City Council - Regular Meeting

The pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands nationy and justice for As required by section 84-1412 subsection 8 of the Nebraska statutes, notice is hereby given that a copy of the open meetings act is posted for your examination on the wall inside the door to the city council chambers. Before we have roll call, I'd just like to welcome all of our guests. to this meeting this evening. Could we have roll call, please?

Here

we have a motion to approve the agenda. Move to approve of the agenda. Second. Motion by Shane, second by Mark. Approve the agenda. Could we have roll call, please? Yes. Yes. Alexi, yes. Anderson, yes. Yes. Uh, do we have a motion to approve the consent agenda? Approve the consent agenda.

I'll second by Shane, second by Clay to approve the consent agenda. It includes minutes for the city council meeting from December 1st. minutes from the planning commission meeting that was held December 8th, monthly water report and fire department membership update. And I'd like to know that they are currently 47 active members. So that's a nice increase. Anyone have any other questions about the consent agenda items? Can we have a roll call, please?

Yes. Yes. Yes. Anderson, yes. Yes. Okay. Item B on the agenda is city employee recognition. I'll turn that over to the city.

Thank you, mayor. Um, we're going to announce the the people that were recognized as far as uh the years that uh they've put in for service for the city. Um, the first one is for 10 years is Kelly Overshiner. Second one of her 10 years is Patrick Young and then the third person is Coline's five years with the police department. And then as far as employee of the year, I'm going to announce how many employees that were nominated. Uh Victor Deed, Dustin Glass, Janet Johnson, Ryan Shield, Roger Stevens, and Rosella Tel.

Okay, we have a drum roll. We got a drum roll. And the winner of the employee of the year is Roger Stevens.

Roger was not able to be here because of other commitments, but he told us that he will be try to be here tomorrow. So, congratulations to him and congratulations to all of the people that were actually announced for doing the extra that they did to be employees recognized at these things. So really appreciate everybody.

The reception is going to be held tomorrow morning at 9:30 um city council chambers and if you um want to talk to come have interest in congratulating those people especially Roger I'm sure we could squeeze one more person in there somehow. So, next item on the agenda, John Reed making his presence his first appearance as the executive director of the Northwest Nebraska. I got big shield shoes to fill.

So, uh, as I was reviewing, does everybody get a copy of this? Okay. So, when I was reviewing this, as I was sitting there, I realized our business assistance, uh, column is actually a little out of date. Uh we now have two applications in place. I did a site visit today uh for another R RB uh GE uh fund request that looks really good. So we're going to have to call a review uh panel for our loans here before the end of the year, I think. Uh but it's going really well. And I also wanted to let everybody know that um I have been in direct contact with Adam Lou who is the real estate manager for uh Albertson Safeway and we had a really good about an hour and a half discussion. Uh they are very committed to helping us find a solution with this store. This uh Safeway is not like their store in Scots Bluff where they had two and they didn't want to backfill the other one because they didn't want competition coming in. This one here is very different from that obviously and they are committed to working with us however they however they can help us uh get it off their books and help us uh get it back built and we do have more than two wellqualified interested parties around it. So that seems to be going well. I don't think we'll see a lot of movement on that till next year though. I think the holidays are going to kind of drag us down a little bit. Uh, as far as new website activities, I've met with Golden Shovel three times now since I've been here. They are a great agency to work with. They really know what they're doing. Uh, and my direction to them has been well, the first thing we did was we got all the contacts uh, straightened out so that Deb's now off the website. I'm on it. Uh, but we also uh, developed a strategy for the first half of 2026. So, we're going to see a lot of changes in the way we do the articles. We're going to be a lot more community focused

and we're going to uh do a lot more of the um uh new business as opposed to just the workforce stuff. So, uh they're really wellqualified folks and they have a lot of data and a lot of resources to bring to bear. So, uh they're they're really good to work with. I'm really uh happy that we have that as a as a tool in our box. U I'm also going to uh update the online application for uh our loan request right now. If you go into our website, you have to download a PDF and fill it out by hand. I'd like to see that uh converted to an electronic format so people can go in there, fill it out electronically, make all their document attachments, and submit it as a full package. Right now, um we get a lot of scribbled PDF documents and it's hard to read, doesn't look real professional. And I'd love to have everything. Uh one of the requests I have right now the the application paperwork is a good four or five inches thick. So really like to have that automated if I can do it. So and they said they can do it. So we got that to look forward to. I'm going to minimize my contribution to the Heartland Expressway discussion. That's Deb's baby and she's staying on with him. So right now we don't have any major update. What you're seeing here is uh basically from last month. Um we don't have anything new this month. She's going to be meeting with them in January again. And basically what I'm do is going to import her notes from her meetings and make that part of the discussion. If we have any questions, we can bring her in. Obviously, she's still available. Uh workforce development, we do have a really nice new opportunity from six regions, one Nebraska. They have a funding source for uh daycare facilities. If you got somebody that's looking to start a daycare or uh in the process of uh of operating a daycare and needs help, they have funding available for that and we want to uh kind of jump

onto that opportunity with them. So, uh the startup opportunity uh that they offer for like consultation and funding is uh is really a really broad offering. I'd really love to see somebody take advantage of it. It's a really And uh one of the marketing efforts I'm going to be making is to partner up with a website called makemymove.com. This is a company, a nonprofit that marries up employers in one region of the country that have potential employees that want to move to their company uh and they will provide uh moving expenses for either full or partially. It's a really neat program. So if we've got a local hire that uh found the perfect job applicant if they're in Alabama. U this program allows them to post that information on the website and attract more applicants. It's a really neat program. I' really love to see local business take advantage of that as well. And then my last item is going to be a reminder for everybody that we're going to have a retirement party for Deb on December 22nd 4 to 6 at the Beam Broker. We encourage everybody who ever worked with Deb or knows Deb or just wants to thank her for service to stop by and eat a brownie and have some soft.

I had one question on one Nebraska. So if so if there was an entity maybe a larger business or a nonprofit college hospital uh that wanted to implement some daycare or provide daycare for their employees would they be eligible for No, it would be more of a business startup effort. So if you had somebody that wanted like if that agency wanted to develop their own daycare program, I think that might be a valid participant. They wouldn't be able to like provide direct funding to their employees to do that, but they would help the business get started through consultation.

Anyone else have any questions? We appreciate you coming talking to us. Very happy. Look forward to every month.

Introduce introduce resolution 2025-109 approval. Oh yeah, eight. Sorry. Back down. I'll second that. Motion by Shane. Second by Mark. This resolution is to approve the liquor license for Caitlyn A. Strobe, personal representative of the estate of Ron Moore. And we have the attorney for the estate to talk to us.

Yeah. Just in case you have questions, it's kind of amazing. People lots of gossip and different things. The the building is not sold yet. Um the business is not sold yet, but when it comes time and we are hopeful that it gets sold fairly quickly here, what we found out in this situation just due to some changes. You know, fortunately, it's not very often that we have an owner of an establishment like this pass away in a sudden circumstance. You know, last time I had that happen issues with anything in this way. timing was the liquor license expired on October 31st. Well, technically that means the existing liquor inventory we have can't be sold to the buyer and that's a pretty substantial amount of money, pretty substantial cost to the family. We couldn't do that. So, we were able to renew the liquor license after a few calls with the liquor commission that way and subject to the council's approval on that. It isn't for the purposes of the the daughters of the person represented operate the bar. They have no intent of doing that right now. It's just so that we can sell the liquor inventory to somebody who's the new buyer on it. And so that's the intent with it. Otherwise, it's really hard to

Yeah, I saw that. So, so did the estate get saddled with all the usual fees for this or they give you a break or I think we get all the usual fees. Yeah. And it's just cost

to sell the inventory. So, unfortunately, that's the way it is. Had it not, you know, between, you know, Mr. Moore's passing and expiration, if that had been six months, had to do this where it came up October 31st that is an issue we renewed late because the initial information from the liquor commission was they weren't going to let us renew and again that's just a very substantial cost and so after some discussions they said no we'll let you renew so that came in just at the end of November that way it looks late it is late for that circumstance. But it does help the family sell the inventory to the new owner that hopefully we find in the very near future since

any other questions or anything. No questions. Could we have roll call, please? Yes. Anderson, yes. Yes. Thank you, Randy. I'd like to introduce resolution 2025-109 and move for it approval.

Second. Motion by Mark, second by Kevin for resolution 2025-109, which is to approve the agreement between the city of Shatter in the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment for the Shattering Water Source Monitoring Project. And we have Tori here to tell us stuff.

Yeah. U so basically this grant came about, we applied for it. Um it's dealing with the source water on this and um it's in the beginning stages of this right now. But um the grant is for $31,300 and um that's just kind of the tip of what we want to try and do with this a little bit. I don't have a lot of specifics for you right now. We're still deciding on what we want to do for sure. Um what we're kind of leaning to is um a spectrometer for sampling from our wellfield line and our gallery line so that we actually have our source water testing. As far as um we're looking to sample for contaminants in the water to maybe mitigate some of that stuff coming down the pike as far as getting ahead if we catch something that we can at least maybe try and get that stuff dealt with sooner than later. Um, we're looking towards like like pesticides, that kind of stuff. Um, we haven't quite decided what we're going to use yet. We're still in that phase yet what we're going to be using for that, but plans are still up in the air, but that's kind of where we're headed with it. Anyone have any questions?

No, I think I would just want to add to that though as far as the the grant itself is in the planning stages for it, but then it allows the city to be eligible for additional funding for any kind of rehab or any kind of issues that we see that are down the road for these things. This is one of those starting up things that you try to get figured out. A lot of are trying to protect that source water and with Sat Shat being out there 18 miles south we have a lot of potential issues that can affect us very easily. So this is a very good move by Tori and his crew to find something like this to start and it's expensive but it is a timely and well worth the effort to do. Other questions? If not, roll call, please.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Anderson, yes.

Yes. Okay. Report from the Shad Public Library Board. I'm the public library president along here with Peterson who is our vice president and Rosel who is our director. Um we just wanted to come to the board to update you all as to the status of um where we're at with renovation plans projects. Um just to update you all. So we have voted to send the entire project list for the renovation of the existing Carnegie building to um it's now in the hands of Kenan Johnson who is working with Jas and they are working on preparing the bid package so that proposal package so that it can go out for proposals. Um we hope to have that back and ready for bids um hopefully in February could be March which is in the timeline that we had discussed previously. Um do you have anything?

Yeah. Um I would like to say that due to this movement that we are going to have to to take everything out to per sorry to permit the workers to do a quick work. So we have to transfer the library to a temporary place which will require a restructuring of the library budget. I am not ready yet to present it to the council because we haven't found the exact place where we're going to move. But certainly will it will be a very big um operation and a a very big uh transformation of the library budget which will require your approval. I hope to find a place. We hope to find a place.

We are all actively looking for a space. Um right now our space is 5,000 square feet. Yes. And we are looking for something in the 2,000 square foot range. Um counting on all the doors, you know, of property owners. I've got some feelers out for and and and no like approval yet, but I'm talking people talking to um college and see if there's any opportunities there. That's they're just conversations. So, if you guys know of like 2,000 square feet that's ADA accessible and yeah,

yeah, Safeway would be great. But and of course, we will need um internet. So, that is one also of the things that we're looking um but we just wanted to touch base let you know that There is progress um the status for the renovation project right now we're waiting on JO but they're putting together a allin-one one and done renovation package for our building um still should meet the timelines that are required for our grant and um

is this temporary location rent Could that be considered part of the construction costs?

No, it cannot uh be covered by the grant. So, uh I'm looking exactly because of that to restructure the library budget. I cannot move too fast because not having the location yet, I don't know how much is going to cost. I don't know if we are going to have some adjustment of the building cost. I don't know what insurance will be needed to cover. I don't know how far is going to be from the library that will include you know transportation cost. So it's just a heads up is coming. So, we have questions.

There's no My mother was part of Friends of the Library and I I moved a lot of books for the book sale for for them. So, hopefully there'll be some volunteers or friends of the library will be able to help. Yeah, we hope so. We hope so. Definitely in a way or another. So, but once we find a location, um, logistics can fall into and also the budget for the the amount that we need to spend. But please, if anybody knows of a suitable building, let us know. I was actually talking with a landlord that I think has been talking with Rosella

and said that she she's a a book connoisseur and is going to hopefully swing the library a good Cool. I hope so. I hope so. We just wanted to thank you all for the support um that you showed the board and um and we just want to make sure that if you have any questions we are here to answer them or if we need to come back to any other meetings we certainly

and please feel free to contact me at any time if I don't have an answer right away I will find one for you. Thank you for coming. You have a good turnout at the library for the Christmas. Yeah. Yeah. And we had music. Oh, nice. We had the Santa Claus. Two Santa Mrs. Santa Claus, which do you know? Keeping up with the times. Thank you. the game.

Moving on to item G. Someone here to introduce I'll introduce resolution 2025- 110 and move for its approval. I'll second.

Motion by Clay, second by Kevin. Resolution number 2025- 1110 which is to declare depositories for calendar year 2026. We have the resolution in front of us. Following named banks in the city of Shadron first national bank of Omaha Shadron office. Homestead Bank, Nebraska Bank of Chad by Valley Bank, Security First Bank. And additionally, the following investment trust per Nebraska statute 13804 and 13801 to 13827 includes Nebraska Public Agency investment trusts. Questions about

quick question on that. I know is selling to First Citizens Bank. So we have to do something that's

Any other questions? Not roll call, please. Yes. Yes. Yes. Anderson. Yes. Yes. Okay. Item H. Um, need someone to make a motion for the shark chat shark swim team to have the swim meet January 31st, February 1st, 2026 at a reduced rate for the use of SAR Aquatics and Wellness Center. I I'll make that motion, George. Do I need to say anything?

Motion by Shane, second by Clay for that said motion here to talk to us. Well, um we have our sanction and it is for January 31st and February 1st. The meet would start um session one which would be January 31st at 1 and um it would go about four hours and then February 1st session two would start at 8 and again it will run about four hours and we're asking for the same price that um you gave it to us last year.

Have any questions about that? That's how many I you probably we probably had some results but I do not recall them. Could you give us what happened last year? Um, last year we had five teams, um, three states, Wyoming, Nebraska, and South Dakota, uh, that attended. And, um, I can't tell you exactly how many swimmers we had, but I think we had around 65 to 70 swimmers and they were here for two days. So, they did add a lot to our economy because they got hotel rooms and, you know, ate a lot. a lot.

So, you anticipate the same turnout? We're hoping for a better turnout this year because last year it was kind of cold. Um, but the year before we had to cancel because it was 42 below zero and so but people came as far as Buffalo last year. So, they came from Buffalo. So, so your crystal ball in the lower left hand corner of your desk Yeah. shows that we're going to have nice weather. We're hoping for nice sweaters, at least at least warmer than it was two years ago when we had to cancel. So,

any other questions, comments? How long has Shatter Sharks been 30 plus years? Um, I've been coaching for 36 years and Gary Peterson started before I so I I don't really know how long. They weren't here when I was in high school. I know that.

Okay. Could we have roll call, please? Yes. Yes. Yes. I'll introduce resolution 20251 for it. I'll second. Motion by Mark, second by Kevin. Can we do 1112 simultaneously?

I'll introduce 111 and 112 approval. Second.

Okay. Motion by Mark, seconded by Kevin for resolutions numbers 2025-11 and 2025-112 which are payments to Fuller Construction Company for the downtown restrooms 201 is in the amount of 96,48461 and number 112 12 is in the amount of 14,634 and accumulative retainage of those is $13,940.

So, the restrooms are just almost complete. Um the only thing that is well, there's a couple things that are outstanding. Um the lock on the um mechanical room door is still not done. Um we are waiting for the final lock to be installed and the the screen wall, the partition wall um is not done. Um it is going to be a 1x4 metal slat wall with a one inch gap in between the slats. Um, so those are the two things that are still outstanding. Uh, we'll be bringing to you the change order on that metal screen wall at the next meeting in January. Um, that is a change order because the initial material that was going to be used was um not going to be able to span that. It was um the I just lost it. the the artificial wood that you would lay on a deck,

timber tech composite, and it just wasn't going to span it. So, we negotiated with the architect and told him to come back with something that would actually hold up and they came back with either cedar um or metal. And when Tom and I were talking about it, the cedar would have a lot more maintenance to it over the years than metal. So, like I said, we'll come back with a a change order for what we chose on the January meeting. And hopefully by the January meeting, it might even be installed and we can close this out. But, um, the restrooms are being used. I actually saw somebody come out of the restroom this morning when I drove by when I was on my way out to the street shop. Actually, I was on my way out to the salon building to find Mark Brennan because we needed him up at the aquatic center to work on the pool pack. But um I would recommend we go ahead and pay both of these pay estimates and hopefully we can get it a final pay estimate in January and be done with the building.

Just a quick question on the pay application. It says uh under all these it says 99% done with $184 balance on some of the things that are left to be done on pay application six. Um $184. $184 is what it says at the bottom. As far as the uh is the toilet that says toilet metal partition partitions for 9,000. Was that around the inside the bathrooms or is that the partition on the outside?

I'm sorry, Janet. I I know I just sprung this on you. Uh, it's on pay application 6 page 4 35- 3400. I don't have I don't have what you're looking at. I'm sorry. I should come to you for the meeting and ask. I just haven't noticed it. But if if the toilet partitions were the external partitions, it says that uh it's been 100% completed and I just know that they No, that's not that's the interior partition. I'm sorry. I don't have it. I apologize. I should have asked the question before the meeting. Sorry. No, I

But Tom's telling me no. Okay.

Any other questions that I may be able to answer? Nothing else. We have roll call, please. Yes. Yes. Yes. Thank you. Um resolution 2025-13 approval. I'll second

motion by Shane, second by Kevin for resolution 2025- 113, which is to approve the maintenance agreement renewal the Nebraska Department of Transportation for maintenance of highway US20 for the 2026 calendar year. I'll let Tom explain. Thank you, Mayor. Um, who owes who and how much?

Yep. We'll see if we can get everybody confused as much as I am most of the time. So, um, the state and the city of Shaturn just so everybody has a brief overview of what is with the department of roads. We have a certain lay mow that we actually take care of for snow removal and maintenance on different parts of the city's highways that could run through our community. And when the gist comes down to it, um, basically the state says that they'll pay the city $2,90 per lane mile for performing the service surface maintenance based on the 4.42 lane miles of the 290. That equals about $9,237.80 due to the city. Also, the agreement includes the snow removal as far as that goes. And it states the city agrees to pay the state the sum of $1,47 per lane mile for the snow removal from 385 out south or excuse me, yeah, out south based on 3.66 miles at a rate of 1470 equals a total of $5,38020. That's for the snow removal. This year's agreement has a net difference of $3,85760 that the state owes the city of Shatron per the agreement. This is very similar to what we've done in the past and uh according to what Dustin has given me for information and what I reviewed, it looks like an acceptable agreement for what we've done in the past moving forward. The state is also starting to see that there is some additional costs that are coming up. So they will be in the future raising those rates as well that they sent out to us. So basically they're doing the snow removal from Highway 20 on 385 south to

the city limits and we're doing the maintenance highway 20 through town. Correct.

No. And this is basically the same agreement we've done since 2022. Yes. Similar to it. Yes. Any other questions? Roll call, please. Yes. Yes.

Yes. I'd like to introduce resolution number 2025-114 and move for its adoption.

Motion by me, seconded by Shane for resolution 2025-114 be resolved by me, the mayor and council of the city of Shadron, my colorful cohorts. Clay didn't get the memo. Neither does I. I give her what? Christmas time. But the city council and employees of the city of Shatan joined together to extend holiday greetings and best wishes to the citizens of Shadron and the surrounding area for a joyous Christmas and a happy new year filled with peace, happiness, and prosperity. and that the joy which is shared during the Christmas season remain in our hearts throughout the year. Foregoing resolution having been read. Council member Shane Shepard checking in the motion for the passage and adoption of said resolution and after consideration thereof. The role was called in the passage and adoption of said resolution. We have roll call please.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Anderson. Yes. And the following council members voted. They all voted I none voted nay. The majority of all members elected to the council having voted in favor of the passage and adoption of said resolution. The same was by the mayor declared pass and adopted this 15th day of December 2025. Thank you. Item M. I make a motion to approve the claim that's presented. Second that

motion by me, seconded by Shane for the claims. Um, anyone have any questions? I did notice that the 48 inch mower, which is for the airport, I believe, got delivered $6,700. And we made a making a big payment on the new shop building for the streets department. Yes. As far as the building itself.

Janet, what do you say? Completion 60 65%. It's getting closer. I think

so. If the doors don't get installed, they can still park things. decided to get actually I think he did we had that big spell that council meetings She's pretty far away from the microphone.

But if you do get a chance to go out there and take a look at it, it's Janet and Dustin did a good job getting it designed to handle the equipment that we're put into should help protect a lot of stuff to come. Try to remember to do that in the morning when I go to work. Okay. Any other questions about the claims? Not we have roll call, please. Yes. Yes. Anderson. Yes.

Yes. We do not need a resolution to excuse any of the council members since everyone is here. Public comment. Anyone wishing to address the council on a matter not on this agenda may now do so. Individuals are allowed three minutes to speak. Do we have any takers? Going, going, gone. Okay. City manager report.

Thank you, mayor. Just real quick, I just wanted to invite the council to the employees recognition tomorrow at 9:30 down here at city hall. If you guys can make the opportunity to come down here and be able to coingle with all the employees would be great. That's all I have for today. Council closing comments. We'll start with individual with the most colorful jacket. Um, I I would like to uh um just uh tell everyone to go out in Shaturn, of course, and uh pick up your last minute Christmas gifts, spend your good hard money. Um and uh if you're traveling, uh travel safe and have a happy holidays. I'd like to congratulate Deb Kadier and her retirement and thank her for all of her years of service in the variety of jobs that she's had representing and advocating for western Nebraska. She spent a lot of time doing that and has done a lot for our community and our area. Um, I'd also like to extend that we have a happy holiday season, but also keep in mind that there are those that struggle during this time, whether it be food insecurity or holiday seasonal depression. Just keep be mindful of of people and what they might be going through. I just wanted to uh reiterate congratulations to those city employees who were nominated for employee of the

year. I think as I've said in the past, I I think Shadron has great people who live here and the city has a lot of great people working for it. Um everybody on that list uh is is doing a great job equally deserving, I would say. Again, congratulations to Roger as the winner. I am hopeful and glad to see the the progress that was mentioned on the the library projects this evening. Um, you know, month month and a half ago, it seemed like it was more up in the air. Um, but I I think we've got a good path forward. I look forward to getting more updates on that. Other than that, merry Christmas, happy new year.

I'm just gonna congratulate Deb on her retirement and thank her for all of her years of service. Thank the police department for their shop with a cop program that they do every year. That's a great service to this community. And thank you all to those who have donated to that. And Merry Christmas and happy new year. Um, just want to extend hopefully all of us are sincere condolences to Connie Rasmus and family on Al's passing on Friday. I thought it was actually Saturday, but it's Friday. And also um Chuck Bloom for his passing very kind of unexpected also. And I wanted to thank the JobCore for the community dinner that they held on December 10th. Reminder about Deb's retirement party again and send everyone merry Christmas. Always remember the reason for the season. Have a happy new year. Enjoy the time with and friends and be safe out there to adjourn.

I'll second. Motion by Shane, second by Mark to have roll call, please. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.