August 7, 2023 at 6:30 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. Mayor Joel M. Bergman opened a public hearing regarding the Final Plat of PAUL'S North Subdivision (Troy and Delcie Lukasiewicz) located in a part of the Southwest Quarter (SW1/4) of Section 34, Township 15 North, Range 10 West of the 6th P.M. in Howard County, Nebraska.

5. Discuss - Approve / Deny the City of St. Paul moving forward with an "Agreement/Contract" with Fiber Nebraska (Stuart Gilbertsen). 

6. Mayor Bergman opened the Public Comment period pertaining to the Final Plat of PAUL'S North Subdivision (Troy and Delcie Lukasiewicz) located in a part of the Southwest Quarter (SW1/4) of Section 34, Township 15 North, Range 10 West of the 6th P.M. in Howard County, Nebraska.
***Mayor Bergman CLOSED the Public Comment period.
Approve / Deny the Final Plat of the PAUL'S North Subdivision (Troy and Delcie Lukasiewicz) located in a part of the Southwest Quarter (SW1/4) of Section 34, Township 15 North, Range 10 West of the 6th P.M. in Howard County, Nebraska.

7. Mayor Bergman Appointment to the Elmwood Cemetery Board:
Discuss - Approve / Deny Mayor Bergman appointing Tracey Dietz to the Elmwood Cemetery Board effective immediately.  Mrs. Dietz will be taking the vacancy position of Connie Thompson.

8. Discuss - Approve / Deny Consent Agenda Items:
(1) July 17, 2023 (regular) Council minutes; July 19, 2023 (Special - Wastewater Treatment Facility Construction); July 19, 2023 (Special - 2023-2024 Budget Workshop); and July 27, 2023 (Special - second (2nd) 2023-2024 Budget Workshop); and 
(2) July 31, 2023, zoning permits;
(3) August 7, 2023, disbursements; 
(4) St. Paul Firefighter Marcus A. Paczosa (924 Wallace Street); 
(5) Special Designated Liquor (SDL) application regarding MJR, Inc. dba Bandits (1016 N. Diers Ave., Ste. 118 Grand Island, NE #CK - 094736) on Saturday, September 16, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. for a Wedding reception at the St. Paul Civic Center (423 Howard Avenue). WITH STIPULATION OF ACQUIRING COI PRIOR TO EVENT!!!; AND
(6) Well Permit regarding Mark Starkey at 1514-1516 5th Street (Block 8, Prairie Falls Subdivision.

9. Update on ARPA Rural Workforce Land Development Grant for $1 million.  Discuss options as a result of the NE Dept. of Economic Development (NDED) changing the grant to a zero percent (0%) loan (possible action). 

10. Discuss - Approve / Deny Jarod Greenough (Apprentice Lineman) hourly wage according to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 1597 Step 2 - ($22.25) effective immediately.  On October 1, 2023, Mr. Greenough will move to $24.25.

11. Discuss - Approve / Deny location of new City of St. Paul Fire Station (east of Parkside Plaza on City Property Parcel ID #47-1002220).

12. Chief of Police Dan Howard: The consideration of a "Community Committee" to assist with City of St. Paul nuisances.

13. Utilities Superintendent Helzer updates:
(1) Liquid Engineering Corporation inspection of City of St. Paul Water Tower; the work completed will cost $2,815;
(2) City of St. Paul Recycling Center test well results;

14. Chief of Police Howard updates:
(1) NE Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice: City of St. Paul Police Department has met the field assessment portion of the Commission's accreditation program;
(2) Police Officer Mathew Sample has been accepted into the NE Law Enforcement Training Center (NLETC); Mr. Sample has passed all training and the Physical Readiness Entrance Test (PRET);
(3) $300 Vet bill from previous Council meeting: Abandon animal (dog) remaining was for cat meds;

15. Mayor Bergman updates:
(1) A Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) Construction Progress meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers; 
(2) A proposed 2023-2024 Budget public input special meeting will be held on Monday, August 21, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers; the Regular City Council meeting will immediately commence after the adjournment of the budget public hearing;
(3) The first City Council meeting in September 2023 will be on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at 6:30 p.m.;
(4) Caitlin Birdsell (MAD Development) reimbursed the City $300 in attorney fees regarding Cline Williams forming the 4th Amendment to the Redevelopment Agreement;
(5) Apology letter from Autumn Doncheske regarding City Park bathroom damage;
(6) St. Paul Keno LLC (Mike Nevrivy) recap of 2021 -2023 keno (see attached letter);

16. Public Announcements

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

18. Mayor Bergman adjourns City Council meeting

19. Informational Items:
(1) St. Paul Fire and Rescue Roster dated July 19, 2023;
(2) Current Sales Tax Receipts for July 2023;
(3) Olsson's minutes of the Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) Construction Progress meeting held on July 19, 2023;
(4) Time Certificates July 2023

20. City of St. Paul Job Titles and Salaries of Employees shall be published per NE Statute 19-1102:
Non-union: Utility Superintendent - $37.08; City Clerk - $35.83; Chief of Police - $28.96; Police Sergeant - $28.00; Police Officers - $21.25 - $22.54; Police Secretary - $17.23; Library Employees - $11.37 - $18.58; Housekeeping - $163.88 biweekly;
Seasonal Hourly Wages: Cemetery/Light - $14.00 - $15.50; Landfill - $13.00; Pool Employees - $10.50 - $17.25; EMT’s (transports) $15.00;
Union Hourly: Light Commissioner- $35.86; Lineman - $32.43; Water Commissioner - $27.25; Water Operator - $20.72; Sewer Superintendent - Vacant; Sewer Operators (2) - $20.00; Street Commissioner - $29.37; Equipment Operator - $24.05; Parks Manager - $24.89; Deputy City Clerk - $25.01; Utility Clerk - $22.83; Payroll Clerk - $21.71;
Mayor - $3,600; City Council - $2,400; City Treasurer - $2,400.

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

The City of St. Paul abides by the Nebraska Open Meetings Act in conducting business.  A copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act is on display in the meeting room as required by Nebraska State Law.
The Mayor and City Council reserve the right to enter into an Executive Session at any time during the meeting, in accordance with the Nebraska Open Meetings Act, even though the closed session may not be indicated on the Agenda.
It is the intention of the Mayor and City Council to take up the items on the agenda in sequential order.  However, the Mayor and City Council reserves the right to take up matters in a different order to accommodate the schedules of the City Council members, person(s) having items on the agenda, and the public.  The City of St. Paul reserves the right to adjust the order of items on the agenda.
Anyone wishing to speak may be limited to three (3) to five (5) minutes per person.  Please utilize the podium and clearly state your name and address for the record and the agenda topic you wish to speak upon in a professional manner.