City Council - Regular Meeting

The Columbus City Council meeting for April 6, 2026 will now come to order. In compliance with the Open Meeting Act, a current copy of this act is posted in the meeting room. Madame Clerk, would you please call roll? Bley here. Allone here. Bar here. He here. Jablonsky here. Lopez here. Pinsky here. Roth here. Schilling here. Mayor Bowley, the role has been called. Thank you, Mr. Council President.

Our father, thank you for the opportunity to serve our fellow citizens. Please give us your wisdom and guidance to make the proper decisions and trusted in this governmental body. May our conduct show respect, honor, and courtesy to each other as well as to to all our citizens. Amen.

Amen. Oh, can you see? Oh, the land of the free and the home of the brave. 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.

Good evening. I welcome everyone to tonight's council meeting. If at any time during our meeting this evening, anyone in our audience has any questions regarding items on our agenda, we ask that you please come forward, give your name and your address, and we'd ask that you keep any comments to 5 minutes or less. All right, with that, we'll move on to our consent agenda.

Item four, consent agenda. The following items are considered to be routine by the city council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member or citizen requests in which event the item will be removed from the consent status and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. Item 4 A, minutes of the March 16th, 2026 city council meeting. Item 4 B, minutes of the March 16th, 2026 Community Development Agency meeting. Item 4 C, minutes of the March 30th, 2026 Civil Service Commission meeting certifying police officer candidates Alexander Keller, Henry Huarez Basilo, and Dalton Weedner, and additional officer candidates Rudolph um Bronhorst, Kyle Trrost, and Christopher McKelwin for uh potential positions in the future. Item 4 D, resolution number R26-50, authorizing payment of various improvement projects. And item 4E, payroll and bills on file. Mr. Mayor and council members, is there anything you would like removed from the consent agenda?

Mr. Mayor, I move the items on the consent agenda be approved as presented. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. Those opposed? Nay. Motion passes. Brings us up to special presentations. And this evening we have a proclamation to read. Proclamation and recognition of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Whereas emergencies can occur at any time, requiring the prompt response of law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services. And whereas when an emergency occurs, the prompt and accurate response of public safety telecommunicators is critical to ensuring the safety of our citizens and our responders. And whereas public safety telecommunicators are the first and most critical contact our citizens have with emergency services. Whereas public safety telecommunicators play a vital role in the chain of emergency response, providing critical information and resources to law enforcement and emergency personnel. And whereas the professionalism, dedication, and compassion of public safety telecommunicators is essential to the safety and well-being of our community. Now, therefore, I, James B. Bley, the mayor of the city of Columbus, Nebraska, do hereby proclaim the week of April 12th through April 18th, 2026 as National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week in Columbus, Nebraska, in honor of the men and women of the Plat the Columbus Plaque County Joint E911 Communications Center, whose diligence and professionalism is critical to keeping our city and our citizens safe. We want to thank all of you. We have some telecommunicators here in the audience. Do you want to come forward and say anything? Do you want to

come forward and get your proclamation? You're welcome to do any and all of the above. How to say Rachel Penszik, communications director, and tonight I have with me Diane Drummond and Jennifer Levelvel. So, thank you for recognizing us. Um, and we really appreciate it. THANK YOU. THANK YOU for everything you do.

You want to take a picture?

Again, thank you for the time and the effort you all put into making us safe. All right, we move on now to public hearings. Uh, reports of city office. Oh, I'm sorry. Report of city offices. Item 9A is the Columbus and focus by the general administration team.

All right. Uh, I'm Matt Lindberg, the city's public communication manager. As you can see, my team here left room for me at the table. Not sure what that's about. Uh, but I'm here to present again because I volunteered and I don't think they really wanted to. Um, so a quick reminder of the general admin team. Uh, there's director of general services Betsy Ehart. There's myself, the public communications manager. There's our planning and economic development coordinator, Gene Vanipron. There is Chris Norquest, our finance director, uh, Sherea Shout, our city clerk. uh our HR director Tammy Orander and our uh computer network technician but I say IT guru Matt Zuka. So who we are general services serves as the backbone of the city of city operations supporting departments coordinating key functions and ensuring staff have the resources needed to serve the community effectively. team also plays a critical role in communicating city initiatives, engaging with residents, and working closely with elected officials to keep the public informed and connected to the work of city hall by combining operational support, strategic communication, and community engagement. General services helps keep the city running efficiently with while strengthening the connection between local government and the people it serves. Should have just been looking at that screen the entire time, trying to keep my head up. All right. So, we'll go through uh what each of us does within our uh little group. So, starting with me, public communications. In the last 60 days, uh we have published approximately 50 news flash updates that are distributed via text and email to residents for free and shared on social media. We have published more than 1,200 social media updates about city developments collectively. Uh I've presented media training uh our media training course to public safety the public safety leadership team. Uh we launched a new ongoing story series

called CPD stories of service profiling different uh members of the Columbus Police Department. Three have published so far and we've gotten a lot of good feedback. Uh we work with or I've worked with the engineering, public works, community development departments to make updates to their portions of the city website to make it more user friendly. I'm in the process of working with the fire department to modernize its portion of the website with pictures of all apparatus and more. I also just found out I'm going to be doing that with the police department here. So excited about that as well to select a new city seal which we will unveil hopefully in the near future. So now I will turn it over to Jean.

Good evening. I'm Gene Vanipern, planning and economic development coordinator. In the last 60 days, um, we've written eight different grants, um, for the city. We've been awarded five of those. We're still waiting a decision on another one, and we just started one this morning. So, we have one current TIFF application um, in the works. We're in the first month of our housing study um, that you guys approved last month. Um, we're nearing completion on our quiet zone study and our wayfinding study has been completed and I will be presenting that to the B board for their next steps and decisions on how they want to advance. All right. Uh, mine's more on 30 days here since that's all the longer I've been here. not 60 but nonetheless um since taking the role of finance director I've focused on onboarding in uh the day-to-day procedures as well as our BSNA system training and to gain some understanding of the system functionality reporting and the internal processes. Um I've also spent significant time uh reviewing existing procedures identifying any improvements that we can make and ensuring a smooth transition into this role. Um, also, uh, in the finance department in total here, the efforts have been in, uh, have included reconciling prior months financial records to bring the city's books up to date. Um, still kind of in the process of doing that. Um, and then restoring timely and accurate financial reporting that enable regular updates to the city council with reliable information for decision- making. Um, another thing that has been kind of ongoing here is uh work centered on evaluating the impact of the one big beautiful bill act. I know there was some questions on that related to

overtime from last year and that was all kind of kicked forward into this year uh based on federal law. But anyways, and with those payroll processes, I've been coordinating with the BSNA support uh team to ensure that we have the correct compliance and accurate reporting. Um updates are being valid validated to flow correctly through the financial reports, maintaining transparency and minimizing uh disruption to our payroll processes because all that comes uh due by the end of this year. So, um one other thing I kind of put together here just for some numbers because I'm kind of a numbers guy. Uh just I did kind of a six-month little quick review of all the sales tax, the half cent sales tax and the gaming and kino revenues just to see how consistent things were from month to month. And in the last 6 months, they stayed relatively consistent. There's a couple ups and downs there, but uh I just thought that was kind of interesting to see. So that's all I got. Let me leave the chair for this one. Shia show city clerk. Um so we had 34 resolutions and three city ordinances adopted in the last 60 days. Um public records requests 22 cemetery spaces sold in the past 60 days were 14. We had six property leans filed for nuisance abatements and we had two special designated liquor license that were approved administratively. Do you guys have any questions on anything so far? Okay, great. Okay, Tabby Order, HR director. Um, it's been a busy 60 days, but my the most

exciting thing for me was police officer. Um, we just did testing a few weeks ago and I received 11 applications, which normally we receive about that many, but we had eight that showed up to test, which was wonderful. And seven of those passed the written test and then they went on to do the physical testing. Um, and of those, six of them were um or no, they were interviewed. And of those those six of them were just certified tonight. So that was exciting to have because for quite a while we haven't had numbers like that. So hopefully with these six that we have certified now we can get all of our spots filled and can be done with that one. Um employee recognition committee um we have met and we have all four weeks of our um events planned. So each Monday in the um month of June, we'll have whether it's a food truck, a beverage truck, we'll have breakfast or whatever. That's all been scheduled and we will review all the nominations that have been submitted tomorrow at department head. And um as of last week when I did this, I had received 36 new applications for the plunge. I probably received about 10 more. And I think we're pretty close to having all of those spots filled. So um that's going very well. But the police was my highlight for the last 60 days. Any questions? No. Thank you. Matt Sila, computer network technician. Uh in the last couple months, um upgraded the aquatic center and transfer station camera systems. um installed new routers in uh 25 patrol vehicles and assisted Pulk County with uh doing migration to FirstNet with their uh patrol vehicles and we're just

getting started on the process of upgrading to Microsoft 365. Thank you.

All right. So that is our team. Uh, one last thing, uh, by keeping operations running smoothly, connecting with the public, and supporting every department, general services helps ensure that council decision decisions translate into real results for our community. And that's it. So hopefully there's one question, two. Well, without any questions, I want to thank you for the time and the effort you put into this and thank you for what you do for all of us on a daily basis. I I did have a quick question.

Well, that's what he asked for. Please go ahead. Thank you very much. Um on our grants, uh what kind of value are, uh do we have a what value for the grants?

Okay, so far this year, we've written about $20 million worth of grants. Our largest one is the build grant that is coming in right about 15 million. Um that's the one we're still waiting to hear on. Um, we've written five arts grants which have come in just a little over, I believe, 15,000 for arts. And so, I think we're doing pretty good. We're started the safe streets for all action um implementation grant this morning. Um, we just met for the first time on that. So the city will be um submitting an application for that somewhere between 10 and $15 million also. So

thank you. Appreciate it. Any other questions? All right. Seeing none, we'll move on to new business. Item 13A, application from Advanced Consulting Engineering Services on behalf of Keys Development LLC for preliminary plat of Sock Pond edition and request for a waiver of subdivision regulations for the length length of Culdeac to exceed 350 ft. This is 14th Street west of 48th Avenue. The planning commission commission recommends denial. Is there anyone here this evening to speak against this? No, this isn't a public hearing, is it? I am sorry.

You can still ask for public comment. I would ask for I I was reading public commission. I would ask for any public comment. Let's start with any any comment that would be in denial of this application. Could I just quickly can we know what why the planning commission denied? That would probably be helpful before we get started.

Sure. Rick, do you want to do that or do you So um there were a couple of speakers um which are here today too I assume will come up and speak that were uh against it. Um and then the developer and the engineer um were there that that kind of explained the project. Um the to be quite honest with you the plan commission did not ask any questions of the developer and myself afterwards. Um they um did note that they wanted to see continuation of discussion which is a common practice anyway. Um but they um they they they um put their motion which was our motion of findings of fact up and then it was dismissed. So I I don't really have a great answer for you Rich because they didn't really ask any questions. So,

any other questions? Rick, from what I understand though, there has been discussions since that meeting with with everybody involved. Yeah. So, there was a there was a meeting um beforehand before that planning commission meeting with um the developers and some of the people that that live there and that the people that came up to to talk against it and then also afterwards too. So, there's been a meeting there and I think there's been other meetings since that. So I think there's been a lot of conversation that's happened from between the planning commission and this meeting today. All right. Is there any public comment? Well, I'm sorry. Go ahead, please. What is the total length of the of that cult?

John Zingman with Advanced Consulting Engineering Services, 1363 26th Avenue here in Columbus. Uh the the length of the culde-sac um as per the replat uh is about 1342 feet. Uh that is actually shorter than the culde-sac length that is platted currently. So we're shortening that culde-sac by about 15 ft. So shortening it shortening it by how much? About 15t maybe 20 ft. I don't have the exact dimension of the old plat. About that much. Yeah. still. Okay. Thank you. What's the uh what's the longest call to sack we have now in our community?

I don't know if I give you the exact number, but it's probably close to that. Uh Metro Ridge 6 and you did that was probably around that same number. That's over,200 ft. Right around that number somewhere. I don't know that exact dimension. It seems like that every time we come up with a new length of culde-sac, uh we okay it and they get longer and longer. Pretty soon we'll have them a mile long. I think it's uh this is a little bit ridiculous. I'm I'm totally against it.

I just I I think I just want to remind the council and everybody present that this is actually there is already a subdivision platted here. Um KNS subdivision was platted I don't know how many years ago. We are replatting the west. I'm going to say 2/ird of it. Um that subdivision would currently have 10 lots in it. Um in our replat, that subdivision will have 16 lots in it. Set or it'll have, excuse me, 32 lots in it set up for 16 duplexes. So it this isn't like a plat that is just coming out of thin air. It is the replat of an existing plat. So uh a few

Mr. Mayor, do you mind if I No, please do. I had some stuff listed. Absolutely. You're there. John, please add your comments. And

so again, um so the proposed plat um consists of 32 lots. Um 32 doors. I know there was some confusion at one point that that would be 32 duplexes. So 64 doors. It is 32 lots. 32 doors. As per the city's land development ordinance, each duplex has to sit on its own lot. So there was a little bit bit of confusion there. Again, um just wanted to clear that up. Again, a very unique situation in that this plat was a was already previously approved by the county. Uh and it is a 40 foot wide rideway, which is is what has led to a lot of uh angst, I guess maybe is the correct word, from from the adjacent land owners. Uh uh the subdivision contained 10 more lots and now again we're making it to 32 for for the residences. Uh currently zoned R1. If the preliminary P plat passes when we come back with the final plat we will ask to be reszoned to R2. Um again like I said we're actually shortening the culdeac and again it's it's minor. You're 100% correct. It's minor but it's shorter than what is initially approved. So, just want to point that out. Um, because of the unique situation and Mr. Bogus is right and I I do thank Mr. Bogus and other city staff. Uh, after the planning commission meeting, there was, I think, a lot of conversation. Uh, I had conversation with Mr. Bogus. I I know he had conversation with some other city stuff. Um, you know, the the current LDO would call for a 33 foot wide street, 4ft sidewalk on each side. I don't have to do the math for you. that doesn't fit on a 40 foot rideaway. Um the initial conversation we had was okay, we'll go down to a sidewalk just on one side, still 37 foot wide. We're using up all

of that rideway, right? All but a foot and a half on each side. When we came to planning commission, that was the way it was cuz we hadn't had any of these other conversations. Um, after the planning commission meeting, uh, I I got a email from Rick and and, um, sounded like there'd be a possibility of going down into a 27 foot wide street as some alternatives to the 33, a 27 foot wide street with a 4ft sidewalk, which would allow parking on one side, or a 24 foot wide street with a 4ft sidewalk, which would allow no parking. Um but yet, you know, we're getting further from those existing structures and residents because we're narrowing that street up. Uh that is some of the items that were discussed with the property owners at the last meeting uh that we had. And again, uh kind of a unique situation. So when we had our our DRT meeting, it what those alternatives were not discussed because we're trying everybody was trying to follow the land development ordinance with those narrower streets. We would center. So if you got 24 foot wide street and a 4ft sidewalks there's 28 feet. We would center all of that 28t of concrete in the rideway. Not have 12 feet and then this side over here has another 4t taken out. Right? So we'll center it so they both have equal distance on each side. You know typical city standard is we center all the streets down the rideway. because again unique situation we want to keep as much distance on each side as we can. Um one of the other conversations at the planning commission uh from the property owners was just the number of traffic uh or number of vehicles per day. Yeah, this still shows 33 feet 33 33 foot wide street because that's what was presented to the planning commission and that is the only alternative that meets the LDO unless it

can be granted tonight with some sort of variance. Um so the number of vehicles were talked about and again at the time people were thinking 64 doors not 32 doors. Um Rick and I have both dug through published um data that talks about vehicles per day uh out of a uh residential development, a multif family or duplex residential development. And it's it's a pretty big range. Um but it the r if we look at those numbers, it ranges from 160 to 256 vehicles per day. Um I know at the planning commission meeting a number of 360 vehicles per day was thrown out by um the the local residents. Any of those meet the classification for local street which is what this will be what this street will be classified by um the Nebraska Board of of Classifications uh which is part of DOT. Um and then of course you know just in general what we always talk about at planning commission and up here the subdivision would include the extension of water sewer, storm sewer and paving. Uh the storm sewer uh will be you can see it on there in purple. There'll be inlets on both sides. We'll have some backlot drainage, some backot retention. then it will actually be piped over to the city's um pre-treatment before water goes into Sock Pond. And one of the reasons that is is this lake is um classified as recreational. Um so we're going into the pre-treatment. So none of this water will direct drain into the city lake or into sock pond. It'll all be pre-treated and taken over there. So, uh, just that those were my notes from the planning commission, stuff that was discussed by property owners and stuff that had been

discussed at different meetings with the property owners. So, I just want I just felt like the council should be made aware of all those conversations. So, thank you for your time. Yes, John. The uh town houses, duplexes, there'll be twocar garages. That's a great question. Um, thanks. Thank you. You know, they will have to meet the requirements for parking based on bedrooms. I you know, that is for sure. Because that'll be an issue if you two if there's two twocar garages. Yes, sir.

But what we're seeing in Columbus is kind of a trend. Everybody's parking in the streets. And what's going to happen when you have Well, if we have the narrower street, these lots are really deep. So, we'll be able to get the driveways deep enough to have another set of cars parked in the driveway. And if it would become a problem, the street in the new subdivision, Go ahead. Sorry, am I out of time? No.

Okay. The street in the subdivision could be made 33 feet. It's just the street that's adjacent to the four property owners uh or four existing lots that would be where we're request where we're going to look at doing a 24ft wide street. The street in the development would still because we will have a 60oot rideway there. So we will still have a regulation wide street. Sorry for my confusion. No, I didn't explain it very good. And that's what I was going to mention to you that the in in the divi subdivision it's the normal specification. You're only talking you're only talking about narrow on the entry area coming in.

Yeah. And then a transition period which will probably occur right when you get into the new portion because we have to we have to transition that with uh according to state standards. We can't just, you know, go wider. Thank you. John,

any questions for John? Have you made any accommodations with the land owners right now as far as when you put the street in that their driveways and everything is going to be adequately taken care of? We, you know, we've met with the property owners twice. Uh I won't say they were great meetings. I'll be 100% honest with you. They the land owners don't want to see development. I can understand that. when we put the new street in. All right, I'll stand here right now and tell you we're going to have to clear the whole 40ft rideway. Uh there are trees that are in the rideway and there is a fence, maybe multiple fences that are in the rideway. We're going to have to clear that cuz we I mean you guys have been around construction projects. We can't construct uh even the narrower street, you know, 28 ft that only leaves us six feet on each side. virtually impossible to construct water, sewer, paving, storm sewer in that 40 foot. So, the rideway is going to have to be cleared. The initially the developers made concessions that if trees are removed, you know, we will we they would put trees back, but we can't put trees back on the rideway. uh if the fence that gets removed if some I mean my intent would be not to put that fence back cuz I don't know where we would put that fence that it meets city requirements but if the land owners can get a variance and that fence can go back somewhere the property owners would agree to that I I at that last meeting I told them we didn't have any intent to put the fence back but since then the developers are like well if we have to put the fence back somewhere we will but we will have to put back in accordance with city code. So, we can't it's not going to go back where it is because it's on city rightway. So,

but what you're saying is you will visit with them and talk with them about what could be m med mitigate mitigated to to help make some of this Yeah, we've had two we've had two meetings with them already and you know when we get to construction this the construction's going to be uh significant down there and a significant impact during the construction process. So, yeah, we're going to have to have some additional meetings with them, but again, we can't do anything that is against no what the city allows. You can't, but you can lay out your plan and that's what we need to see and that's what they and that's what they need to see. They would like to know what you know what you know what you're going to do as far as to accommodate their

their tried to communicate that. I mean, we communicated the different ways. We communicated that we will have to remove all the trees in the rightway and the fence in the rightway. But I think what what what we're getting at, John, and what they would I I believe would like to see is as this would move forward, you know, that you then would lay out what it is. I mean, you know, Agarians isn't going to pour a street without having a print and a design%. So that's what they're they're going to want to see. I'm not through the design yet. I know. I mean, but what we're asking you is to say, "Yes, we're going to communicate that with communicate with them."

Then say it. That's what we're asking. I think we've I think we've tried to this point.

Well, I I I mean, I'm not saying you haven't. I think you have. You know, there there's both sides of this situation. We are here wanting to hear what we can do to move forward if that's where we're going. And in my humble opinion, that means communication as we move forward. And yeah, you don't have something today, but before Garings comes in and starts doing something, they have, okay, this is where the road is. This is where my curb is. This is where my driveway is. You know, those things get laid out. And that's kind that's what people want. That would be no different than what the city does with development that you know we when typically if we're standing up talking a subdivision, we're talking we're not affecting any current property owners, but no different than what we do with all our other municipalities or what Mr. Bogus does that there would be a pre-construction meeting that those owners would be uh asked to attend if they want and we can go over schedule and plan and everything else at that point in time.

Thank you. So we are we are paving all the way to 14th or 48th street. Is that correct? So that would be correct. That would be correct. The part adjacent the part adjacent to existing property owners we would like to be 24 ft. We would like to be whatever the residents would want it to be actually. And like I told him at the last meeting, I don't care if the sidewalks on the north or the sidewalks on the south. That makes no difference to me. There just has to be a sidewalk. Um, I think Mr. Bogus can answer the reason why we're paving clear to 48th Street probably better than I can because I think it involves more legal stuff than than what I'm good at.

Yeah, it's all part of our code. It's all part of our comprehensive plan. You got to connect um public streets to paved streets and 48th Avenue is a collector road and as John ser this would be a local road. So, it's requirement to collect to connect those as well. Uh my question really was part of the road isn't going to be gravel adjacent to the existing residences and then concrete back in the new subdivision. As much as the developers would like that, Mr. Rob, no. That's good. Thank you,

John. With the the three options, the 33 foot, the 27 foot, and the 24 foot wide street with conversations, where are we leaning? The 20 What are you recommending? The 27 or the 24 foot? So I after talk so I don't have any um knowledge from the residents because when we left that meeting they they actually told us zero foot wide paving and that they were you know they were going to do all means possible to stop this. So I don't have any information from them. The developers I talk I tal I've talked to the devel developers extensively. They don't care. Uh if it's 27 or 24 that's fine. whatever. I think we know 33 is out the window cuz it's just that those roads are going to be uptight against private property if we go that far. So 24 27 the developers don't care. Whatever the adjacent property owners would like to see, um we'll make that work. And this this follow-up question might have maybe come from Rick with with where we're at today on the setbacks. Can you explain for the the betterment of the group how we came where we're not allowed to or don't have the the setback now to put the 33 ft in and why we're still so tight.

Yeah. So when that was platted back in the 1950s, um that was just platted at a 40ft rideway where today's standard is 60. And so obviously that's 20 feet right there, right? Um and then there are existing residents there. Um and they normal setback as you know like for a house would be 20 ft from that from the property line. Um the res there's a couple residents that went back in the early 2000s um and got variances to build within 10 ft. So they lost 10 ft there as well. And so now you got a 40ft rideway. You got structures that are 10 ft from it. And that's why you get that narrow look to it. That was something that was passed, you know, varianced back in the 2001 2004 if I remember correctly. And it was the same um property owners that are here today.

Actually, Mr. EMR, uh there'd be property there'd be structures that would be actually sitting on property line if we were platting this today because we lost 10 foot on each side with the 40t and you lost another 10t from the setback. That's why it feels it feels narrow. Uh, one one of the other reasons that I think I would like to see the 24 foot wide street is that will calm traffic. You know, the narrower street will slow traffic down and you won't have cars parked if there is somebody bouncing in and out of a residence or something like that. So that that was one of the reasons that I guess if if it was up to me, I would say a 24 foot wide street gets further away from existing structures and which should help calm traffic with the narrower street.

Any other questions for Mr. Zingman? Any com? Yes, sir. Well, I'm just it seems to me that we can't really make a decision until we know what the why, not necessarily what, but why the planning commission denied it. Four out of the six that were here denied it. So we've heard one story, one side of the story, five pages long and nothing from them. Yeah, I guess that I mean that's answer that. So Charlie, by state statute, planning commissioners needs to make a recommendation whether it's a recommended approval or recommended denial. Um so they're beating the state statute and so you're acting on it accordingly.

Yeah. the by by law and I think you know this Charlie but the for the general public's information the planning commission is an advisory board right their decision is not does not govern what happens um with the city and there's definitely been things in the past that have come forward with a denial too that the city council has had to act on but I I would further expound I guess to just say the planning commission didn't offer much explanation there wasn't much discussion But based on the discussion that's happened subsequent to that meeting, it seems like these are the issues and I think we'll hear from some of the residents, too. Thank you.

Yeah, I think you you can't assume what somebody else was thinking when they voted. I was here in the meeting. I just sat through it and I I would tell you that your decisions were emotional. uh one of the one of the g one of the members that that seconded the motion voted against it. You know, usually if you're seconding something, you're you're not. I mean, I'm just saying I I mean, nothing scientific to that all. That's just what I viewed sitting there. So, anyway. Okay. Um anybody else? Yes, please. Steve, come forward.

Steve Law, your resident on 14th Street. And now tonight, what are you approving? the plot just to the culde-sac. Are you approving the culde-sac and all the road development in that? Is that my understanding is what are you going to approve tonight if you approve it? The preliminary plat is all of that. It's a one development document that and then they'll have to come back with a final plat. Okay.

That really out outlines exactly what the roadway widths will be where and where driveways, all sidewalks, all of that stuff will come back for a final plat. And we're, you know, we had talked and we were leading towards the side of the 24 foot the lease. And another question is why can't it just be left gravel and they can start their project at the red gate? Because if you go to 41st Avenue town, you got paving, you got gravel, you got we don't need paving in front of us. They can slow down and go down the gravel row. If they want to put their sewer and water in, we have no problem. just put it back to gravel and we'll be all happy and fine cuz we don't need that cement out in front of us. So what's that for? Just convenience for the people back there. And then you know there's another way there's a get to the south. They take more work. We all looked at it and then they could come in from the south way. They can acquire that and the people could drive in and they can see what the lake looks like and looks at over there for what's back there instead of coming down our road cuz we're going to keep it just like it is. We lived there for 30 years. We're out in the country and that's the way we live. We're brought up that we're not brought up as spit clean. Everything everything's everything is planted. We're just old school and that's the way we like to keep it. So I wish you take that under recommendation before you go any further with you know we talk to John but we don't talk very good. Neither one of us listen. Either party listens. We just holler and go and be honest with you. We don't listen. But we hope you guys will listen to us and give us the benefit of the doubt of ch figuring a few more things out. Thank you very much. Appreciate it,

Steve. I I I apprec I appreciate your cander and you're upfront about our the discussions that happen because it it does take two parties to communicate and to have discussions. So, I appreciate that. And I think the council as they look at this will will talk, you know, we'll look at your your desire for a 24 ft road and and even if in in my mind if that needs to be something amended into this, do you do that at this point in time and make a recommendation that that this then includes a 24 foot road so at least that gets eliminated? But let me back up a minute and I think you tried to address it Rick or Terra, but the the requirement to pave that gravel area that's coming in to meet up with 48th Avenue.

Yeah, it's a minimum standard of the city when we bring in right away that that's a connected to a new development that it must be paved. Um especially when you're connecting new existing with new. if there's an in between, it has to be brought up to that standard.

And so part of that, and it may not be the best answer you want to hear, but that across the street to the east of 48th is existing. It's there, and it's not being added into with a new development. And you know, because you asked, why wasn't that going to get it? if they would go. It's It's kind of like some things when you, you know, make a home improvement and you spend X amount and you hit a certain limit, there's certain things you have to do. Uh, this is one of those within city development. Um, but I I I want to hear from the council. I I Let me Let me back up. Anybody else have a comment? Please, Brian. Who's paying for the the concrete?

The developer. Okay. I won't ask that question.

Good evening, members. I'm Brian Mooseman. I currently reside at 1454 48th Avenue lot 1 and two I currently own on the K& subdivision. Um my concern was when we first had the meeting we were supposedly introduced with a certified letter that nobody signed for. So I thought that was kind of shady and all but you know I guess it is what it is. And then which that meeting obviously didn't go too well when you started ruffling feathers right off the start. You know how else you going to react to something like that when it's supposed to be certified and this was delivered in the middle of the afternoon and you know what do you do? Um second meeting it did get heated. Um nothing was ever done. Mr. Zwingman did bring up obviously there was three different uh sizes of the road which at that first meeting was never brought up. I don't know if that was an option or not. I didn't ask because I didn't know if there was such an option at the second one as such. Um so therefore we did look we wanted we had so many questions nobody could answer. Um then there was a lot of situation or words that were or questions that were answer or asked sorry nothing would ever get answered. Well, it's it's basically our way or the highway is the indication that some of us residents had received from that message, which you know is completely uncalled for. Um, and with us looking at the 24 foot in the sidewalk at the time when it was stated as a 33 foot, basically I had no parking. where I currently park, I had no parking. And if you guys would put a sidewalk right up, I would approximately be

roughly six foot as I'm backing out of my garage. And my other biggest concern was how do I know if somebody's walking or riding a bike, especially a child, and by the time I'm backing out of my garage, by the time you would hit them, you wouldn't even know what happened. And I am not the one that okayed the garage to put be put where it currently is because I had it built 19 years ago. That was okayed by a c well was building inspector here at the time and he stated I had to put it there otherwise I couldn't put it there. I didn't know whatever I did what was said. I had to use the garage to combine the two lots so I couldn't run a business out which never had any intention to begin with. But therefore, here we are today. Didn't know it was going to affect the situation and now it's affecting some opportunity that I currently have for parking. And then I currently asked the question at that time, where would the curb be? And then the other question was, where's the sidewalk going to be? So there were two questions basically. I mean, I'm not going to say snubbed off, but never got any answers to. But my other question is, and I clearly understand with my two neighbors to the south, I know they don't have a lot of room for sidewalk. I completely get that and I understand that and I already know the fa fact of the matter is I will have a sidewalk on my side. So, I'm trying to figure out different solutions to hopefully get this moving forward, but nothing was ever brought up until the last this second meeting that we had with Mr. Zwingman. And then these other options come about. And then I asked the question about can the sidewalk be up to

the road aka curbside and it was stated no. But in the report it looked like we could have that option or I could have that option. So there's a lot of questions that have not been answered. I mean there's just all about the way it's been gone about was completely unprofessional because how would you take it if somebody did the same thing to you? You guys wouldn't like it whatsoever because there's literally like a I'm going to rule the roost and that's going to be it. Of course, you're going to get resistance because this is your home. I've been there 19 years. Nobody knew it was back there. And then somebody this hell happens. Yeah. How would you take it? You know, and I mean it just sucks. This is home, you know. We got three kids we've been raising there. I mean, it's flat out home. I mean, plenty of new members, I'm sure. Home is home. You know, we would like to try to find a solution, but acting like you're the king of all kings, whatever. I mean, whatever the situation is, it's called communication. Let's work some stuff out. Let's figure some stuff out.

Well, Brian, have you heard some things that have made you a little more comfortable with some working out of this? 24 and four and, you know?

Yeah, the measurements of the road, 27 and then 24 foot. Um, I'm kind of with me, you know, officially knowing that I will have the side on my side. So, to me, my opinion, I think I should have a little more understanding and a little more say so because I'm the one knowing it's going to have the sidewalk on my side and then so which where's the curb going to be, you know? So, that's the other question. And so, as of currently, the 24 foot I agree with. Now then the other question is is the sidewalk to the curb. I don't want a foot or two foot of grass. I don't care. I don't mow along the side of the road except for 48th Avenue. I I just I'm not going to deal with that. Just I don't care about moving snow because I move the snow anyhow. So it don't really affect me anyhow. But then during construction, the other question is we cannot park on 48th Avenue. That's the biggest problem, especially ball season coming around. We've had cars parked clear up in front of our house. I'm not going to be a jerk say, "Hey, you can't park there." I understand you got games going on. I get that. But we literally cannot park on 48th Avenue because of that reason. But the number one reason I can sit in my living room and people fly up and down that road at least 50 miles an hour if not more. I'm actually surprised I still have a fence in the front yard quite honestly the way the people just fly up and down there. So that's kind of the other situation why we are concerned with all the traffic coming in and out. I mean, that's just it's just a lot of situations that need to figure out.

Any questions for Brian or comments? Uh, this may be more for Rick. Is there is there a statute or anything that or what reason we can't have a sidewalk next to a curb? Does it have to be is there a setback on the sidewalk? Can you help maybe explain that for everybody? you can have a sidewalk next to the curb and that's would be fine. Um, and then Brian, you talked about it. It would be case where snow removal would be an issue because what the city plows will do, we'll just plow it up basically on the on the sidewalk. But as long as that's known and accepted by the property owner, then that's fine.

So, I I think one of the things tonight that that got discussed a lot was the 24, you know, the 24 and four. So, you're 28 foot number one. Number two is that there needs to be a recognition to you as the property owner when when things get laid out, where are curbs and where are not curbs and you know basically just lay it out so everybody's you know I mean I would agree with you. I don't want Garians pulling in Monday morning and deciding this is just going to happen. And I don't think that is I don't think it'll happen.

That is not how they do business. So I mean God love the Garing people because you know they're all over the country doing what they do best. You know, and then the other thing was is, you know, with this project, you know, how are we going to act? You know, what's the proposal to gain access to our properties, especially for like Mr. Steven Karen Blower,

you know, Karen's handicap. So, that needs to be very well taken consideration just because they got basically a 400 stretch road to get to their home. Otherwise, they have no other access. I mean, that's just that's the number one thing. That's my concern. And I mean, I don't even live in their house. I mean, I live next door, you know, because I always move their snow for them. And I moved the neighbor Rich Patty snow, too, cuz I'm the one that takes care of the road. I open it up, I grade it, I do all that. I mean, it is what it is. But that was the number one criteria as well. Okay.

And there was nothing been discussed, nothing been proposed. I mean there's just a lot of questions that have not been answered. They they will have to maintain access to all the properties and we'll ensure that they work with you should this move forward. Okay. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you. All right. John, you anything here wrap us up?

I have a few comments to make after that. Um one, certified letters were sent um they were done on purpose. uh certified letters were sent to the property owners that we would have some documentation that that we did try to reach out. We didn't know if the property owners would show up at a meeting or not. So that's why the developers decided to send certified letters. Um I know it was discussed up here coming in from the south. It's just not possible to come in from the south. We've had conversations with city staff. The lake gets to be up to within 50 ft of the south property line there. So there's not even room for a 60 foot wide rideway through there anyway, let alone if you did have a 60 foot wide rideway, the edge would drop right off into the lake. So that that's not an option. Um the one other thing that was discussed when we had our first meeting, that was directly after the DRT meeting. When we had the DRT meeting with city staff, 33 feet wide was the only option we had at that time because we asked at that meeting, is there any way to construct a narrower street? And the answer was no, that it would probably need to stay 33 feet wide, but we'd get rid of sidewalk on one side uh so that it could be constructed in the rightway. It wasn't until after the planning commission meeting and the uh the property owners discussions at the planning commission meeting that I think city staff came up with alternatives for the narrower streets. So that's why it was not discussed at the first meeting. It wasn't an option that was on the table at the first meeting. Um and we have definitely I mean I can I tell you do I know how construction is going to go and how we're going to park? Not a clue at this point because we don't even have a consensus on the width. U once we have the consensus on the width, we'll work that out. But I did talk to the property owners at the meeting that it's possible that road will be paved half at a time. Um and then that you would get in on one

half and we paved the other half and then once we got cure we'd flip over and pave the other half. Or I said it would move faster if we could pave it full width if we could find somewhere to park. And I mean jokingly I think Mr. Blaser said that he would go on vacation for that period of time. So, I can confirm to you that some of that has been discussed and we know that's going to be an issue and we'll work it out. Do I have the answer tonight as I stand here? Nope. Because I don't even know how wide the street's going to be until after this meeting. So, I don't have that answer. No. And I and again,

we will work it out. And and that's the point of that what I've gotten out of this meeting is that there needs to be continued communication and some pretty darn specific communication once we get to a point where stuff is happening and our city administrator said certain things will be ne necessary and they will get followed up on and John you don't know everything that's going on and neighbors you all don't have all your qu you're going to have some more questions and And as they evolve, I we expect communication in a in the proper manner just so everybody is on the same page moving forward.

And I I think the one other thing was the sidewalk right at up against the curb. At the meeting, I said that typical residential construction, we have a twoft lateral obstacle clearance. Uh I know in talking to Bogus, Mr. bogus. Sorry, Rick. Uh, recently he said we could go right up against the street or we could make that a sixft sidewalk so that when snow got thrown up there, there was still 4ft of clear space. So, all things that will work out. Um, and if we can go right up against the curb, I wouldn't want it because of the extra snow, but if that's what the property owners want, that's what we

Well, I don't think they're going to ask you what you want. They're ask We're going to ask them what works for them. Okay. All right. Enough. I I guess the question h how are you going to convey this to them? Apparently a certified letter didn't work. Uh you guys you going to call them? You going to email text? I we had a second meeting and I think everybody was just delivered a regular letter or was that an email? Just a regular letter. Does that suffice with the homeowners? So we'll have more meetings with them. That's that's all that how we going to communicate. What a phone call. You want a letter? You want a text? How how you going to keep the lines of communication open? Because I guess certified letter didn't work. So it wasn't certified. So we never signed for it. Yeah.

It wasn't a certified certified for but I think we should have face to face. Yeah. And how are we going to convey that? I mean regular letter please come up to the mic please.

Yeah. Like for the communication side, I mean, I'd be free to with the phone call it because I mean, I'm in the truck every day, so it's I got a hands-free device. It's no big deal or even an email. It don't matter to me. I don't know how Steve and Karen Blazer or Rich and Patty Boysky would want that. For me, it doesn't matter. I just my biggest concern there was no communication. That's how it all evolved to a situation that we currently are in. And you got to have communication. You flat out got to. You're You're right. But we just got to know the right way to communicate.

And for like I said, for me that I mean I'm good either way. I mean that's fine with me. How about we get everybody's email address and how about we get everybody's mailing address and how about we do that and we put it in an email and we put it in a mailing. And you know what? If you do that, you got a record, right? And it's there. Let's not The point is, yes, it hasn't been communicated very well up to now. The point is we're saying it's going to get communicated better. It's on us to see that that gets followed through on by seeing that they and you are included in this. They follow up appropriately.

I'm agree with that. Have I said anything to either party on this side that's out of line? All right. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Do we have a motion? Mr. Mayor, I move the preliminary plat of Sock Pond addition and waiver of subdivision regulations for length of the culde-sac be approved with the 24 foot wide proposed road with a 4ft sidewalk with a four or six foot sidewalk. Four foot I think they wanted 4 foot, I think, is what I'm hearing over here. And don't forget that the culde-sac waiver culde-sac length please. He already said that. He already said that. I'm sorry. Sorry. Second.

I I just want one clarifying comment that 24 foot road is only in the existing developed lots. Okay. And we have a So we have a motion to accept the 24 foot 4ft sidewalk in the existing homeowner area, not the new area. And we it also then is accepting the change in the culde-sac length. Is that correct? Do you just want to say it one more time with the full thing? No. We got that all.

Mr. Mayor, I move the preliminary plat of Sock Pond addition and waiver of subdivision regulations for length of the culde-sac be approved with the 20 with the new proposed 25- foot wide sidewalk or 24 foot wide road on the approach with a 4ft sidewalk. Second.

All right. Did you get that? All right. So, we have a motion and a second for what was just said. Any discussion? I am very concerned about the length of the culdeac. It's uh surely there is a something that we can do to ultimately connect that road such that there's another another way in another way out. Okay. I that's your concern. Um, I don't know of any other discussions here to address that concern this evening. I know when we look at culde-sacs, we look at public safety. I know our fire chief looks at it. I think our police chief looks at it. I mean, that's probably the biggest thing that you take into consideration. Um, I did also want to point out the no parking that gets put into effect because of the 24 foot wide. That's a state fire marshal regulation. state fire marshal regulation, not Columbus city regulation. So I mean, you know, there are those regs that we have to follow and be involved in. So again, I understand your concern. Um, duly noted. Any other comments? All right, seeing none, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay. We have six yay yays and two nays. Motion passes.

Item 13B, quote from Downey Drilling Incorporated in the amount of $48,918 for repair, replacement parts, and lining of well number 11. Mr. Mayor, move the quote from Downey Drilling Incorporated for repair, replacement parts, and well lining be accepted. Second. We have a motion and a second to approve. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay. Motion passes. Item 13 C, comments from the mayor and city council members in compliance with the open meetings act. No discussion may be held on this item.

Do we have any comments from council members this evening? Seeing none, I only have one comment. I'm going to just embarrass a couple of young men by letting the community of Columbus know that we have two high school seniors joining us this evening so that they could get a bird's eyee view of what happens with city government. Uh Evan Pavick and Howard Cloak, stand up and let everybody see you, please. I told you I was going to embarrass you. I appreciate you coming and I hope maybe you learned a little bit and feel free to reach out anytime for any questions. All right. Okay. We'll move on to resolutions. Item 14A, resolution number R26-51, requesting extension of the completion date for the community development block grant number 23-DR-00003 for the downtown revitalization to May 14th of 2027.

Mr. Mayor, I move resolution number R36 R26-51 be adopted. Second. We have a motion and a second to adopt resolution number R26-51. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay. Motion passes. Item 14B, resolution number R26-52, accepting the proposal from Bergen KDV for audit services for fiscal years ending September 30th, 2026, 27, and 28. Mr. Mayor, I move for the adoption of resolution number R26-52.

Second. We have a motion and a second to adopt resolution number R26-52. Any discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay. Motion passes. Item 14C, resolution number R26-53, approving amendment number one to the engineering services agreement with HDR Engineering Incorporated and the amount not to exceed $90,749.40 for rideaway acquisition services for the 8th Street and 12th Avenue intersection project. This is CIP25-35.

Mr. Mayor, I move resolution number R26-53 be adopted. Second. We have a motion and a second to adopt resolution R26-53. Uh, any discussion? And I'll start with Mr. Bogus. Uh, similar to my email to you last Friday. Do you want to just give a brief explanation of what this is?

Sure. So, um, back last year, um, if you recall at the intersection of 12th Avenue and 8 Street, there's a lot of discussion on what should be done with the intersection. Should it be, um, signalized intersection? Should it be turn lanes, uh, expansion? Should it be different sizes of, uh, roundabouts? And by different sizes, I mean there are drivable ones, there are full ones, if you will, kind of the normal ones, that sort of thing. So uh we decided back then to proceed with the design of these of various it was agreement back in 2025 hire HDR to design these concepts for various roundabouts and then decision was made to use the full size roundabout. That'd be the one like you um see up by the casino or up by um the Y those they'll be like that that was the decision. So, what this is an amendment for purchasing um rideaway for that and there are some total takings there and some additional rideaways and easements that are needed. So, this would be um setting that in motion to get all the right away needed for the full roundabout.

Okay, any questions for Mr. Bogus? What what's the overall timeline on the project at this point?

Well, so this year um you have in your fiscal you have in your budget um what this is for. It's uh uh designing and purchasing and relocation of people in the roundabout. So to get the roundabout property. So um if you would like to proceed in next year's budget, then you would put the money in and we would proceed with the final design to build it the following year. It may take two years depending on not because it's that complicated, but it just depends on the timing of getting it out and the contractor availability. So it's really a budget item next which you what you want to proceed with or not. Thank you.

And your comment being a budget item means it will be up for major discussion in the upcoming budget discussions for this fiscal year. Yeah, we'll go ahead and present it and see what you think or for next fiscal year. Sorry. All right. Any other comments, questions for Mr. Bogus in regard to this? Thank you. Appreciate you your explanation. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by I. Those opposed, nay. Motion passes. Meeting adjourned.