OSMOND — The Osmond City Council met Monday, Dec. 11, in the conference room with a number of year-end duties to cover.
Ordinances Passed
Treasurer Timmerman stated that the auditor had suggested the city have a Capitalization Ordinance. After some research it was discovered that there was an ordinance already adopted in 2005; however, it was not found in the record books. The auditor suggested readopting the ordinance so as to have a proper record of it as well as an amount change to infrastructure threshold. Ordinance No. 2023-6 was adopted and is printed on another page of this issue.
Clerk Pam Polenske explained the auditor also suggested the city have a Purchasing Ordinance that includes amounts that the city office can au thorize and amounts that need council approval. It was discovered that the current Purchasing Ordinance 20212 was missing pertinent information passed in 2019. Everything the auditor suggested and the missing information was compiled into one new ordinance. Ordinance No. 2023-7 is also printed on another page of this issue.
Next, Mayor Kuhl introduced Ordinance No. 2023-8, Alcoholic Beverages: Hours of Sale. This Ordinance shall terminate at noon on Jan. 1, 2025, and shall then revert to the hours effective prior to the passing of this Ordinance. Clerk Polenske stated the only change to the ordinance was to add the definitions of "off-sale" and “on-sale.” Mayor Kuhl also introduced Ordinance 2023-9, to repeal, void and nullify the existing garbage removal service rates and establish new rates. Both ordinances are included on another page of this issue.
One Grant Fails, Another Awarded Clerk Polenske expounded on the results of the Downtown Revitalization Grant. Not only did Osmond not receive the grant, but no city in northeast Nebraska received it either. An email from Andrea Larson of the Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District suggested reapplying for this grant next year. Between now and then, any tweaks needed to improve the grant application can be done. There would not be any additional costs.
Treasurer Timmerman explained the GIS Mapping Grant was awarded to the City of Osmond. The prior Mapping Grant allowed the city to map the location of all water and sewer mains and shutoffs in the south half of Osmond. This new Mapping Grant will fund doing the water section in the north half of Osmond, while the city will cover the sewer cost. When all of the mapping is completed, the council will need to decide how they want this information to be accessed, electronically or on paper.
Overtime, Bereavement, Holiday Pay Discussed
Maintenance employee Wattier presented the council with suggested changes to overtime, bereavement, and holidays. Surrounding communities’ Employee Handbooks were compared to Osmond’s. On occasions when PTO is used to complete a 40-hour work week and the employee is called back to work for extenuating circumstances (i.e. water main break or snow removal), it is suggested that overtime is paid instead of PTO hours given back. Also suggested was to increase the paid holidays for full-time employees/office personnel from six to nine to include President’s Day, Veterans Day, and a Floating Holiday. Finally suggested was to give three paid bereavement days to employees that have a death of an immediate family member. After some discussion, the council voted to pay overtime when an employee is called back to work under unforeseen circumstances even if they have used PTO that week and to increase the paid holidays from six to eight to include President’s Day and Veteran’s Day, not a Floating Holiday. A motion was made to pay up to three bereavement days for employees when they have a death of an immediate family member. It was seconded by Councilman Timmerman. Roll call vote was Timmerman and Wattier voting yea and Dennis Haselhorst and Doug Schmit voting nay. Per City Code 1-101, Mayor Kuhl voted nay, so the motion failed.
Stop Sign Added
Police Chief Tyler Wells presented a report on recent activity within the city including one dog at large, one transport given to hospital patient, one report of suspicious vehicle, one report of suspicious person – hearing sounds outside of house, one vehicle stop – no taillights/headlights, one uncontrollable juvenile, one report of truancy, one report of domestic fight, one possible EPC – Pierce Sheriff’s Office handled, one report of coyotes by house in south Osmond, one DHHS update, one student interview at school, one answer questions on FBI employment application, one gun permit, one rescue call, one update on house fire property, and one speeding complaint to name a few.
Chief Wells investigated speeding complaints and found that there is sufficient traffic at 5th and Logan go ing north and south to warrant having stop signs put up. After discussion, the Council agreed to let Chief Wells place stop signs at his discretion. Also, the cameras at 3rd and State streets are up and working now. The power for these cameras is coming from 3rd Street Bar and Grill. Some amount of compensation should be given to this business for allowing the city to use their electricity. Council agreed that compensation should be made and to allow Chief Wells and Treasurer Timmerman to determine the amount.
Other Business
Mayor Dennis Kuhl opened the sealed bids for the Christmas lights the city has for sale. Connie Kramer of Monroe, NE, bid $64.96 for the three candle lights and $64.96 for the three poinsettia lights. Robbie Gansebom of Osmond bid $81.51 for three poinsettia lights. Both of the bids were accepted. Mayor Kuhl then opened the sealed bids for the light poles the city has for sale. Bruce Yosten of Plainview bid $370 for the two square light poles 20 feet tall. This bid was also accepted.
Treasurer Brittney Timmerman presented the insurance coverage for the three city pickups. Currently, they all have full coverage with a $1,000 deductible each for a total annual cost of $1,517.00. If the coverage on both 2008 pickups were changed to liability only, the annual savings would be $269. The council approved changing the insurance coverage on both 2008 pickups to liability only and keeping the full coverage on the 2013 pickup.
Treasurer Timmerman reported that all of the 2022 Street Improvement Assessments were paid in full except six. These six were sent on to the county treasurer to be billed out and will be paid in December over the next 14 years. All of the funds received on this assessment was deposited into the Street Bond Account to make the payments on the Street Bonds.
Councilman Neil Wattier explained that the library does not have any automatic door openers and would like the city to correct this. It is difficult to carry large objects, like chairs, into and out of the library. The building needs to be accessible by everyone including those that are either in wheelchairs or on scooters. This would meet ADA requirements.
it will need two systems. After con-
sulting with the maintenance team, the Olideauto DSW120 Swing Door
Opener/Closer at $715 is the system
proved the purchase of two automatic door openers for the main entrance of the Library not to exceed $1,600.
Maintenance employee Bert Wattier explained the problem with the city hall sound system. It is an older system and the frequency that it runs on for the wireless microphones has intermittent static and interference that is difficult to find due to being random. Councilman Wattier stated that he spoke with Midwest Music in Norfolk. This problem can be corrected with a new receiver and was verbally quoted $700.00 for this.
After a brief discussion, the council approved the upgrade to the City Hall sound system with a different receiver and adjustments made to allow for the use of the corded mics to be used closer to the stage.
Mayor Kuhl stated the need to select a city engineer and street superinten - dent. Even though no projects are planned for 2024, these selections are needed to comply with state fund- ing for highway dollars. After some discussion, the council appointed JEO Consulting Group, Inc, as the city engineer for the City of Osmond for the year 2024. They also appointed Steven A. Parr of JEO Consulting Group, Inc. as the City of Osmond's street superintendent for 2024.
Treasurer Timmerman informed Council that a backflow pamphlet is supposed to be mailed to every metered address annually. Mailing it would cost $252; however; if it were published in the local paper, it would only cost $154. The council agreed to publish a backflow pamphlet annually in the local newspaper.
Clerk Polenske explained the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resource District (LENRD) is working with FEMA and NEMA to update the Hazard Mitigation Plan and has asked that all communities participate.
After speaking with Curt Becker, assistant general manager, participa -
tion in updating the plan would not require a financial commitment. All that is asked of Osmond is 25 to 35 man-hours from the council and/or maintenance team and these hours be tracked. More information will be sent out next month. Also, Bobbi Risor, Region 11 Emergency Manager, sent out a link to a survey. This survey asks for input from residents about the type of natural hazards that affect them and any damage they have received. This link was put on the City FaceBook page and is open until Jan. 16, 2024.
Treasurer Timmerman presented the results of the Worker's Compensa - tion Audit. Because of the hiring of maintenance employee Bert Wattier the prior year and maintenance em- ployee Jason Willard, the estimated payroll for the 2022-23 fiscal year was insufficient. An additional premium of $3,297 will need to be paid. If the audited payroll amounts are used for the next fiscal year estimate, any additional premium would be sub- stantially lower. After discussion, it was decided to do as Treasurer Tim- merman suggested.
Treasurer Timmerman presented the suggested Christmas remem brances in Osmond Dollars list for regular and part-time employees/ volunteers. The council approved Christmas remembrances of $50 in Osmond Dollars for regular employ ees and $25 in Osmond Dollars for part-time employees and volunteers.
Clerk Polenske presented the list of City Council meeting dates for 2024 and suggesting the November meeting date be changed as it falls on Veteran's day, which is now a paid holiday. The City Council meeting dates for 2024 are as follows: Jan. 8, Feb. 12, March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, Aug. 12, Sept. 9, Oct. 14, Nov. 4, Dec. 9.
Polenske presented the information on the upcoming Nebraska Municipal Clerks Association classes March 17
to 22, 2024. A hotel would not be needed as it is being held in Colum - bus. Scholarships are being offered and would be applied for to keep the cost down. The amount of the scholarship is unknown. The scholarship application is due by Dec. 16, 2023, and being awarded by Jan. 31, 2024. The Council agreed to permit Clerk Polenske to attend the Nebraska Municipal Clerks Association classes, apply for the scholarship, and have the city pay the registration if the scholar - ship doesn't cover the full amount.
Clerk Polenske stated that terms end in 2024 for Mayor Dennis Kuhl, Councilman Haselhorst, and Council - man Schmit. If they wish to run again,
they will need to pay the filing fee to Treasurer Timmerman and take that receipt along with their Non-Partisan Filing Form to the Pierce County Clerk by Feb. 15, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. Non-incumbent filing deadline is March 1st, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. The pr imary election is May 14, 2024, and the main election is Nov. 5, 2024. All non-conflicting wages were increased. Those will be included in the city minutes at a future date.
In other business, the council: — heard the annual appointments for 2024, which will be printed in the minutes at a future date.
- approved having the city re - move, for free, all natural (no arti - ficial) Christmas trees without any ornaments from curbs until Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.
— heard Mayor Kuhl state city sales tax for September 2023 was $22,859.81 (of that amount $4,930.43 is from motor vehicle tax).
— heard that correspondence received was a holiday card from Elliot
Equipment, Co. and popcorn from JEO Consulting Group, Inc.
— went into closed session to look at personnel matters and to review annual salary increases.
