PROCEEDINGS – VILLAGE OF MEAD BOARD OF TRUSTEES

March 8, 2022

A Regular Meeting of the Chairman and Board of Trustees of the Village of Mead, NE was held March 8, 2022 at the Mead Community Building.  Chairman William Thorson called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  Notice of the meeting was provided in advance thereof by posting notice at the Bank of Mead, U.S. Post Office, and the Village Office as shown by the certificate of posting notice attached to these minutes.  Advance notice was also provided in the Wahoo Newspaper and to all members of the Board of Trustees.  All proceedings were held while the convened meeting was open to the public.  Answering roll call were Chairman William Thorson; Board of Trustees Jason Felty, Jason Lee, Daniel Simon, and Richard Wielage.  Also present were Clerk June Moline and Utilities/Maintenance Superintendent Shannon Luetkenhaus.  Guests were Josh Girmus, Andy Jackson, Tiffany King, Roberta Kisling, Laurie VanAckeren, Mary Mayfield, Kylee Hickman, Mark Boschult, and Levi Durnal.

The posting of the Open Meetings Law was noted.

Motion by Wielage, second by Felty, to adopt the agenda.  Vote:  Felty-yes, Lee-yes, Simon-yes, Thorson-yes, Wielage-yes; motion carried 5-0.

The minutes of the February 8 Regular Meeting were accepted.

Motion by Lee, second by Felty, to approve the Treasurer’s Report showing $1,016,571.14 total checking/savings balance ending February 28, 2022.  Vote: Lee-yes, Simon-yes, Thorson-yes, Wielage-yes, Felty-yes; motion carried 5-0.

Motion by Simon, second by Thorson, to approve the claims of $34,328.01 for payment.  Vote:  Lee-yes, Simon-yes, Thorson-yes, Wielage-yes, Felty-yes; motion carried 5-0.  Claims being:

SCHEDULED GUESTS:

Library Director, Laurie VanAckeren, presented the Bibliostat Report.  VanAckeren and Library Board members questioned the process to discard of unwanted properties from the library.  The Clerk stated she had contacted the Village Attorney who once again indicated that all unwanted properties must go through a bid or auction process per state statute.  VanAckeren and several members of the Library Board questioned the employee time-clock policy.  Mary Mayfield said there are instances when VanAckeren works from home on grants.  Thorson named several time-periods when she was in the library but wrote in her time.  After discussion, it was agreed that if she worked from home, she is to note it on her time-card and a member of the Library Board is to sign off on it or if physically not in the library to note that reason on the time-card.

Motion by Simon, second by Lee, to adjourn to a Public Hearing at 6:22 p.m.  Vote:  Thorson-yes, Wielage-yes, Felty-yes, Lee-yes, Simon-yes; motion carried 5-0.

PUBLIC HEARING:

Thorson called the hearing to order at 6:22 p.m.  Answering roll call were Chairman Thorson; Trustees Felty, Lee, Simon, and Wielage.

Motion by Wielage, second by Thorson, to adopt the agenda.  Vote:  Wielage-yes, Felty-yes, Lee-yes, Simon-yes, Thorson-yes; motion carried 5-0.

Thorson reported the purpose of the hearing was to hear testimony of support, opposition, criticism, suggestions, or observations with regard to the following:

THE SOUTH HALF OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER AND THE NORTH HALF OF THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER IN SECTION 1, TOWNSHIP 14 NORTH, RANGE 8 EAST OF THE SIXTH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, SAUNDERS COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Girmus Investments is seeking approval to have the property rezoned from Agricultural to Light Industrial.

Thorson called for public input.

Josh Girmus stated the site would bring additional income into local businesses and dollars into the school district and fire department as agriculture is the lowest taxed property.  He will be seeking permission to split the ten acres into three lots.  He said he has had interest from several businesses that wish to locate near Mead.

Mark Boschult owns the property to the north, south, and east of the property. His property is zoned Agricultural and used for farming.  He feels that since the property located on the west side is also zoned Agricultural, that these ten acres should remain Agricultural instead of having it be Light Industrial.  He inquired about the future of Mead’s growth to the south, whether it be in the form of residential, agricultural, commercial, or industrial.

Planning Commission Chairman Levi Durnal indicated future land use was a reason the application was denied by the Planning Commission.

Moline reported contact with the Saunders County Zoning Administrator indicating the set-back for the property would be 100’ from the middle of the road as that was a question raised at the Planning Commission hearing. The Village Comprehensive Plan will be updated in the near future and following the update more information will be available as to future use of the land.

Motion by Simon, second by Wielage, to adjourn to a Public Hearing at 6:50 p.m.  Vote:  Felty-yes, Lee-yes, Simon-yes, Thorson-yes, Wielage-yes; motion carried 5-0.

PUBLIC HEARING:

Thorson called the hearing to order at 6:50 p.m.  Answering roll call were Chairman Thorson; Trustees Felty, Lee, Simon, and Wielage.

Motion by Simon, second by Thorson, to adopt the agenda.  Vote:  Lee-yes, Simon-yes, Thorson-yes, Wielage-yes, Felty-yes; motion carried 5-0.

Thorson reported the purpose of the hearing was to hear testimony of support, opposition, criticism, suggestions, or observations with regard to the following:

THE SOUTH HALF OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER AND THE NORTH HALF OF THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER IN SECTION 1, TOWNSHIP 14 NORTH, RANGE 8 EAST OF THE SIXTH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, SAUNDERS COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Girmus Investments is seeking approval to subdivide the ten acres into three lots.

Thorson called for public input.

Planning Commission Chairman Durnal stated the subdivision application was approved by the Planning Commission, with the stipulation that rezoning of the property is approved by the Board of Trustees.

Motion by Lee, second by Wielage, to adjourn to 6:52 p.m.  Vote:  Simon-yes, Thorson-yes, Wielage-yes, Felty-yes, Lee-yes; motion carried 5-0.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Motion by Wielage, second by Felty, to approve second reading of Ordinance No. 784 Waste Connections, Ordinance No. 785 Roadrunner Transportation, and Ordinance No. 786 S-2 Refuse and Recycling for Non-exclusive Franchise Agreements for garbage pick-up.  Vote:  Thorson-yes, Wielage-yes, Felty-yes, Lee-yes, Simon-yes; motion carried 5-0.

NEW BUSINESS:

Motion by Lee, second by Simon, to table action on the application from Girmus Investments to rezone property until further information is obtained on future land use.  Vote:  Wielage-yes, Felty-yes, Lee-yes, Simon-yes, Thorson-yes; motion carried 5-0.

Motion by Simon, second by Lee, to table action on the application from Girmus Investments to subdivide property until further information is obtained on approval of the zoning application from Girmus Investments. Vote:  Felty-yes, Lee-yes, Simon-yes, Thorson-yes, Wielage-yes; motion carried 5-0.

Interest rates for a loan were reviewed.  Rates being: Bank of Mead 2.75%, Wahoo State Bank 3.25%, and First Bank of Nebraska 3.95%

Felty introduced and motioned to adopt Resolution 22-02, Loan with the Bank of Mead to purchase a 1981 4440 John Deere Tractor and 2020 Dodge Charger at a cost of $53,400.00 at an annual interest rate of 2.75%.  Wielage seconded the motion.  Vote:  Lee-yes, Simon-yes, Thorson-yes, Wielage-yes, Felty-yes; motion carried 5-0.

Motion by Thorson, second by Wielage, to approve Final Approval – Water System Improvements Phase II – Water Supply and Treatment Facility – Wells 2017-2A and 2017-2B.  Vote: Simon-yes, Thorson-yes, Wielage-yes, Felty-yes, Lee-yes; motion carried 5-0.

POLICE REPORT:

Motion by Wielage, second by Lee, to appoint Thomas Sackett as Nuisance Enforcement Officer.  Vote:  Thorson-yes, Wielage-yes, Felty-yes, Lee-yes, Simon-yes; motion carried 5-0.

UTILITIES/MAINTENANCE SUPERINTENDENT REPORT:  Shannon Luetkenhaus

Shannon reported on duties completed this month:  sweeping streets with skid-steer sweeper attachment, picked up police vehicle in Topeka, KS, continue to replace and repair meters, and flushed hydrants.  Shannon presented a proposal from Johnson Service Co. to inspect and repair the sewer lines on an annual basis.  The board authorized the purchase of radio read equipment to connect to the water meters.

PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT:

Building Permit 22-01, Thomas and Jillian Spencer to install a fire-pit was accepted.

LIBRARY REPORT:

The minutes of the March 1 Library Board Meeting were accepted.

CLERK REPORT:

Moline reported receipt of two contacts to possibly help update the Comprehensive Plan, funds returned from USDA, and life insurance policy for Shannon.

Motion by Felty, second by Wielage, to adjourn at 7:40 p.m.  Vote:  Wielage-yes, Felty-yes, Lee-yes, Simon-yes, Thorson-yes; motion carried 5-0.

William Thorson, Chairman

June Moline, Clerk