Council Summaries - Nov. 2 and Nov. 16, 2021

Individuals and media outlets are encouraged to contact the City Administrator for additional details or clarification on the following material. Regular meetings of the Crete City Council are held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall; Council Standing Committees may meet prior. View a list of City Officials and current council and committee meeting agendas.

Summary for Crete City Council regular meeting - Tuesday, Nov. 16
View this Meeting Agenda and attachments

Council members Kyle Frans and Travis Sears were absent.

The council approved the Consent Agenda items:

• Minutes of the following meetings: City Council Nov. 2, Legislative/Community  Development Committee Nov. 2, Finance Committee Nov. 2, Personnel Committee Nov. 2, Public Works Committee Nov. 2, Public Safety Nov. 2
• Treasurer’s Report
• Claims against the City

The Council approved adjusting the monthly rates on parking spaces in the city parking lot at 12th and Norman for smaller volume pricing; 5 spaces at $20 each for a current lease agreement.

• City Administrator Tom Ourada explained this was a request to alter an existing  agreement from 10 spaces at $15 each to 5 spaces at $20 each. Additional discussion was held prior in the Public Works Committee meeting. Ourada said this parking lot did accomplish several things, including creating a more attractive and useable space than what was previously there; from a business aspect, the rate may need to adapt to the market.

The Council entered into an agreement with Lincoln/Lancaster County EMS Oversight Authority for EMT training and medical oversight in the amount of $1,100 per year for 3 years. This agreement was modified for 3 years instead of 5 years and names the City of Crete as the entity instead of CVFD. Fire Chief Tod Allen explained this includes services for the department’s medical director, which also provides chart review.

The Council accepted the terms and conditions related to terminating the Software Maintenance Plan Participation Agreement with Nebraska Municipal Power Pool. Ourada said officials thought it was prudent running the previous Power Manager software concurrent with implementation of a new system, Caselle, however the older software is no longer needed.

The Council approved the purchase of Lots 1 & 2, Block 62 from Tom and Sue Juricek for $25,000. The city plans on utilizing this property for a new wastewater lift station at 22nd and Hawthorne, southwest corner. 

The Council adopted Resolution 2021-13: A resolution to adopt the Little Blue Natural Resources District and the Lower Big Blue Natural Resources District Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update. Ourada said the city is working with JEO on the hazard mitigation plan, which recently wrapped up.

The Council authorized the Police Chief to apply for a highway safety mini-grant from the Nebraska Department of Transportation as part of the 2021 Holiday Season Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. Police Chief Steve Hensel explained this grant focuses on DUI enforcement around the Christmas holiday season and includes just under $600 in overtime reimbursement from the state.

Petition - Communication - Citizen Concern: 

Citizen testimony may be limited to 3 minutes per person. Please do not repeat testimony that has already be heard. No action can be taken on matters presented under this title except to answer any questions or to refer the matter for further action.

Tod Allen, 732 County Road 2250, shared concerns with the amount of truck traffic headed south on Main and the fact that the 13th and Main intersection is a tough corner for them to make. Mayor Dave Bauer was also concerned about the increase in truck traffic and asked the police chief what the best approach was to look into this issue as far as use of truck routes and enforcement. Hensel said there were two areas involved in determining the truck routes as far as legal definitions and the enforcement aspect. Ourada explained south Main is not a designated truck route and that asphalt county road was not constructed for truck traffic, but the city street can handle it. Officials also discussed issues with trucks turning incorrectly down Iris Avenue off the highway instead of proceeding to the Nestle truck entrance on the highway and the number of trucks that back up in the turn lane in front of the plant.

Officer Reports:

Reports may be given by Officers, Departments, Committees, or Council members concerning the current operations of the City. No action can be taken on matters presented under this title except to answer any questions or to refer the matter for further action.

• Tod Allen, Fire Chief:
  • the new tanker has not been delivered and an estimate of two weeks has been given; there is no penalty in the contract for a late delivery; he asked if the department can look into having this in future contracts; Tom encouraged him to talk with the city attorney about the department’s contract expectations;
  • the department contained a garage fire and contained it to the garage, which will have to be torn down; 
  • a seventh paramedic is joining the department;
• Ryan Hinz, Council Member Ward II:
  • shared about the progress on the Crete Public Schools Welcome Center on Main Ave., which should have staff working there by the end of the week; a public open house is on Sunday, Nov. 28, 1-3 p.m.;
  • Lincoln Food Bank distribution on Doane’s campus last month served 400 families.
• Brian Stork, Public Works Director - shared his activities in becoming more familiar with the city’s current and future projects, departments, and city ordinances.
• Tom Ourada, City Administrator:
  • a sales tax refund was requested for $11,089; the city doesn’t know through the Department of Economic Development who it’s from; city sales tax is tracking fairly well, which will help make up the difference;
  • auditors visited City Hall Monday and Tuesday and said they are much further ahead than where they were in February; having Caselle software in place and having people know their way around it was beneficial;
  • Tom asked Gilmore for a sanitary sewer study on the east side; looking at annexation prospects by Walmart;
  • the city received one response to the Comprehensive Plan request for proposals and he will confer with the Mayor and other officials;
  • the city made a conditional job offer to a police officer candidate who did not meet all background qualifications; they have extended an offer to another candidate and the chief is going through the process;
  • water and sewer boring on Arizona Ave is done; the bill from Horizontal was well under the estimate;
  • Tom and other staff looked at a software package that streamlines code enforcement, building permits, nuisance properties, business registrations, etc.; other staff will look into it as well;
  • Linden Ave from 19th-20th streets has been graded for park continuity towards the donated property on the southeast corner of 20th and Linden; clean up will continue for the spring to develop this extension of North Ward Park;
  • meeting with solar farm people for more details;
  • Brian Stork and Street Supervisor Trent Griffin were asked to look at more gap paving on the north side for 2022 on the 1 and 6 year street plans; current projects on the north side of town with five blocks was a total of $1 million, about $200,000 per block; new projects will be about $1.6M with assessment for about half; proposed projects would leave little gap paving eligibility left on the north side; the Planning Commission and City Council can choose what they would like to do when these are submitted; Brian and Trent did a good job on this;
  • Tom, Tod Allen, and City Attorney Kyle Manley talked about fire station expansion; Kyle and Tom talked with the USDA about funding this kind of improvement; there is a 40-year possibility for financing;
  • The Library Advisory Board voted to close the library the Saturday after Thanksgiving after their original intent was to declare it as a holiday, which they don’t have authority to do for city employees; Tom was a little concerned when those types of steps are taken because the city council approves those types of action; the library board doesn’t oversee employees; Tom asked Kyle to research this thoroughly and what each party can do;
  • Tuxedo Park planning as been on a hold because Kyle Frans, chair of the Park and Recreation Committee, has been gone; the city is ready to move forward. Mayor Bauer said they have talked to several different groups involved with Tuxedo Park. Tom explained everybody’s pretty excited; we can take what people are doing out there and make it better, give them a chance to succeed at a higher level;
  • nuisance property hearings were held last week; the city provided one property notice that a zoning violation was upheld and the city intends on remedying it unless the owner does first; the other party was advised to retain legal council.
• Mayor Dave Bauer shared an update on a letter attached in regards to Saline County Area Transit. He has been trying to get a hold of director Scott Bartels, but has not talked with him; the Mayor will contact the chairperson of their board. He also talked with two businesses that benefit from this service. He also explained it has never been the intent of the city that the transit service stops serving the city.

Meeting adjourned.

Summary for Crete City Council regular meeting - Tuesday, Nov. 2
View this Meeting Agenda and attachments

Council member Kyle Frans was absent.

The council approved the Consent Agenda items:

• Minutes of the following meetings: City Council Oct. 19, Legislative and Economic Development Committee Oct. 19, Public Works Committee Sept. 21, Oct. 19
• Treasurer’s Report
• Claims against the City 
• Confirm the Mayor's appointment of Brian Stork as the Director of Public Works
• Approving Tom Ourada as a member of the League Association or Risk Management (LARM) Board of Directors for a three-year term of office effective January 1, 2022.

The Council approved $8,382 to Saline County Area Transit for county-wide transportation services.

• Mayor Dave Bauer explained there are typically two portions of funds to SCAT: a county-wide allocation and an allocation for a Crete service route; this item is the county-wide portion while the Crete route portion is in question. He has made contacts with possible donors towards funding that local service.

The Council approved lowering the speed limit on Dogwood Avenue from 13th Street to the southern city limits to 35 mph.

• City Administrator Tom Ourada said this was a request to lower the speed limit from a resident who lives along this area; this road is still gravel and there are sight visibility factors, which makes this a prudent change and also recommended by the Public Works Committee.

The Council approved Change Order #1 for the Linden Avenue and 12th Street Overlay Project in the amount of $33,153.20 for additional repairs and patching, as recommended by Public Works Committee. Ourada explained this included an additional one block on Ivy and other concrete issues revealed on 12th Street which needed to be repaired before the new asphalt overlay.

The Council awarded the bid for a new ambulance to Danko Emergency Equipment Co. for $250,790 as recommended by the Public Safety Committee. Jame Yost spoke to the committee prior to the council meeting and said the fire department agreed the bid met all the specifications and matched the last ambulance purchased.

The Council approved using up to $240,000 of LB840 funds to purchase real estate for housing.

• Ourada said there is a request from the city to use LB840 funds to purchase four lots in a subdivision to reconfigure and sell some to the Crete Housing Development Corporation to move forward toward on a workforce housing project. The corporation has funds, $560,000  and an opportunity to turn into matching funds from the state. Some of money returned to LB840
• Mayor Bauer agreed this was a good use of funds and a good program for Crete to build affordable housing to benefit residents. 

The Council waived three readings and adopted Ordinance 2142: An ordinance amending the wages and salaries of city officers and non-bargaining unit employees of the City.

• Ourada explained this was a result of LB51, dealing with police officers and training; a police department hire who is not trained is not considered a police officer and instead a conditional hire, or trainee, who is unable to wear a department uniform, ride in a patrol car, etc; and have to be paid accordingly outside the membership of the collective bargaining unit. There is only a need for a one step pay scale for a non-certified officer - trainee.
• He said LB51 will also change the hiring timeline for officers as they will be required to start at the training academy within a short timeline close to the training sessions at the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center that are held three times a year.

The Council tabled the following items to the next council meeting:

• An agreement with Lincoln/Lancaster County EMS Oversight Authority for EMT training and medical oversight in the amount of $1,100 per year for 5 years. Ourada and City Attorney Kyle Manley had concerns and were requesting several changes including the agreement should be with the City and not the Fire Department and change from a 5-year agreement to 3 years.
• Master Fee Schedule to set rental rates for the Community Center and Community Room.

Petition - Communication - Citizen Concern: 

Citizen testimony may be limited to 3 minutes per person. Please do not repeat testimony that has already be heard. No action can be taken on matters presented under this title except to answer any questions or to refer the matter for further action.

Officer Reports:

Reports may be given by Officers, Departments, Committees, or Council members concerning the current operations of the City. No action can be taken on matters presented under this title except to answer any questions or to refer the matter for further action.

• Wendy Thomas - HR Coordinator introduced the newly appointed Public Works Director, Brian Stork.
• Tom Ourada, City Administrator:
  • box culvert project meeting (22nd and Ivy) - 60% of the plans are done; the city will have to acquire more property for the actual culvert; the Juriceks agreed to sell property needed to complete the lift station portion;
  • Tom has an NMPP Joint Operating Committee meeting on Wednesday and NMPP Energy Board meeting on Thursday; Brian Stork will also attend;
  • Tom, Mayor Bauer, Council members, and Chief Hensel have all met with the Grassroots Leadership group at Crete High School; Wendy and Jerry will meet with them in coming weeks;
  • next week - Connect the Dots - in the park, high school program with the county;
  • MEAN committee meetings and the MEAN Board meeting are coming up in two weeks;
  • the city has hired a police officer, although a non-certified officer - trainee, who is excited to get started;
  • old library site preliminary work is ongoing - DOT want plans for additional access onto 13th next to the existing Public Works drive;
  • north Linden Ave - working on the transition to the new park space to the east of North Ward Park.

Meeting adjourned.