April 4, 2022 at 7:00 PM - 1st Council Regular Meeting

1. 6:00 p.m.  -  JJ Green - Primark Insurance
Discuss - Approve / Deny the City of St. Paul's employee United Healthcare (UHC) insurance renewal coverage effective May 1, 2022; JJ Green with Primark Insurance will be in attendance.  

2. Mayor Bergman calls meeting to order, with the "Pledge of Allegiance" and the "Open Meeting Statement" as required by NE State Statutes 84-1407 through 84-1414; Mayor Bergman also states that the City Council may vote to go into Closed Session on any agenda item as allowed by NE State Statute 84-1410. 

3. Submittal of Request for Future Agenda Items

4. Reserve time to Speak on an Agenda Item

5. Mayor Bergman opens Public Hearing regarding a "Conditional Use Permit" application filed by Birdhouse Properties, LLC (Caitlin Birdsell) for the construction of a multi-family dwelling on Lots One (1) and Two (2), Dalton Meadows Subdivision in St. Paul, Howard County, Nebraska.  The property is located on the south side of Jay Street, west of Nelson Street. 

6. Discuss - Approve / Deny Pay Request #2 to Rutjens Construction Inc. Tilden, NE regarding the Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF); Project #020-2586 in the amount of $16,097.01 for stored material (transformer). The pay request will be submitted to the NE Dept. of Environment & Energy (NDEE) for reimbursement. 

7. Mayor Bergman opened the "public comment" period regarding a "Conditional Use Permit" application filed by Birdhouse Properties, LLC (Caitlin Birdsell) for the construction of a multi-family dwelling on Lots One (1) and Two (2), Dalton Meadows Subdivision in St. Paul, Howard County, Nebraska.  The property is located on the south side of Jay Street, west of Nelson Street.  

8. Approve / Deny the "Conditional Use Permit" application filed by Birdhouse Properties, LLC (Caitlin Birdsell) for the construction of a multi-family dwelling on Lots One (1) and Two (2), Dalton Meadows Subdivision in St. Paul, Howard County, Nebraska.  The property is located on the south side of Jay Street, west of Nelson Street.  

9. Discuss - Approve / Deny bid for a new or used City Sewer Jetter Trailer.

10. Discuss - Approve / Deny bid for a new or used City Sewer Hydro-Excavation Trailer (Vacuum).

11. Discuss - Approve / Deny City of St. Paul surplus property (well-field building) bid; the building is located at 12th Avenue and Eagle Road, St. Paul, Howard County, NE.  Bids were to be submitted by 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 1, 2022; the sale shall be for cash.  City Clerk Connie Jo Beck followed the terms of the sale pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. 17-503.02. The building must be dismantled by September 30, 2022.

12. City Council consideration for the Nebraska Air-boaters to clear City owned land by the Middle Loup River - Parcel #471024461.  The goal would be to utilize the land for recreation and access to the river.  This is contingent on City approval to gain access to the property as it is currently land locked (Possible Action). 

13. Discuss - Approve / Deny Consent Agenda Items: (1) March 14, 2022 (special) and March 21, 2022 (regular) Council minutes; (2) March 28, 2022 zoning permits; and (3) April 4, 2022 disbursements.  

14. Discuss - Approve / Deny construction of the City "Welcome Sign" to be located on the south side of St. Paul, NE.  The sign north of St. Paul is still in the discussion stage, but hoping to finalize soon.
a. Approve / Deny which account will absorb cost of south "Welcome Sign".

15. Discuss - Approve / Deny the St. Paul Rescue Squad's "2022 Billing Rate Schedule" to be mailed to Quick Med Claims, Omaha, NE; this is regarding the St, Paul Rescue Squad's medical transports.  The 2022 billing rates will remain the same as the year 2021.  The St. Paul Rescue Squad approved the billing rates at the Monday, March 28, 2022 meeting.

16. Discuss - Approve / Deny Emily Paczosa (411 Mills, Dannebrog, NE) as a new Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) to the St. Paul Rescue Squad. Emily Paczosa is currently certified as an EMT. 

17. Discuss - Approve / Deny the City of St. Paul purchasing a heat blanket from Jon Kuck (St. Libory, NE) in the amount of $1,200 to be utilized at the Elmwood Cemetery to thaw cemetery graves.
a.  Approve / Deny disburse funds from which account: (1) Elmwood Cemetery Perpetual $8,173 or Elmwood Cemetery ICS $19,619.
 

18. Discuss - Approve / Deny transferring $50,000 from the City Sales Tax Money Market and placing it in the City Sales Tax Checking account; this is to pay the Street - Motor Vehicle Tax and the 25% Infrastructure funds from the Sales Tax proceeds on the 17th of the month.

19. Discuss - Approve / Deny the City of St. Paul advertising until May 1, 2022 regarding the hiring of a City Police Officer in the Phonograph Herald and at the Law Enforcement Training Center, Grand Island, NE; 
a. Approve / Deny a starting hourly wage for a Non-Certified Police Officer and a Certified Police Officer.

20. Discussion regarding the "Physical Capacity Profile Testing System" for City employees; this test would be performed at the Howard County Medical Center.
The testing system would reduce injuries by ensuring employees have the physical strength to safely perform their job responsibilities.  Reducing workers compensation exposure by documenting impairments that an employee brings with them to the workplace. Providing pre-injury baseline measurements on an employee allowing treating professionals to expedite the rehabilitation process; the test is $65 per employee (Possible Action).

21. Discuss - Approve / deny City of St. Paul's "2022 seasonal hire" hourly wage for:
(1) Electrical Dept. - One (1) seasonal;
(2) Street Dept. - Two (2) seasonal;
(3) Cemetery/Park - One (1) long seasonal;
(4) Sewer/Park - One (1) short seasonal;
(5) Park - One (1) seasonal; and
(6) Landfill - One (1) seasonal.

22. Utility Superintendent Helzer updates:
(1) Water Treatment Facility Filter Aerator (motor starter switch) burned up Sunday, March 27, 2022; parts are on order. 

23. Chief of Police Howard updates:

24. City Council member updates

25. Mayor Bergman updates:
(1) Special Council meeting on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. regarding an IBEW 1597 Union negotiation workshop;
(2) Special Designated Liquor (SDL) permits regarding St. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church "fish fry" on Friday, April 1 and April 8, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.;
(3) Update on Alliance for Community Energy (ACE) meeting on Tuesday, March 22, 2022: Choice Gas Selection period is from April 1, 2022 to April 22, 2022, with seven (7) suppliers: ACE, Blackhills Energy, Constellation New Energy (team up with ACE), Vista Energy, Wood River Energy, Symmetry Energy and Uncle Frank Energy.  The City will be promoting ACE / Constellation New Energy via City Facebook, Website and the Phonograph Herald. It was conveyed to the City that this will be a RATE SHOCK to the local residents; this will be a rate increase of 33%.  Financial Reports and Legislation Bills were reviewed (minutes to be kept in electronic record under the Open Meetings Act); ACE Community Clean-up Assistance would provide a donation to a local organization regarding a clean-up project; safety vest and trash bags would be provided to the City;
(4) City received Certificate of Insurance from Robert Kanter regarding the Water Well-Field Pasture Rent; expiration date is May 29, 2022;
(5) State of NE (State Patrol) Lease Agreement renewal regarding the rental of the City North-yard building in the amount of $250 monthly; the lease will be from March 1, 2022 to February 29, 2024;
(6) Public Alliance for Community Energy (ACE) April 1, 2022 beginning rates for Central Nebraska; attached is prior year ACE rates. 
 

26. Public Comment Period - restricted to items on the agenda

27. Public Announcements

28. Closed Session: Pending Litigation; Strategy Session with respect to real estate purchase; and prevent needless injury to the reputation of an individual

29. Mayor Bergman adjourns City Council meeting

30. Informational Items:

31. This agenda, including supporting documentation, is available for public viewing during normal business hours at the City Office, 704 6th Street, St. Paul, Nebraska.