard, yes. Grace, yes. Alexi, yes. Anderson,

yes. Okay. Item G on the agenda is to approve a preliminary plat for lots 101 to 105 bridg sixth edition in addition to the city of Shatron Nebraska. Saturn Do County, Nebraska replat of lots 5 to nine, Ridgeview fourth edition and lot C. Ridge 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 Dos County, Nebraska, otherwise known as Cedar Boots Drive. Janet, you want to give us some information about it?

Okay. Um, I think if you start by looking at the aerial, I think, um, will make a little better sense starting there. Um, looking at that, the city of Shadron owns lots six, seven, eight, and nine in that drawing. Um and then lots five and C are owned by a different individual. Um when we this all came to light when we were surveying to put in the sanitary sewer to develop the properties on the east side of Cedar but so that those properties could actually be offered for sale and development. So now I'm going to switch to the actual the preliminary plat drawing. So if you look at what's in that preliminary plat drawing, lot 105, you you'll see a bunch of utilities um adjacent to that north property line. Those utilities did not fit within the existing utility easement. um they they're all over the place and it became very apparent that there's no way we could get our sanitary sewer within the existing utility easement. And even with the expanded utility easement, we can't get in that um telephone line that kind of wanders across there diagonally. The other place that we had a problem with utility easement was across lot 101 in this new plat um where there's existing storm sewer right now. The plat that exists right now had a an amended um utility easement adjacent to that

south property line that doesn't show up on the original plat. So that's why we decided to include lot five which now becomes lot 101 on this replat. But the biggest difference that shows up on this replat is lots 67 and 8 are an 80 or 80 and 82 feet wide which really are extremely small lots. So we decided to take those three lots and plat them into two. And we also grabbed I think 27 feet off of lot nine and um put it into those two lots too because we needed to move the south property line of lot nine in order to accommodate the sanitary sewer coming across and being in the utility easement and for alignment. Otherwise, we were going to have to install another manhole and jog the sanitary sewer, and we didn't want to do that. So, there was multiple things happening with this replat in order to accommodate the sanitary sewer district, which is the one of the next things on your agenda.

So, that just makes the the easement in that one lot just a little bit bigger. Correct. In lot 103, the easement is wide enough to accommodate the sanitary sewer.

And plus, by making those three lots into two, then we've got two lots that are able to be developed and be nice size residential lots. Although they're not super deep, they're nice long north to south, which seems to be the trend on housing up there. when two people want twocar garage and a long ranch style house seems to be the trend that they want a long um extended house on one level. So the two lots five and five and C on here are owned by the same gentleman. Correct. And we're taking more of his property via utility easement. Correct.

Is I mean is that something that we the city contacts him about?

Yes. he's been contacted and like I said, those utilities are there. Um the utilities um companies will not move the utilities. So, it's like they're in they're there already. We're putting them in an easement so they're protected. Um that lot C is 112.5 ft wide. So, it's still buildable even though that utility easement is wide and where we have to connect into the sanitary sewer manhole. If you look at that circle that is down in the lower um portion of that easement, that's why that um easement has to be so wide to accommodate where we need to come across with the sanitary sewer. You can It's kind of cluttered. So, how how wide how wide is that easement then?

I believe it's 25 ft wide. So, it's it's quite wide. I mean, we typically see 15 foot easements. So, it's they're 15 or 20 typically. So, it's a little bit wider than normal, but and then when we come across the Cedar Boots Drive onto lot 103, I think that one's only 20. it narrows up because we don't need as much to accommodate the sanitary sore. And then the one against the east property line, that's a 15 foot eastment.

So it's about 70 75 ft of buildable space on that seat, right? You take 25 112 would be 75 + 12 would be 87 - 15. Well, that's on this side. 15 25. Yeah, but you you'll have a Oh, yeah. You still you still have a set back on the south. You have a 12 foot 11.2 foot set. Yeah. 77

77. So, you'd still be pretty good. So, I know this is going to be going into the next um agenda item with the sanitary sewer, but by putting in the sanitary sewer, we'll have four four and a half lots that will be opened up for development once that sanitary sewer is in there. Any other questions?

Okay. Included in our information is the excerpt from the February 2026 planning commission meeting where they move to approve the preliminary plat as presented here. Correct. And so we need a motion ratifying that or lack there advisory. You need a motion to approve resolution or just a motion to approve approve preliminary plan. Bring it back in final plat.

I'll make a motion to approve. Bring it back in final. I'll second. Motion by Shane, second by Kevin to approve the preliminary plat for lots 101 to 105 as we just discussed. Any other questions? If not, could we have roll call, please? Klein, yes. Shepard, yes. Graves, yes. Alexi, yes. Anderson, yes.

Thank you. There's a lot going on in that. Okay. Um, now we get into passage of an ordinance number 1445. Um, someone like to introduce ordinance number 1445. I'll introduce ordinance number 1445 and move for its adoption. Ordinance number 1445 has been introduced. Please read ordinance number 1445 by title. Ordinance number 1445, an ordinance creating sanitary sewer extension district number 71 of the city of Shadron, Nebraska, establishing the outer boundaries of the district, designating the size, location, and terminal points and referring to the plans and specifications and estimate of the engineer in connection therewith on file with the city clerk and directing the publication of this ordinance and prescribing the time when this ordinance shall be in full force and effect. Thanks Mark. Uh they city management has asked that we suspend the rules of and adopt the noness number 1445 in one reading. So someone like to under the suspension of rules to suspend the rules. That's your interest.

Okay. I'll say I moved that uh the sanitation rules in regard to the passage and adoption ordinance number 1445. Um, we want to suspend them sus be suspended so that ordinance 1445 might be introduced approved passed at the same meeting. I'll second the motion.

Okay. Motion by Shane, seconded by Clay to suspend rules and be allow the ordinance to be passed at the same meeting. Is there any discussion? If not, could we have roll call, please, on the suspension of the rules? Klein, yes. Shepard, yes. Graves, yes. Alexi, yes. Anderson,

yes. I declare that the statutory rules in regard to the passage and adoption of ordinance number 1445 be suspended. So, ordinance number 1445 may be approved and passed at the same meeting. I move for final passage of ordinance number 1445.

I'll second. Motion by Clay, second by Kevin. Move for the final passage of ordinance number 1445. Is there any discussion? If not, ordinance number 1445 has been read by title and move for passage. The question is, show ordinance number 1445 of the city of Shatter, Nebraska. Finally, pass. Could we have roll call, please? Fine. Yes. Shepard, yes. Graves, yes. Alexi, yes. Anderson,

yes. Ordinance number 1445 is hereby passed and adopted. Okay, moving on to item I on the agenda. Um, honor resolution 2025-20. It should be 2026. I was going to do that. Uh all resolution 2026-20 move for its approval.

I'll second motion by Shane seconded by Clay resolution number 20256-20 which is to approve plan and specification for sanitary sewer district number 71 and authorized notice to biders. J, do you have any extra comments?

Yeah, there's a couple things you need to know about this one. Again, we're going to start over there at the sanitary sewer in the new easement that we just created on lot 105 and come across Cedar Butes. What we need to do though is because there's the water line and again I'm looking at the um preliminary plat, but there's the water line on the west side of Cedarbutes and that water line's going to have to drop down in order for the elevation of the sanitary sewer to work correctly. So, the water line's going to be at a certain elevation to drop down 18 in and then come back up and connect because the water line in order to work or the sanitary sewer line in order to work correctly goes over to the east property line of lot 103 and it's going to be a very shallow manhole there. and it turns and goes south. And then there will be two more manholes that will be um installed and then the last the last manhole will end up in the norththeast corner of lot three so that the sanitary sewer will service all the rest of the lots in that subdivision.

So how how deep are these going to be? The manhole that's going to be in that um northeast corner of lot 103 is only going to be I think about 4t deep. It's not very deep. But in order to make it all work, that's the elevation we got to stick to. It doesn't help going downhill.

No, it doesn't. And the and then the other thing in order for um the development of lot 104, depending upon what is built on lot 104 and where they place the building, they're probably going to have to have some kind of a lift in order to get it into that sanitary sil. So this all flows eventually to the west.

It all goes to the west. But this is going to be a pretty open sanitary sewer. There's nothing in the way other than that our water line that they have to bench the water line down so that we can make the whole thing work. Other than all those nasty utilities there in lot 105, it's open digging and if we had it out to bid right now, boy, it' be good project going.

Okay, any other questions? Not. Could we have roll call, please? Thank you, Klein. Yes. Yes. Gregs, yes. Alexi, yes. Anderson, yes. Okay. Item J on the agenda. Ordinance number 1444 is before the council for its second reading. Please read ordinance number 1444 by title.

You're going to have to bear with me on this one. Ordinance number 1444, an ordinance to amend chapter 16, traffic regulations, article one, enforcement of the municipal code of the city of shatter, Nebraska, to repeal section 16-106, garage owner, report damaged vehicles, to reumber section 16107 to 16106, truck routes, to reumber and amend section 16108 to 16107 official emergency vehicles ex vehicles uh exempt to renumber and amend section 16109 to 16108 emergency vehicle right of way uh right away for um to re number and amend section 16110 to 16109 emergency vehicle government vehicles to re number section 1611 to 16110 emergency regulations article two operation of the municipal code of the city of Shatter, Nebraska to amend 16 section 16204 operator's duty accident to amend se section 16207 muffler to amend 16 section 16209 operation required equipment article three parking the municipal code of the city of Shatron Nebraska to enact 16 section 16330 16334 handicapped and disable Table parking jury number se section 16336 to 16335 violation penalty article 4 rules of the road of municipal code of the city of shatter Nebraska to amend 16408 slowm moving vehicles operation passing and meeting to amend 16 section 16419 all-terrain and utility type vehicles to

enact section 16420 golf cars and low-speed vehicles Article 7, bicycles of the municipal code of the city of Shadron, Nebraska to repeal section 1671, license required to renumber section 16702 to 1671 license issued. Inspection fee to renumber SE section 1673 to 1672. Traffic regulations apply to apply. Traffic regulations apply to remember section 16704 to6703 uh parental duties child less than 16 to remember six section 16705 to6704 writing regulations and to repeal subsection 12 and 13 of the writing regulations to remember section 16706 to 16705 violation penalty article 8 skateboards roller skates and scooters. To repeal section 16802, prohibition of use of sidewalks within certain areas. To renumber section 1683 to 16 802, violation penalty to repeal all ordinances and parts of ordinances and conflict herewith, to provide for publications in pamphlet form, and prescribe the time when this ordinance shall be in full effect, force and effect. What's up, man?

Oh, wow. Section section 16 is hard to say for some reason. Is there any discussion? Chief, report to the stand.

Well, I have read this thing. or most of it. I kind of scan some of it. But my first question was they were talking about two separate means of applying the brakes on a vehicle. And you know, we have your foot pedal and in my old cars, I either have a pedal that I can push down for the parking brake, stop it, or a hand thing. But on the newer cars, I might have a button to press for the parking brake. Does that I I've never tried driving and hitting that button. I I've never tried to pull out of the emergency on a drive-in either. Do you have any idea why they're saying that?

I have no clue why they were saying that. Um know nothing about buttons and pushing. You need to have brakes. You need to have brakes. Well, you never you never pulled the break up. The link within this document, mayor, comes from state statute. And working with the city clerk and our city attorney, this is coming out of state statute. If I was like a NASCAR driver and I could

put the brakes on my front wheels, I could do a lot of burnouts, but I can't do that. It' be a lot of fun. I'd probably get in trouble. Um then on um unfortunately these pages are not numbered vehicle slow moving emblem required. And I read this and it says thing that travels normally at speeds less than 25 miles per hour should have a small slowmoving vehicle in them. But then you get back to the golf carts and those go at less than 20. But I don't think that anybody intended golf carts to have slow moving vehicle in them. Did they?

I don't believe so. Different qu different categorizations. Slow me. Golf carts are different. So don't Golf carts are not included. They're not they're defined differently. Slow moving vehicles. Don't they require a flag? Orange flag. Correct. Right. And then in the

any person operating an allterrain vehicle utility type vehicle is authorized. Subsection B of this section have a valid class operator's license or a farm permit. What is a farm permit? Farm permit you can obtain at a certain age. I think it's you're talking about a school permit. Not school permit. 14. You can get a farm permit. You can get a farm permit. When did they start that? Decades in multiple states. I never got a farm permit when I was Yeah, I had one actually when I was a kid. I lived out in the country. That way I get to Does that go back to the

Because you could have those at 14, right? I grew up in Wyoming though, so it was a little different. But yeah, 12 had anything other than Yeah. tool permit. I guess my parents weren't going to tell me about that. I could have got a farm permit to ride my motor scooter. Well, maybe they didn't have it back. Well, it's to drive far most farm permits are designed to drive a pickup or a passenger vehicle, not a not a motor scooter or a motorcycle.

And then then we were talking about liability insurance. And this one says you have have to have liability when operating these vehicles on a highway. You included streets in the definition of highway. Yes. Yes. You you got to have motor vehicle insurance to operate a vehicle. Well, we can clarify that. But again, this is mirroring the state statutes, right? in highway streets would be defined in high in the highway. And the great part about the UTVs, ATVs or even the slow moving motor vehicles, they would get five days to present that upon request.

Then when operating an all-terrain vehicle or utility type vehicle as authorized in this subsection B of this section, the headlight and tail light of the vehicle shall be on. Now, my four-wheeler, it the tail lights come on when I start it up, but the headlights don't. And I've I've seen numerous numerous numerous ATVs and UTVs and four-wheelers or side by sides. Yes, sir. They don't have headlights on. You're correct.

Yep. I saw as I was driving back into town. So you expect to see a headlight on every by the the way the ordinance is written. Correct. And the state statute written, right? That's not something we're making up. They're supposed to have their headlights, right? I don't think people know that. Supposed to have flags, too. And how many drivers without their little orange flag? There's a lot of changes in here, including like the size and dimensions of the UTVs. When we created this ordinance a decade plus ago, um things have grown, technology has changed. So, we need to change with the changing statutes and that's why we're asking for this to be rewritten so that we come into compiance with what the state says because UTVs and ATVs have gotten bigger, a

lot bigger. So, so the way this is written up now, UTVs and ATVs cannot ride on Third Street. The way this is written, this document is correct. and I think I discussed two weeks ago when we were at council. I would leave that decision to you. I don't weigh I don't have an opinion one way or the other. Currently, they're on Highway 20 and 385. We haven't had any issues. So, if that's the way the council wishes and the public wishes to have it, I have no issues with that. Uh the only thing I recall discussing two weeks ago was golf carts. I don't want to see those on the highway. And that has to do with torque and speed. I don't know how we can put a vehicle like that on on Highway 20 or Highway 385. Golf carts can't be on a highway. Correct. statutoily golf carts can't be ATVs and UTVs can be

right you want to delete subsection H which is a two-line paragraph that we've got in there that deals with this that would be up to the council no I'm I'm in agreement with you with with golf carts on the crossing at a 90 degree no problem at all which is legal states that I I just feel some of those UTVs and ATVs now are some of those are as big as cars. Yeah, they get up and going. I mean, they keep up with that that that they could um be uh operated on Third Street. Correct.

And every day you'll see them. So that would that if we change that, would that be Third Street and 385? Both. Yeah. Just in city limits. If you look Shane, under sub paragraph H, it says, "No all-terrain or utility type vehicle shall be operated on US highway 23 or third street or US highway 385 except across said at highway as provided sub subsections CI2 above which is the straight across right question I guess for the council is do you want that deleted before third or do you want to leave that in there? I guess that's the collective question we have that would allow those kind of vehicles on 20 385.

I would suggest to delete that just cuz where they can have the torque and the they could go fast enough. Yeah. To get out of the way. Visibility is the only problem. And if they have their flags as they're supposed to, they should be able to be seen and a headlight and their lights on. And a headlight. But you're you're right. I means 65 70 mph. So, so the golf carts don't have a headlight or tail light. My the answer to your question is no. They vary. And so different UTVs have different capabilities than ATVs. Obviously, smaller engines aren't going to go as fast, may not have the torque, and vice versa. Just depends on how they're built. And

yeah, like all of them build the speed. Um, mine will do 45. Mine's an older version of a UTV though. I have make them now that go up to I have an 11 that'll go 65. My ATV will do probably 50. ATVs ATVs would be the bigger problem.

Yeah. So, what kind of warning device for other motorists is there on a golf car?

I've seen horns on them. That doesn't mean that everyone does have a horn. They don't have They don't have a headlight. They don't have a tail light. Some of them do. And we're not going to have them make a have a flag. So they make golf carts, sir, with headlights, tail lights, turn signals, horns. Probably make them, but they make them jacked up. You can put big tires on them. You name it, you can you can find a golf cart. They make some, but just a golf cart from 10 year 20 years ago doesn't have any of that stuff. Should they have a flag? Do we state that?

We do not. We do not. Again, we're mirroring state statute and they don't require that. So, that would be an addition, that would be an additional ad or something you might want to add if you if you would like to have flags on them, we certainly can put that add that to the ordinance. I don't think there's anything that would stop you from putting that in.

Just another safety thing. Well, I I would think that if you're driving on I mean, I don't want to over enforce this, but if if ATVs have to have a flag and they're driving down the street at 20 mph and the golf carts right behind you, he doesn't have to have a flag, but the ATV has a flag. Totally at the will of the council. If you want them to have flags, you certainly can. Again, this is all derived out of state statute. That would be that would be your preference if you want to add that. It would help with visibility. Absolutely.

I'm in agreement, too. Yeah. Seems like kind of a good idea to have that they should have something if they're going to driving it around town like the gentleman in the audience because obviously they're going from point A to point B, not going from their house to a golf course.

Right. Right. Gentleman in the audience has a slow moving vehicle that that we're looking at that has headlights, tail lights. Do you want him to have a flag? But do you want everyone that buys one or has one to have a flag? Not just golf carts. Well, I mean, if if they have headlights and tail lights, there's probably no need for a flag. But if that we have a if you're driving a golf cart that doesn't have headlights and tail lights that you could meet with the what provide what applies to the ATVs. The ATVs have to have headlights, tail lights. You have to have your headlights on

and a flag. Tail lights on. And but we still have to have a flag. Correct. supposed to have a flag. Correct. That's the question on slow slow moving vehicle. Do you want it to have headlight, tail lights, and a flag or do you are you good with just a flag? Low speed vehicle. Low speed vehicle. Sorry. Thank you. We can add that if that's the wishes of the council. Kind of think we should. Yeah. Um, so you do a So you would

it'll mirror what's in the ATV language regard to a bicycle safety flag which extends not less than 5T above ground. So we also have some weight limits that were like five it's five feet is the rule above the statue says above the ground. Oh attach the rear of such vehicle. We might tweak that a little bit. So I mean 5t isn't that tall. The weight requirements are statuto.

So my my question is we have some not like Scots but all electric vehicles that are I mean very compact and small that you see driving around town that are tiny cars. Yeah, tiny cars. What are the weights of those? And are they under the 3,000 pounds where they we'd require them? They may they may fit they may fit in the definition of a low-speed vehicle. I don't know. I I don't I mean I think people take those on the highway and they go

I mean they're capable of highway speeds, but but the weight constraint is what I'm wondering about. If they're under the 3,000 pounds, are they required to have a flag? Then are the ones that you're seeing registered and with license plates? So that takes If they're licensed, they're out. Okay. Okay. Okay. These are these vehicles that we're talking about. You can't license. Got you. So, they're probably they're probably technically a golf cart under state statute. Not if they're licensed. No. No. I said if they're not licensed

or a low-speed vehicle, which is a golf cart. It's legislature has gone to great measures to create two classifications for basically the same vehicles in this sense. They're just we're talking about newer golf carts and old golf carts. I think That's my takeaway. What does yours What does yours weigh? Do you know, Scott?

Is it Is it licensed?

It also has a bit fit more in the low speed vehicle class. But we can add flag language if that's what you want us to do. Could be a good idea. I think so. Just keep it universal for all of those vehicles that can't be licensed. Right. Okay. And I I I personally would like to see ATVs and UTVs to be able to drive on the the highway in city limits. No issues with firming. So I will delete that sub paragraph that talks about them not being able to

Right. Just age. You mean what do you guys think? That makes sense. I agree. I I asked around to a lot of people that had UTVs ATVs and then don't and pretty much everyone came to the same consensus that they're on there right now and no one seems to have a problem with them. So red flags. Uh couple of them. Yeah. Well, no, that's a I think that's good that George with flags. Yeah. Yeah.

The great news about this is if once we get the ordinance where we want it, we can put it out to the public and the news media sources, put it on social media as best we can and blast it out there so everybody knows. And from there, we start the enforcement part of it. Get those flags back out there, get the headlights, tail lights on. So, this is a good chance. People have got lax with the UTV ordinance. It's been a decade plus. This would be a good time when we get it passed and where we want it as a group. Put it out to the public and then do a nice soft enforcement with it. Get people's attention, educate them, and then move forward from there. It's a good opportunity for us in a city in the city.

All that being said, there is a bill before the legislature that deals with ATVs and UTVs right now. Yes, there is. Just saying. No, it's So we may be back. I wish they would do like South Dakota does license them. Wyoming does. Wyoming does as well.

So those are the two changes. We'll add the flags to low speed and golf carts and we'll take out the language regarding Highway 20 385 SDVs and ATVs. Any other discussion? Ordinance number 1444 has been read by title on its second reading. The third and final reading, ordinance number 1444 will be on March 2nd, 2026. Thanks, Chief.

Thank you. Okay. Item number What do I do with my agenda? Item number K. I'll introduce resolution 2026-21 and move for its approval. I'll second. Motion by Mark, seconded by Clay. Resolution number 2026-21 which is to approve a lease agreement between the city of Shatron and Dane Rasmusen and Connie Rasmusen. Any

information? Okay. Go ahead.

Uh Mayor and council, uh this is a continuation of the lease that we had with Mr. Al Rasmmanson who recently passed away. And uh what we've done is we've gone back and we asked the family or who was uh would be interested in taking over that lease and they have indicated that they would be which be and Connie. Uh what we had to do was just a little bit of the language because the original lease was done in 95. So there were some things that we had to change around as far as the total acreage that was available for them and then the amounts that was actually on. Uh the rest of it was uh following the FAA regulations as far as distances from the the airport runways and different areas for what they need for the ILS um type systems. And then just going through it. I think most of the rest of it all came up there except for on item number nine which is specified more of about the low crops, what could be allowed, what can't be allowed. And then as far as, you know, as anything else, we put the language in there, any changes that would be subject to FAA, we would ask that those would be followed to as well. And so we've asked for this to be a five-year lease, which is reasonable for with a continuation of an additional 5-year one for a total of 10 years for them, especially since they could put Alpha Alpha in there, which is a standard five-year crop. So, my bath rights is about three $3,000. Is that about right?

Yep. And the way we came up with those numbers after talking to the family is that we went to the UNL extension office to find out what the the rates are um for our particular area up here um based off of the quality and the quantity of what would be able to be produced on it. And that's how we came up with it. The map that you see on there for it was done by uh Olsson in engineering. Uh they can't kind of gave us an idea of what's going to be farmed and we talked with the family find out what areas can be farmed or what can't be farmed on a regular basis or or can't be hay on a regular basis and obviously there's some areas that do a little bit better than others. Um and so that's kind of where we came up with those 28 acres. Is that all seated? Is grass growing in there?

There's grass growing in all that right now. Yeah, there is. It's it's areas that can be hay if the weather agrees to help. Yeah. Yeah. Need some precipitation.

Yeah. The blue spot is the one area which has got a little 50 acre approximate area that has where they have planted things like wheat in the past or oats and then they hay it off for uh hay purposes. Most of the time they don't bring actually combines or anything in there to do that. It's strictly all haying operation is what he's ant anticipating doing. But there is a an inclusion in there if they wanted to do the row crops they could still do that. But they have to maintain the levels of what FAA maintains for those things. Quite a few stipulations and hoops they have to

Yeah, he has to go through all of the ground uh ground trainings for that. And then obviously there's also the communications too with our staff and anybody else when they're out there doing those things. So it's a lot of work for them to do those things. So has the family has historically been good shepherds of that property. Yeah. Okay. Any other questions? Okay. Could we have roll call, please? Klein, yes. Shepard, yes. Graves, yes. Alexi, yes. Anderson, yes.

I'd like to make a motion to approve the claims as presented in the our information, our packets. I'll second that

motion by me, second by Shane to approve the claims. Um, going over the bills um, Axon Enterprises, it says PD insulation to vehicles and the actually the invoice says you bought 14 tasers. If you recall from our budget workshops, um we were approved and we had the money in our budget to go ahead with our taser 10 project. This is to replace our X2 tasers which are antiquated. Basically, they're malfunctioning on us. There's no more support from them for them from the company. So, we went ahead and with the city manager's approval, I signed a contract with Axon to go ahead and implement that to the department. So, we have that that piece of machinery with us equipment. Uh we are actually in the process of install currently. Two of my officers have already been trained on the new uh virtual reality training uh simulator that came with it and uh it should be up and running in by the end of March for everybody being fully trained.

Do do you think we could get a demonstration with this? be some paperwork to it, but we can already I would encourage you when we get our VR system going, I would invite every council member to come down to the police department and experience that. Uh, put yourselves in the shoes of a police officer and the training simulations that it goes through. It's pretty neat stuff. So, when do you expect to have that? Should be up and running? About mid-March. And when it is, I'll make sure to extend an invitation to all of you. Is that a thing you put on your Yeah. Uh, it's pretty neat to watch them get trained in it. They put a the visor on their head and get sick.

They got the the they got a handgun that goes with it actually and the taser and then it puts them in real life situations. Uh, whether it be at a hotel or a restaurant and it's they tell us to go to a gymnasium because you can move with it and that's for safety. Just have a large area and they look around and point and do their thing. All virtual reality. Anything like my kids VRs, it's probably pretty wild.

Yeah. No. when when the guys that are training to be instructors in this started doing it, they were sweating during the scenarios, it was so impactful to them. So, it's it's going to be a game changer for us and it'll be something we can do every week now because it's put a headset on and train. Um, the other thing I noticed re building some kind of new building out at the wastewater plant or there was a building supplies. No, that's for the the street shop. That's a street shop. Yep.

Okay. It's got WW on it, but they also had some supplies that was purchased from Aerrol building for the wastewater. Anyone have any other questions about claims? If not, could we have roll call, please? Klein, yes. Shepard, yes. Graves, yes. Alexi, yes. Anderson,

yes. Okay. Um, public comment. Anyone wishing to address address the council on a matter not on this agenda may now do so. Individuals are allowed a total of three minutes to speak. And it's an extra opportunity for get the students of Mr. No's class to get up and say what a wonderful teacher is and increase your grade by

I don't need it increased. You don't care to increase your grade. Okay.

Well, we have a taker. um more or less a question than anything. I do a lot of walking and chattering and and love to walk by Briggs Pond and there's u water flowing through Briggs Pond all the time going on to the next pond and probably on down the drainage. What What is this water? That that water is the filtration water from the water plant that's actually being running into that pond right now that you'll see if they're doing any kind of backwash anything on there. Approximately 35 to 40,000 gallons of water for the backwashes being done on a anywhere between five and 10 day cycle for it is what you're seeing on that. That's all part of that whole process. I I could have miscounted, but I'm on day 15

for the water to be running to it. Then I I wouldn't know what else water would be running out to that unless you're talking about water that's coming from the first pond to the second pond. Is that what you're saying? Is there still some water? There's water coming out of that white tube up by the um plant. And I imagine that that's your water that you're you're talking about. Mhm. Because there surely isn't any water, nature water coming down.

I'm not aware of anything, but that's I I could be mistaken too as well. But there's no water mains up that area either, but we could definitely have the water department take a look at it and see if there's something that's not right for some reason.

Well, I I pay a lot of water bills. I have a lot of properties in town. I don't live in town, so I don't get to vote on who represents me. But I did some just some rough cowboy math. And being the farmer that I am, I I think there's about 50 gallons of water per minute coming through those tubes. That's 3,000 gallons an hour, 72,000 gallons a day. 54,000 gallons a week and 2 million6 a year. That's a lot of water. And if and if it's only a 10day period, I can understand. But uh I walk that trail a lot.

And Clay, I see I see you on there sometimes, too. I don't know if you notice the water running. We haven't been up there uh lately just cuz it's you know we usually do it in the mornings and we don't walk up there when it's Is your life busy?

The backwash process is done once every 5 to seven 5 to 10 days is what it's done depending on how much water is coming through the shadow creek and how dirty it is. So, it's being ran at that time for that. But as far as it should not be a continuous flow that I would imagine, but I would have to talk to Tori and see if he's got something else going on that I'm not aware of. And there's a possibility that we have a valve that's not sealing off properly all the way. I I don't know, Craig, without actually taking a look at it.

The water's expensive. I don't need to tell you guys that. Mhm. And uh if if part of my water bill is heading heading down this draw, I don't think it's fair that anybody should have to pay for it. One other thing I notice, I have property on Sixth and Main Street and my sump pump is running all the time. That makes me wonder if this water isn't making it that far because there's there's nothing to restrict it from going on down. As I understand, you know, I Emily and I have lived here since the 80s and that area of town was the kind of the low spot in town where people could drill drill their own water wells. And you know, and if you go across any small town in the Midwest, um that's where the town's located is where they could find water easily. And I think it's just natural groundwater. And of course the, you know, that the old Klein, they spelled it wrong. After that's named after President Klein at the college, they hurried to get that thing built and they built it on a fault of low, you know, where water was flowing underground. So, you know, it's kind of a misplaced a aquifer, so to speak. That that's what I understand. Now I might be

Jerry Reed is is my neighbor across the street and he's kind of my indicator about uh groundwater and whenever he's pumping Jerry Reed out on the street right there's there's a lot of water but we haven't had any streetable moisture since November. Yeah, I know that there there is water like at almost and I have it some pump in the bottom of Reges and it runs quite a bit and it usually never runs. Wow. But that makes me wonder if if this water's making it all the way down there or not.

Anything's possible, Craig. I think the first thing we would need to do is get the guys out there to do some testing to see if there's actually any chlorine in it. see if there's any water mans. Very possible it is because like you said with it being as dry as it is, it's not going to surface. It's going to travel. And the second thing is is there has been studies that there was a a creek that actually flowed through like Wilson Park years and years ago before Shaturn had developed as much as it has. And that water flow they still estimate is going underground someplace. But I can't tell you where it's all at either. So, but we just have to do some investigations and I would encourage you or anybody that's in the public to let us know if there's something that's unusual. Uh we just we can't investigate if we don't know about it on some of those things.

I appreciate that. Uh and I I knew about the filters and flushing them and stuff like that, but this has been going on forever. And my my cowboy math may be totally wrong, but if we're if we're talking two and a half million gallons a year, I don't know what the city uses for water. How how many gallons? Not maybe 390ome thousand million gallons every year is what we utilize for the city. Irrigation purposes 10%. Yep. Yep.

Very good. But anything like that, we just need to know about it so Tori and those guys can be out there checking around to see what we have. I'll check with you next week, see what you found out. That'd be fine. I've got it written down. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, council closing comments. Um I go first and Unbelievable. I city manager report.

Oh, city manager report. Um, I've only got one thing, mayor, is um, you know, the the things that we've got going on like Safeway, Pizza Hut, some of those things. I just want to encourage our citizens to make sure that we're looking local, shop local, buy local as much as we possibly humanly can uh, to help us keep supporting these businesses that are around our community. They're the ones that support our high school kids. They're the ones that are supporting our dance clubs, their Washington DC groups, and everything else. I just want to really encourage people to give our local businesses the the due diligence as far as u giving them an opportunity to have that that shot. And then I just wanted to just do a shout out to the the Chadam public school uh for their fall or winter activities. Everything from the speech to the wrestling to the basketball teams, they're all doing a really great job and we've got some people that are doing some things up in state. Got some K kids that are doing some district things and I just wanted to give them a shout out and wish them the best of luck and and thank him for all what they're doing for the communities. That's all I have. George, thank you.

Thanks, Tom. Well, Tom mentioned the the local act athletic teams in their wrestling and basketball um goals. And what I wanted to mention really is um elections coming up. Uh the deadline for incumbents, last I checked, I believe, is tomorrow. Yes.

Um And then the deadline for non-incumbents, it's either March 2nd or the 3rd. I kind of think it's the 3. And I think they put that on a Tuesday for a reason, but I'm not certain. But if you're going to wait till, but um I'm not running for reelection, so there's definitely one position open on city council. So, and there are other there not very many. This is what they call an offyear election for a lot of those positions, but there are some that are out there. So, anyone has an I wants to serve their community, I really encourage them to look at it.

Um, I'd like to just uh thank Janet and Tom for their work with the comprehensive plan. And I know that U mayors is doing majority of it but they have a lot of input on it and uh I think there is a is it public tomorrow at 9 stakeholders is tomorrow stakeholders are okay um but but anybody's welcome to come. Yeah at 9 9 to 10 o'clock. So don't forget Katie too and there's a lot of other staff members that have put a lot of effort into that. Right. So, it's all

I would just like to apologize that uh people had to listen to me read ordinance number 1444. You did a great job.

Um yeah, kind of just on the same wavelength that George and Shane um the this comprehensive plan is is a great um document. It's a it's a good thing to do as a community. Um and the window to get input on that is is closing. So, um you know, folks do want to have commentary, have input on that. Um you know, get to that meeting tomorrow and uh yeah, I I've been really happy with what I've been seeing uh so far. So, thanks. I don't really have anything for tonight. Make a motion to adjurnn.

Second. Motion by Mark, seconded by Clay to adjourn. We have roll call, please. Klein, yes. Shepard, yes. Graves, yes. Alexi, yes. Anderson, yes.