Council Summary - Dec. 3, 2024

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.

The next Crete City Council regular meeting will be on Tuesday, Dec. 17

Summary for Crete City Council regular meeting - Tuesday, Dec. 3
View this Meeting Agenda and attachments.

Council Member Ashley Newmyer was absent.

The council approved the Consent Agenda items:

• Minutes of the following meetings: 
• City Council Nov. 19, Legislative/Community Development Committee Nov. 19, Personnel Committee Nov. 19, Public Safety Committee Nov. 19, Public Works Committee Nov. 19, Planning Commission Oct. 28
• Treasurer’s Report
• Payment of claims against the City 
• Mayor's appointment of Jessica Razo to the Library Advisory Board  

The Council voted 5-0 to ratify Election Results. Ward 2 Council member Dale Strehle was reelected. Ward 1 Council member Anthony Fitzgerald and Ward 3 Council member Ashley Newmyer, who were both appointed to council seats in the middle of terms, won their elections.

The Council Adjourned Sine Die.

The Council Opened the Meeting as the 2024 City Council.

Roll Call and Oath of Office. Strehle and Fitzgerald took the oath of office. (Newmyer was absent)

The Council voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution 2024-26: A resolution certifying the results of the 2024 General Election. 

The Council voted 4-0 (Strehle abstained) to elect Dale Strehle as City Council President to preside in the absence of the Mayor. 

The Council voted 5-0 to approve the City Council Standing Committees as presented by the Mayor.

• Public Works Committee: Dale Strehle (chair), Anthony Fitzgerald, Dan Papik
• Parks Recreation Committee: Fitzgerald (chair), Kyle Frans, Papik
• Finance Committee: Frans (chair), Strehle, Ashley Newmyer
• Personnel Committee: Tom Crisman (chair), Newmyer, Fitzgerald
• Legislative/Community Development Committee: Newmyer (chair), Strehle, Crisman
• Public Safety Committee: Papik (chair), Crisman, Frans

The Council voted 5-0 to waive three readings and adopt Ordinance 2224 - Adding regulations for Mobile Food Vendors. Mayor Dave Bauer said assigned fees are undecided at this time.

The Council voted 5-0 to waive three readings and adopt Ordinance 2226 amending administrative subdivision requirements. City Administrator Tom Ourada explained this item went to the Planning Commission and Public Works Committee; it changes document requirements from 1 primary mylar copy and 11 additional copies to 1 primary and 3 additional due to the use of digital resources.

The Council voted 5-0 to authorize the Fire Department to apply for the AFG grant. Fire Chief Tod Allen addressed the Public Safety Committee prior stating the department’s last grant of this type was 20 years ago which funded the purchase of the interior fire trailer and public education trailer. This round they want to purchase a mobile roof prop combined with a forcible entry prop to teach these much-needed skills. The trailer with this training equipment is $92,500; the department would provide a five percent match from donations they have on hand.

The Council voted 5-0 to approve Resolution 2024-25 - changes to the Master Fee schedule. Frans said this includes updates on water services to clear up issues from old rates.

The Council voted 5-0 to approve the apparent low bid of $177,922.00 from Judds Bros. Construction Co. for the Walnut Creek Sewer Repair Project. Ourada said this is an ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funded project the council previously approved to go out for bids. Strehle said there were five bids and the committee recommended the low bid from Judds Brothers.

Petition - Communication - Citizen Concern:

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.

• Gary Young, Police Chief:
  • FOP members are in the middle of the annual toy drive ‘Operation Under the Tree’ and had a great weekend of donations on Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving; they will also use donated money throughout the year to buy coats, shoes, etc. for people who need those things;
  • he shared startling news that they are way ahead of schedule on the records management build and met with the project manager this week and will look at an internal beta test with software before Christmas;
• Jessica Wilkinson, Library Director:
  • started the winter book sale on Monday;
  • staff did a great job keeping up when she was gone over the holiday;
  • Princess Tea Party had over 100 little girls attending;
  • the library is partnering with the Isis Theatre for two free showings of “The Polar Express” on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14-15
• Liz Cody, Parks and Recreation Director: 
  • Food Bank of Lincoln’s distribution in Tuxedo Park served over 3,000 families from January - October; Parks and Recreation will work with them through the winter for any issues using the park for the monthly events;
  • the department is taking inventories, refreshing signs, etc. during the winter;
  • did not receive the Watchable Wildlife grant, but there are other options; looking at an Exmark grant for landscaping supplies, etc.;
  • working to submit the Tree City USA application;
  • Anthony Fitzgerald asked about recently mentioned donations to City Park; Mayor Bauer said the Crete Community Foundation has given a dollar amount and they are working on matching donations and a campaign to move forward;
• Trenton Griffin, Building Insepctor: 
  • 25 new houses this year and 2 more were moved in; of the 25 - 8 in foundation phase, 5 partially enclosed, 8 are completely enclosed, 6 have full occupancy, which includes the 8-unit building on Hawthorne Ave; Crete Senior Villas is 30 units - last week was the mechanical inspection; one commercial property under construction on Hawthorne;
• Council member Anthony Fitzgerald asked about the airport manager positions; Ourada said Mike Kalkwarf is handling some duties and a new manager agreement is close, but not done.
• Tom Ourada, City Administrator:
  • we experienced radio issues and antenna issues of concern to the fire department and county; Gary has done a great job getting resolutions; when they are switched over for dispatch we will be in a good place;
  • we met with Crete Schools as a grant partner on pedestrian overpass projects; they are very magnanimous and anxious to work with us; we will be reaching out to other partners in the spring.
  • Nestle will start sludge pumping; the council approved right-of-way for pipe to go up and out to the east and they will need permits;
  • we are looking at improvements to the Wanek Community Center and opportunities there for digital programming with seniors and the library;
  • we had another grant opportunity through SENDD for the substation project;
  • we have filled out a letter of intent to apply for a workforce housing development grant and will meet as the Crete Housing Development Corp.; it will match 3 times - $250k will make $750k in funding;
  • we have strong interest in our building downtown with two different owners for two different sides; we would do structure this like we did with the theatre and if there is a default the building would revert back to the city.

Meeting adjourned.