January 3, 2023 at 7:00 PM - 1st Council Regular Meeting

1. Mayor Bergman calls City Council 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. 

2. Submittal of Request for Future Agenda Items

3. Reserve time to Speak on an Agenda Item

4. Discuss - Approve / Deny Consent Agenda Items: (1) December 19, 2022 minutes (regular); (2) January 3, 2023 disbursements; and (3) City of St. Paul Firefighter's Trae Anderson and Spencer Synowski. 

5. DISCUSSION: See attached letter from Electric Superintendent Ed Thompson requesting that his entire vacation leave balance be allowed to carry over into "2023".  Mr. Thompson is also requesting to work 20 hours a week until a qualified and experienced Electric Superintendent has been hired.  Mr. Thompson will then utilize 20 hours of vacation time to make it a fulltime position.  In utilizing the vacation time, monies will not be taken from the 2022-2023 Light budget (POSSIBLE ACTION).
Discuss - Approve / Deny advertising for a City of St. Paul Electric Superintendent; the ad will be placed in the Phonograph Herald, Nebraska Municipal Review and Essent (NMPP). 

6. Utilities Superintendent Helzer updates:
(1) Big Iron final bid on City Sewer Vacuum is $2,001 and on Sewer Flusher is $7,925; the Village of Farwell purchased both pieces of equipment;
 

7. Chief of Police Howard updates:

8. City Council member updates

9. Mayor Bergman updates:
(1) Thank you letter to the Street Department and Payroll Clerk from St. Paul Pool Manager Kristy Smith;
(2) Keely Butcher from the Howard County Medical Center stated that the City of St. Paul has to own 51% of the Wellness & Therapy facility per the CCCFF grant, therefore the Howard County Medical Center will not be utilizing the grant; 
(3) City Clerk Beck signed a bond purchase agreement pertaining to the new St. Paul Fire Station; this will set the interest rate at 4.64% on a 20-year amortization schedule; the new sales tax will be effective beginning April 1, 2023;
(4) Notice of Special Meeting to be held on Monday, January 9, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. regarding the Middle Loup Subdivision improvements, cost and funding; 
(5) Next City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 17, 2023, due to the Martin Luther King holiday;
(6) Hastings Keno LLC (Mike Nevrivy) reimbursed City $2,000 for the 2021-2022 Keno audit;
 

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

11. Public Announcements

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

13. Mayor Bergman adjourns City Council meeting

14. Informational Items:

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