Council Summaries - April 5 and April 19, 2022

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, April 19
View this Meeting Agenda and attachments

Council member Ryan Hinz was absent.

The council approved the Consent Agenda items:

• Minutes of the following meetings: City Council April 5, Public Safety Committee April 5
• Treasurer’s Report
• Payment of claims against the City

The Council voted (5-0) to recommend to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission on approving a Class C liquor license for Juan Franco Ortiz dba Guanajuato Mexican Restaurant.

• Franco Ortiz spoke on his purchase of the restaurant on the southwest corner of 11th and Main Ave and his application for a license to sell beer with food.
• Mayor Dave Bauer explained the council’s recommendation goes to the liquor commissioner.
• The mayor and council members wished Franco Ortiz good luck in starting his new business.

The Council approved (4-0, with Council Member Dan Papik abstaining) the payment of claims to ACE Hardware in the amount of $1,467.20.

The Council voted (5-0) to enter into an agreement with the Nebraska Municipal Power Pool for a financial plan, cost of service, and rate design study for electric rates.

• City Administrator Tom Ourada explained the city’s rates are due to go up this year; there is also an estimated cost of over $300,000 coming up to complete an electric substation. The power pool will cover part of the cost of this study.

The Council authorized (5-0) the Police Chief to apply for a NDOT Highway Safety grant as part of the national Click It or Ticket campaign from May 23 to June 5. Recommended by the Public Safety Committee.

• Chief Steve Hensel said this is much like other highway safety grants the department as done in the past. It provides a mini grant to cover the cost of overtime related to the enforcement campaign. This will also enforce seatbelt violations as a secondary offense.

The Council tabled (5-0) the following action: entering into a contract with Schemmer Associates for up to $29,723.80 for professional engineering services related to forming a Railroad Transportation Safety District.

• Public Works chair Dale Strehle said the committee felt a conversation with a Saline County Commissioner was needed and to table this until the first meeting in May.

The Council waived three readings (5-0) and enacted (5-0) Ordinance 2147: An ordinance relating to wages and salaries.

• Ourada said this outlines one position change for a Recreation Coordinator, which the city had in the past and are adding it back in; this was recommended by the Personnel Committee to take this up.

The Council approved the Hochstetler Subdivision, a subdivision of a portion of the southeast 1/4 of Section 11, Township 8N, Range 4E.

• Ourada explained this did not go to a committee. The property is just under two miles north of the city and is dividing a small portion into three smaller parcels; the council can take action on directly.

The Council voted (5-0) to enter into a contract with Olsson Associates in the amount of $334,500 for engineering design services on the new substation.

• Ourada said this design work was originally thought to be around $250,000; part of the costs  includes landscaping work based on where it will be located and part is reflected on the cost of materials in today’s economy. The project cost is estimated at over $3 million.
• Strehle said this is a needed project and the Public Works Committee recommended to enter into the contact.

The Council voted (5-0) to adopt Personnel Rules and Regulation for part-time, temporary, and volunteer employees.

• Ourada explained Human Resources Coordinator Wendy Thomas took the current policy manual and condensed it to cover areas applicable to part-time and temporary employees and volunteers. He and City Attorney Kyle Manley reviewed it.

Mayoral Proclamation to declare April 29, 2022 as Arbor Day.

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.

• Fire Captain Harrison Gaman introduced the newest Crete Volunteer Fire Department members voted in: 
  • Dakota Wells grew up in Crete and has moved back; she wants to complete the EMT course and eventually a paramedic program; her mother is also on the department;
  • Jack Haury is a senior at Doane University and a member of the men’s soccer team; he also works at the new Hotworx downtown;
  • Donavin Viger is a Crete native and is rejoining the department;
  • Gene Garza just moved to Crete and is loving it here;
• Mayor Bauer welcomed them all and stated the department serves a great need in the community.
• Steve Hensel, Police Chief:
  • Officer Audrey Arbuckle has returned in limited duty and is overseeing the FTO program that Officer Will DeHart has just started.
  • Tornado sirens last week: one of our officer observed and showed a video.
• Wendy Thomas, Human Resources Coordinator, introduced Officer William DeHart who took the oath of office and received his badge from Mayor Bauer. DeHart came to Crete to attend Doane University and play football. He first joined the Crete Volunteer Fire Department in May 2017 and was hired in 2021 as a police trainee. He completed the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Academy course on April 14.
• Dan Papik, Council Member in Ward I, said he was  grateful to live where he does, where a young man who came here to go to school is now our newest police officer.
• Tom Ourada, City Administrator:
  • Planning Commission will meet on rezoning on the west side; will talk about adding amended neighborhood standards; the council will have the issue the next night; the process will involve hearings and postings on properties;
  • heard from one resident in that area west on improvements;
  • he had a virtual meeting with JEO on street improvement districts on the north side;
  • mygov is configuring the city’s software with training sessions this week;
  • two more sales tax refunds going back to state, over $5,000, third this year by the Nebraska Advantage program;
  • generally the budget is looking okay, refunds not withstanding.
• Mayor Dave Bauer commented on the Arbor Day proclamation and that Crete is once again honored as a Tree City USA - 31 years.

Meeting adjourned.

Summary for Crete City Council regular meeting - Tuesday, April 5
View this Meeting Agenda and attachments

Council member Travis Sears was absent.

The council approved the Consent Agenda items:

• Minutes of the following meetings: City Council March 15, Legislative and Economic Development Committee March 15, Public Safety Committee March 15, Public Works Committee March 15
• Treasurer’s Report
• Payment of claims against the City

The Council approved a special event permit application, with street closures, from the Chamber of Commerce for a Cinco de Mayo celebration at City Park on May 8, 2022 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

• City Administrator Tom Ourada explained this was submitted by the chamber and reviewed by Public Works Director Brian Stork and Police Chief Steve Hensel with no issues found. It was recommended by the Public Safety Committee. Closures for the event include Linden Ave from 11th -13th streets and 12th Street from the alley between Main and Linden to Kingwood Ave.

The Council approved a permit to occupy city right-of-way for Windstream Nebraska from the alley of Block 137 to Doane University. Ourada explained multiple property right-of-way permits go to the council for approval; this was also recommended by the Public Works Committee.

The Council entered into an agreement with Stephens & Smith Construction in the amount of $65,320 for sidewalk repairs and improvements in front of City Hall and $38,300 for red concrete replacement along sidewalks in some areas downtown in the worst condition.

• Ourada said this includes two proposals and this was the lowest competitive solicitation.
• Dale Strehle, Chair of the Public Works Committee said this was a much needed item and the Public Works Committee recommended to enter into the agreement.

The Council approved the cost estimate and scope of work for concrete replacement at the City Library and authorizing the solicitation of bids.

• Ourada said the city engineer, Gilmore, created this multi-step project, which includes work in the front Pinnacle Pavilion to take out the red cinder rock surface, replacing it with a sand base for drainage and astro turf, and widening the concrete to standard walkways to the doors of the community room. On the west side of the library, they will add stairs up to the green space in the park and a small cul-de-sac for outdoor music instruments near the double doors into the library.

The Council entered into an agreement with One Billing Solutions for billing and collection services for the Fire Department.

• City Attorney Kyle Manley found no issues with this and Assistance Fire Chief Jame Yost presented it to the Public Safety Committee. The fire department looked for another billing company when the former company expanded and the quality of service suffered as a result.

The Council appropriated an additional $25,340.33 to have one of the new police cruisers be a police service dog vehicle.

• Ourada explained this was discussed with the Public Safety Committee as the first step in a series of steps to approving a K9 unit. This will get a vehicle ready for a future K9 unit, but will probably not be delivered in this budget year. Other expenses will follow for training, equipment, supplies, wages, etc.

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.

• Brian Stork, Public Works Director reported on fountain maintenance: the fountain was sandblasted and painted; the basin is being reconfigured for a higher output and will be reinstalled this spring. He said multiple departments have worked on this project to get ready for spring.
• Steve Hensel, Police Chief:
  • Officer Will DeHart will be active next week for FTO after his recent academy graduation;
  • a recent traffic incident involving acceleration marks at 12th and Main Ave. occurred in front of a patrol car with video evidence; the department is being proactive with these types of situations. 
• Joy Stevenson, Library Director:
  • with the easing of covid policies, the library is increasing in-person programming with the following slate of events: classes on April 13 and 20 for patrons to learn more about the  Libby mobile reading app; the library will partner with five other libraries for a Zoom presenter on May 5 on the Marie Kondo organization method; Crete Reads 2022 author visit is already scheduled for Oct. 22; the executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs to speak on the book’s theme; author for One Book One Nebraska; 
  • almost 200 kids signed up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program
• Ryan Hinz, Council Member in Ward II, wanted to recognize the work Community Assistance Director Nancy Tellez has been doing on the Crete Community World Cup Tournament for 12 soccer teams as well as for the Welcoming Committee; she is a real benefit to our community with the work she is doing.
• Kyle Frans, Council Member in Ward III, went over Crete Public Schools First Flight program and the City’s Recreation programs with school staff and city recreation; the school will still do clinics and camps, but the city will go ahead with regular competition programs in different sports.
• Dan Papik, Council Member in Ward I, and a downtown business owner, thanked Chief Hensel and the police department for their work handling recent downtown traffic issues.
• Jerry Wilcox, City Clerk, thanked the mayor for the chili and cinnamon rolls provided for city employees on April 1.
• Tom Ourada, City Administrator: 
  • LR263CA, a measure to end unfunded mandates, if approved in the next legislative step, will go on the ballot in November 2022; if passed, the legislature can’t pass mandates required of municipalities without a source of funding;
  • the city review an acceptance on the first flood plain buyout offer after letters went out to respective property owners;
  • City Spring Cleanup is May 2-7 with appliance pickups, transfer station coupons and a shred day at Pinnacle Bank;
  • letters went out to residents in the newest subdivision on sanitary sewer costs;
  • Downtown Revitalization photos were shared from Victor Alarcon’s project at Paraiso at 13th and Main Ave.; Alarcon is thankful for the program and the city’s participation; he is a great business owner downtown;
  • the police department is looking at visiting some places that provide police training dogs.
• Mayor Dave Bauer
  • cleanup week notes: he talked with Doane organizations for a cleanup along with those events that will be possibly the weekend before the city’s events;
  • he spoke on issues heard during council committee meetings in regards to instances when there is little followup on citizen requests for information or potential action. “Things have been dropped and nothing has been done and we can’t leave people hanging out there. We have to get back with them and make sure we follow up.

Meeting adjourned.