PROCEEDINGS

Village of Clearwater BOARD OF TRUSTEES

DECEMBER 2020

The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met in regular session Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, at 7 p.m., in the Fire Hall meeting room. Regular meeting was opened at 7:02 p.m. Notice of Meeting was given in advance by publication in Summerland Advocate-Messenger and notice was given to chairman and village board members prior to meeting. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster. Present: Jay Snider, Kevin Filsinger, Steve Stearns and Paul Horman. Absent: Steve Hankla. Others present: Lauren Sheridan-Simonsen, Mike Klabenes, Kelly Kerkman, Kate Ahlers, Jenna Hemenway and Angie Hupp. 

Motion to approve amended regular minutes by Filsinger, seconded by Horman. Voting aye: Stearns, Filsinger, Snider, Horman. Voting nay: none. Absent: Hankla.

The treasurer’s report was given. Motion by Snider, seconded by Filsinger, to place amended report on file. Voting aye: Stearns, Filsinger, Snider, Horman. Voting nay: none. Absent: Hankla.

Late water bills were discussed. Need collected by the 20th or water will be shut off.

Miller & Associates needs to update one easement contract with agreed upon changes. Once contract is signed, notarized and delivered to McNally, the lagoon project can move forward.

Economic report: Lauren Sheridan-Simonsen suggested rolling unused emergency grant funds, amounting to $6,250, into a digital façade program. The digital façade program will help businesses update or create an online presence, create an online shop or pay for digital marketing. The board agreed on a Dec. 31 deadline for any businesses looking to apply for emergency grant funds, before rolling the funds over to the digital program. It was also agreed that those who previously received emergency funds would still be able to apply for the digital program since it is for a different project. The Office is working on getting the phone line connected for the economic development office. A conference call is being set up between Sheridan-Simonsen, Angie Hupp, Joene Crocker of Miller & Associates and a representative of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to review Clearwater’s rejected application for grants and see how it can be improved in the future. Antelope County received $2,742,250 in grants from the Department of Economic Development’s Get Nebraska Growing Corona Relief. Clearwater received $600,250 of those funds to help small businesses, livestock producers and childcare facilities. Mike Klabenes has approached Sheridan-Simonsen regarding the shortage of machine shops in the area and suggested finding a way to recruit a mechanic willing to relocate to Clearwater. Sheridan-Simonsen is going to make some contacts and investigate possibilities. There were also several suggestions for improving ways to utilize the Clearwater website to bring more traffic to the site, including adding job opportunities and housing and rental contacts.

Park report: Big Timber ground the two stumps that needed to be removed by the park. Two oak trees in the park have grown around the steel posts used to support them and the posts need to be removed. Mike Klabenes offered to take care of that. vandalism is creating an issue at the park buildings. Klabenes is going to investigate the cost of placing security cameras on the corner of the library building, one facing south toward the park, another facing north down Main Street. Sheriff Moore confirmed no signs need to be posted stating there are cameras. The board would like to discuss tearing down the old storage shed in the corner of the playground closer to the summer season, since it is no longer used.

Sheriff’s report: Sheriff Moore and the board discussed several ongoing junk ordinance violators. The board is going to contact Village Attorney Joe McNally to discuss moving forward regarding this and several other issues.

Maintenance report: Kate Ahlers has removed excess dirt on radiuses by Highway 275, helped Big Timber with cleanup, ordered culverts and patched around manhole covers. Liam Odell spent a couple of days helping during his holiday vacation. Ahlers mentioned she doesn’t use most of the things delivered through the monthly Appeara contract and wondered if it would be cheaper to cancel it and buy products that are needed elsewhere. Appeara is on hold until February, to allow time to do more research.

Motion by Filsinger, seconded by Horman, to approve Tom Switzer to begin building a heater pan for the maintenance shop. Voting aye: Stearns, Filsinger, Snider, Horman. Voting nay: none. Absent: Hankla.

A letter with a copy of the village ordinance will be sent to homeowners who need to trim trees overhanging roads. The tree limbs damage village equipment, especially during snow removal. There was discussion of possible need for a stop sign at the intersection of Dibble St. and Mitchell’s Ave., but no decisions were made.

Motion by Snider, seconded by Horman, to approve Kevin Schrage to temporarily place a trailer on a vacant lot at 706 Dibble St. for some sheetrock installers working on the Summerland school building. A flat fee of $80 per month will be assessed for sewer, water and trash services. Voting aye: Stearns, Filsinger, Snider, Horman. Voting nay: none. Absent: Hankla.

Motion by Horman, seconded by Snider, to certify that Reed Miller was approved as street superintendent from Jan. 1, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2020, for the purpose of the 2020 calendar year highway incentive payment issued by the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Voting aye: Stearns, Filsinger, Snider, Horman. Voting nay: none. Absent: Hankla.

Motion by Filsinger, seconded by Horman, to approve Reed Miller as street superintendent from Jan.1, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2021, for the purpose of the 2021 calendar year highway incentive payment, issued by the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Voting aye: Stearns, Filsinger, Snider, Horman. Voting nay: none. Absent: Hankla.

Motion by Filsinger, seconded by Horman, to approve Steve Stearns be added to the bank signatures for the Village checking accounts. Approved signatures now include Steve Stearns, Steve Hankla, Kevin Filsinger and Angie Hupp. Voting aye: Stearns, Filsinger, Snider, Horman. Voting nay: none. Absent: Hankla.

Motion by Snider, seconded by Horman, to change bank depository location to Cornerstone Bank, located in Clearwater. Voting aye: Stearns, Filsinger, Snider, Horman. Voting nay: none. Absent: Hankla.

Motion by Horman, seconded by Filsinger, to approve Ordinance No. 2021-1, updating wages paid by the village for the 2021 calendar year. Voting aye: Stearns, Filsinger, Snider, Horman. Voting nay: none. Absent: Hankla.

Motion by Snider, seconded by Filsinger, to approve the meeting location at the fire hall for the 2021 calendar year. Voting aye: Stearns, Filsinger, Snider, Horman. Voting nay: none. Absent: Hankla.

Motion by Snider, seconded by Horman, to approve Joe McNally as the village attorney for the 2021 calendar year. Voting aye: Stearns, Filsinger, Snider, Horman. Voting nay: none. Absent: Hankla.

Motion by Filsinger, seconded by Snider, to approve Miller & Associates as the village engineer firm for the 2021 calendar year. Voting aye: Stearns, Filsinger, Snider, Horman. Voting nay: none. Absent: Hankla.

Motion by Snider, seconded by Filsinger, to approve the resignation of Sherry Snodgrass as cleaning person. Voting aye: Stearns, Filsinger, Snider, Horman. Voting nay: none. Absent: Hankla.

Clerk report: Tyler from Miller & Associates contacted Angie Hupp, informing her the state is requiring an auto dial be set up on the lift station in case of emergencies. The board said to have him set it up, either with Northeast Nebraska Telephone, or Verizon Wireless, whichever is cheaper. Discussion was held on who would be listed as emergency contact and who will be lagoon certified. Agenda item regarding lagoon certification will be placed on January agenda. Hupp needs to call H&L Asphalt and inform them they owe the village $700 for the Cole Sand & Gravel bill covered by the village that H&L was supposed to pay. Horman informed the board that after this month, another board member will need to take over the task of double checking the bills after each meeting, per auditor request.

Old business: Stearns informed the board that Big Timber was paid at time of service, since a $100 discount was applied. An estimate of $28,105 was received from Rutjens Construction regarding installation of a new water main to run from Mitchell’s Ave. to 515 Ave. As the amount is more than $10,000, bids will need to be received. Easements will have to be signed by homeowners in the area as well. Snider would like to get an estimate from Bauer Underground for line boring a more direct route. Black Hills Energy needs to be contacted to see how deep the gas line is in the area the water main will be installed. Rutjens Construction also needs to send an estimate for getting water and sewer to the proposed camper pads on Neuer St.

Motion by Horman, seconded by Filsinger, to pay Tina Snider. Voting aye: Horman, Filsinger, Stearns. Voting nay: none. Abstain: Snider.

Motion by Horman, seconded by Filsinger, to approve all other claims. Voting aye: Stearns, Filsinger, Snider, Horman. Voting nay: none. Absent: Hankla.

ColdType Publishing $162.85

Werner Construction $1,170.00

Spud Construction $234.56

Bomgaars $8.93

AKRS Equipment $35.71

EMC Insurance $2,093.15

Big Timber Tree Service

$1,900.00

Kathleen Ahlers $2,538.87

Angie Hupp $653.90

Tina Snider $445.18

Antelope Co. Sheriff $1,202.25

Verizon Wireless $88.00

Appeara $41.01

One Office Solution $166.88

Neligh Auto & Machine $13.16

Neb. Dept. Revenue $821.70

NNTC $188.50

McNally Law Office $150.00

Liam Odell $62.33

Black Hills Energy $324.60

WEX Bank $279.80

ERPPD $1,584.68

Jay Snider $69.26

Kevin Filsinger $69.26

Paul Horman $69.26

Steve Hankla $69.26

Steve Stearns $69.26

Economic Savings $2,077.80

General Savings $2,077.80

Sherry Snodgrass $18.47

Water Savings $685.00

Sewer Savings $865.00

Lagoon Savings $1,450.00

Softline Data, Inc. $620.00

Neb. Public Health Envir Lab

$122.00

One Call Concept $4.22

US Post Office $136.75

Bud’s Sanitary $2,092.50

Amazon.com $413.75

Kathy Feusse $595.66

Antelope Memorial Hospital

$5.75

Quick Med Claims $65.68

KL & S Inc. $127.00

New board members will be sworn into office at a special meeting just before the regular January meeting.

Motion by Snider, seconded by Horman, to adjourn. Voting aye: Stearns, Filsinger, Snider, Horman. Voting nay: none. Absent: Hankla. Meeting adjourned at 9:02 p.m.

Angie Hupp

Village clerk

Published December 24, 2020

ZNEZ