March 4, 2024 at 6:30 PM - 1st Council Regular Meeting

1. Mayor Mike Feeken 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 Feeken 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 the City of St. Paul 2022-2023 Financial Statement.  Gary Hinrichs CPA with Dana F. Cole & Co., Ord, NE will do a brief summary of the Statement.

5. Declaration of Nuisance: 807 7th Street (Landry Welch)
Discuss - Approve / Deny sending the "Notice of Hearing to be Determined Existence of Public Nuisance and to Abate in Whole or in Part" regarding the property at 807 7th Street (formerly the old Parts Bin store).  The property is more legally described as the N 71' of Lots Four (4), Five (5), Six (6) and Seven (7), Block Seventy-Eight (78), Original Town, Howard County, St. Paul, Nebraska.

6. Discuss the City of St. Paul's Department Status Updates regarding (possible action): (1) Library; (2) Ambulance; (3) Fire; and (4) Police.

7. Discuss - City of St. Paul Fire Department Truck #50 which is described as a 2015 Ford F-250 Super Duty XL 4x4 four (4) door.  The purchase price was $22,995; St. Paul Rural Fire Board purchased half (1/2) the cost of the truck from Jacobs Ford (Possible Action).

8. The Middle Loup Subdivision bids were received and opened on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.  A total of four (4) bids were submitted and have been reviewed by Olsson's, Grand Island, NE.  After the review of the bids, Olsson's recommendation that "Notice of Award" be given to the apparent low bidder, Elsbury Construction LLC, in the contract amount of $3,218,403.94.
Discuss - Approve / Deny the Middle Loup Subdivision "Notice of Award" to be given to Elsbury Construction, LLC in the contract amount of $3,218,403.94.

a. Brian Friedrichsen with Olsson to update the Mayor and Council on the Black Hills gas line (possible action).

9. Discuss - Approve / Deny burying a drainage ditch pipe on the east side of 4th Street between Jay Street and Kendall Street pertaining to the new Fire Station;
a. Discuss - Approve Engineering Firm.

10. Discuss - Approve / Deny the City Street Dept. purchasing a 2004 Volvo Motor Grader (this is a bid letting item).

11. Discuss - Approve / Deny Consent Agenda Items:
(1) Council Minutes regarding February 20, 2024 (regular); 
(2) Disbursements March 4, 2024; and
(3) St. Paul Rescue Squad Members: a. Emilee Almond; b. Chloe Carlson; c. Amy Kruse; d. Tarah Ondracek; and e. Paula Ryan. 

12. Discuss - Approve / Deny transferring $300,000 from the City Utility Billing Heritage Bank account to the City's Light, Water and Sewer Nebraska Class accounts.  This is to receive a higher interest rate.

13. Discuss - Approve / Deny replacing St. Paul Police Dept. "evidence door"; this is due to the overheating of the room (Chief of Police Howard);
a. Disbursement from the Building Insured Cash Sweep (ICS) Building fund?
 

14. Discuss 1st of the month City of St. Paul's nuisances per the Nuisance Committee (Chief of Police Dan Howard to report) - Possible Action.

15. Utilities Superintendent Helzer updates

16. Chief of Police Howard updates:

17. Mayor Feeken updates:
(1) St. Paul Municipal Code updates are still in progress Chapter 1, Articles 1 - 11; Deputy Clerk Berthelsen and Payroll Clerk Kristie Fousek are making the changes;
(2) The City received the Energy Research and Development Fund Grant (ERDF) in the amount of $1,405.78; Electrical Commissioner James Summers wants to utilize it for Electrical Engineering fees regarding the Middle Loup Subdivision;
(3) The final payment was Fed-Ex to Altec Capital Services regarding the Electrical Bucket Truck in the amount of $53,950; the Electrical Bucket Truck was insured for $120,000, due to material and equipment on the truck.
(4) the Cybersecurity Grant has been submitted to the NE Cybersecurity Board for review and scoring of the applications.  Once they are scored, the state will send an email stating that the grant has been approved at the state level, and then it will be sent off to FEMA and CISA for approval.  Jennifer Dennis with Hamilton will be the City of St. Paul's new contact person (2-28-24);
(5) EPIC - Eliminate Property, Income and Corporate tax (See LB 79) Very Important bill to read regarding Municipalities;
 

18. Public Announcements

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

20. Mayor Feeken adjourns City Council meeting

21. Informational Items:
(1) LARM's 2022-2023 Annual Report;

22. 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.