MINUTES 

REGULAR MEETING

November 14, 2023

Mayor Grove called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were Mayor Grove; council members, TenEyck, Lewis, Batcher and Ueckert.  Also present: City Attorney Jeff Farnham, Christie Donnermeyer Deputy Clerk and City Clerk Cheryl K. Eckerman.

Mayor Grove noted the location of the open meetings act, and stated one copy of all reproducible written material to be discussed at this meeting is available for examination or copying.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 

Proof of Publication was on the council desk.

Mayor Grove stated that at this time, any individual may speak on any issues on the agenda or on any agenda items that do not include public hearings. Comments are limited to three minutes for each individual. Visitors may state their comments and should not expect the Council to engage in back and forth dialogue regarding the comments. Unless an agenda item includes a public hearing, no visitors may speak during the business portion of the meeting.

Everett Lerew 1105 S. East Street spoke in support of Wendy Deane concerning downtown business development.

Cheryl Schuster 26803 Taylor Street spoke in support of the new park and the need for more pickle ball courts. 

Moria Winters 309 E. Gardiner spoke in support of and the need for building a new city hall, library, and police station.  

Council member Batcher moved to approve the agenda.  Ueckert seconded. Batcher, TenEyck, Lewis, and Ueckert voted YES. NO; no one. Motion carried.

Council member Batcher moved to approve the consent agenda. Ueckert seconded. Lewis, Ueckert, Batcher, and TenEyck voted YES. NO; no one. Motion carried.  Items on the consent agenda were to accept minutes from October 10, 2023; Treasurer’s Report, September Payroll $93,881.68 & IRA, $11,269.64; Keno Receipts $6,505.99;  PeopleService Report, Cemetery Board minutes October 12, 2023; Library Statistics, October 2023; Tree Board Minutes, October 16, 2023; and the following bills: Services/Utilities/Insurance: 911 Custom 141.00; Accufund 625.00; Advanced Heating 109.00; AFLAC 712.38; Amazon Business 90.34; Arps 6383.01; Black Hills Energy 391.41; Cintas 202.33; Cox 519.69; Daily Record 343.42; Datashield Corp 45.00; Douglas County 14482.01; Douglas County Env 3498.00; Eagle Engineering 34191.15; Erickson &b Books 6175.00; Evoqua Water Tech 18978.75; Farnham & Griffin 6912.50; Five Nines 3735.00; Fremont Utilities 34055.21; Giff Property Services 4800.00; Great Plains Comm. 911.96; IBTS 3307.50; ICMA 450.00; LARM 830.44; Mutual of Omaha 2963.06; NLA 60.00; Ne Library Comm 500.00; Olmsted & Perry 31021.39; OPPD 16893.85; R Ortmeier CPA 33,000.00; PeopleService 37944.00; Waste Connections 125.84; Window Pro 20.00; MS Wiekhorst 2825.00; YMCA 30.00; Z-Best 3500.00; Supplies/Equipment:  Ace Hardware 77.18; Valley Ace 94.30; Amazon 180.41; Baker & Taylor 1984.48; Bound to Stay Bound 179.54; Cappel Auto 245.83; Cornhusker State Industries 358.20; Coast to Coast Solutions 270.66; Core & Main 12528.00; Dick’s Market 42.92; Eakes 461.98; Everetts 30.00; First Book 50.48; First Ne Bank 4176.50; Gene Steffy 42810.00; Gretna Small Engine 133.86; Haver’s Auto 1026.06; hgm Assoc 5041.22; Host Coffee 204.62; John Deere Financial 285.45; JD Car Wash 100.30; Kore Services 1500.00; Layne Christensen 63621.95; Love’s 3419.39; Menards 28.76; Michael Matzen 823.90; Neb. Sweeping 3867.44; Neuvirth Const 135000.00; NMC Cat 11.03; Onyx Blasting & Coating 139500.00; Petty Cash 76.22; Quality Fence 14192.00; Regal 110.40; Rhomar Ind 302.88; Two Rivers Sand & Gravel 3321.50; Uline 903.00; Verizon 423.08; Vrba Const 34733.50; Bond Payments:  FNB/bond 5962.50; FNB/bond 5962.50.  Reimburse/Refund:  Art of a Craftsman 2150.00; Browning W 300.00; CCR Properties 150.00; Christensen, J. 1000.00; Charles Thomas Homes 150.00; Daeges, D 150.00; D Dunham 14.10; Distinct Homes 500.00; G Lee Homes 1000.00; Haven Homes 1000.00; Hemphill M 600.00; KJG Properties 150.00; Landmark Performance 1000.00; Midwest Dwellings 150.00; Ramm Const 1000.00; Siebler Bldg 1000.00; Venture Cont 1000.00; Martinez, J 1000.00; Sheets, T 64.00; Siebler Bldg 116.11; Stacy, Z 52.53; Thompson & Sons 150.00; Wheelhouse Invest 150.00; 725 Duplex 150.00. 

City Clerk Cheryl Eckerman was presented with a plaque in appreciation for her years of services with the City of Valley.  Cheryl will be retiring November 30, 2023.

Tyler Curtis Mr. Curtis did not appear. 

Angela Exstom 502 S Park Ave. requested street closure during Valley Christmas Tree lighting on November 25.  Council member Lewis moved to approve the request. Ueckert seconded. Batcher, TenEyck, Lewis, and Ueckert voted YES. NO; no one. Motion carried.

Wendy Deane 207 N Spruce. Voiced concerns regarding development of the downtown business district.  

Mike Stanzel- 400 West addressed Council to request a change to the Ordinance regarding parking of utility trailers. 

Jim Thiessen – 117 W. Alexandar Mr. Thiessen voiced concerns regarding the procedure for agenda requests.  

Mayor Grove opened the public hearing on the preliminary plat for Valley Lakes Business Park. 

No public testimony was given.  Mayor Grove closed the public hearing.

Council member TenEyck moved to approve the preliminary plat.  Batcher seconded. Batcher, TenEyck and Ueckert voted YES. NO: Lewis. Motion carried.  

Valley View  - preliminary plat lots 1 through 269.  The applicant requested a continuation. 

Valley Sports District Area – blight study.  The applicant requested a continuation. 

Council member Ueckert introduced Ordinance No. 797 AN ORDINANCE REVISING THE TERM LIMITS FOR THE LIBRARY BOARD AMENDING SECTION 1-1201 OF THE VALLEY MUNICIPAL CODE TO DELETE THE TERM LIMITS AND PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH. Council members voted YES: Batcher, Ueckert, Lewis and TenEyck. NO: no one. 

Council member Batcher introduced, read, and moved for passage of Resolution No. 2023-71 authorizing the Mayor to sign the agreement with Creative Planning for audit preparation and entry reconciliation for FY 2022. Ueckert seconded. Lewis, TenEyck, Ueckert, and Batcher voted YES: NO: no one. Motion carried. A true, correct, and complete copy of said resolution is on file at city hall.

Council member Batcher moved to accept the audit report as prepared by Ric Ortmeier, CPA. Lewis seconded. TenEyck, Ueckert, Lewis, and Batcher voted YES: NO: no one. Motion carried. 

Council member Batcher moved to designate LIGHT as agent of record for medical insurance benefit. TenEyck seconded. TenEyck, Ueckert, Lewis, and Batcher voted YES: NO: no one. Motion carried. 

Council member Lewis moved to select the Three-Year Cliff vesting option for the employer portion of the retirement fund. TenEyck seconded. TenEyck, Ueckert, Lewis, and Batcher voted YES: NO: no one. Motion carried. 

Council member TenEyck introduced, read, and moved for passage of Resolution No. 2023-62 authorizing Mayor Grove to sign the Year End Certification of City Street Superintendent for 2023 confirming the required annual appointment of the City Street Superintendent. Lewis seconded. Lewis, TenEyck, Batcher and Ueckert voted YES. NO; no one, motion carried. A true, correct, and complete copy of said resolution is on file at city hall.

Council member Ueckert introduced, read, and moved for passage of Resolution No. 2023-63 authorizing Mayor Grove to execute the Agreement with NDOT for snow removal on Highway 64 outside the city limits on behalf of the City of Valley. Lewis seconded. Batcher, Lewis, TenEyck and Ueckert voted YES. NO; no one, motion carried. A true, correct, and complete copy of said resolution is on file at city hall.

Council member Lewis introduced, read, and moved for passage of Resolution No. 2023-64 regarding carrying of firearms on City owned property.  TenEyck seconded. Lewis, Ueckert, TenEyck and Batcher voted YES. NO; no one, motion carried. A true, correct, and complete copy of said resolution is on file at city hall.

Jim Olmsted, special engineer on Water Projects gave an update on the following projects: New Well, Backwash Recovery, Chemical Feed, Filter Media, and Repainting of the Water Tank. 

Council member Batcher moved to approve Change Order No. 2 in the amount of $5,830.00 increase for final contract items. TenEyck seconded. All in favor. The motion carried.

Council member TenEyck introduced, read, and moved for passage of Resolution No. 2023-65 authorizing the payment of $16,252.20 to Layne Christensen Company for the New Well 22-1. Batcher seconded. Lewis, Batcher, TenEyck and Ueckert voted YES: NO: no one. Motion carried. A true correct and complete copy of said resolution is on file at city hall.

Council member Batcher introduced, read, and moved for passage of Resolution No. 2023-66 authorizing the payment of $47,369.75 to Layne Christensen Company for the New Well 22-1. Batcher seconded. Lewis, Batcher, TenEyck and Ueckert voted YES: NO: no one. Motion carried. A true correct and complete copy of said resolution is on file at city hall.

Council member Batcher moved to approve the Certificate of Substantial Completion and related close-out documents. Lewis seconded. All in favor. The motion carried.

Council member Lewis introduced, read, and moved for passage of Resolution No. 2023-67 authorizing the payment of $139,500.00 to Onyx Blasting & Coating, LLC for the water tower repair and repainting. Batcher seconded. Lewis, Batcher, TenEyck and Ueckert voted YES: NO: no one. Motion carried. A true correct and complete copy of said resolution is on file at city hall.

Council member Batcher moved to approve Change Order No. 2 in the amount of $24,089.00 increase for a one-week work extension and for additional costs for blasting and repair work. Lewis seconded. All in favor. The motion carried.

Council member Ueckert introduced, read, and moved for passage of Resolution No. 2023-68 authorizing the payment of $135,000.00 to Neuvirth Construction Inc. for the backwash recovery. Lewis seconded. Lewis, Batcher, TenEyck and Ueckert voted YES: NO: no one. Motion carried. A true correct and complete copy of said resolution is on file at city hall.

Council member Batcher moved to approve Change Order No. 3 in the amount of $5,934.311 to formalize the work change directive number 1 which was previously approved.  Lewis seconded. All in favor. The motion carried.

Greg Perry reviewed ongoing projects. 

Council member TenEyck introduced, read, and moved for passage of Resolution No. 2023-69 authorizing United Republic Bank to disburse to Vrba Construction the amount of $108,200.11 for water main, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer improvements. Batcher seconded. TenEyck, Batcher and Ueckert voted YES: NO: Lewis. Motion carried. A true, correct, and complete copy of said resolution is on file at city hall.

Council member Batcher introduced, read, and moved for passage of Resolution No. 2023-70 authorizing United Republic Bank to disburse to Thompson Construction Inc. the amount of $45,908.81 for water main, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer improvements and disburse to the City of Valley the amount of $467.50 for reimbursement. TenEyck seconded. TenEyck, Batcher and Ueckert voted YES: NO: Lewis. Motion carried. A true, correct, and complete copy of said resolution is on file at city hall.

Council member Lewis moved to authorize advertisements for bids for diamond grinding of Meigs Street.  TenEyck seconded. All in favor. The motion carried.

Council member Lewis moved to authorize advertisements for bids for asphalt resurfacing of Center Street and Maple Street.  TenEyck seconded. All in favor. The motion carried.

Council member Lewis moved to move forward with the water treatment plant expansion.  TenEyck seconded. All in favor. The motion carried.

Updates were given on the following projects: Ginger Cove lift station number 3 upgrades; Val-haven and Ginger Woods number 2 lift station improvements; Valley View development; Valley Landing development and Valley Lakes Business Park development.  

Jeff Farnam reviewed ongoing projects. 

Mayor Grove reported on Building Inspector new certifications; water meter repairs; scanning of documents; and flag donation for Veteran’s park.  

Planning Commission: November 21, 2023; Board of Adjustments November 20, 2023, Valley Christmas Tree lighting November 25,2023 and Cheryl Eckerman retirement party December 1, 2023. 

The meeting adjourned at 8:19 p.m.

Christie Donnermeyer, Deputy Clerk

12/7 ZNEZ

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