January 5, 2021 at 7:00 PM - CITY OF SEWARD

Discussion:  Mayor Eickmeier announced that a copy of the Agenda for this meeting is posted on the north wall of the Municipal Building and copies are available on the north wall where a copy of the Open Meetings Act is also posted for public inspection. He also noted that any citizen wishing to address the Council should come to the podium, state their name and address and limit their comments to five minutes. All remarks should be directed to the Mayor/Chairperson, who will then determine who will make any appropriate response. The City of Seward reserves the right to adjust the order of items on this agenda if necessary and may elect to take action on any of the items listed.

Discussion:  The VFW submitted a change of Manager application for their liquor license at 243 S 9th Street. Council to recommend approval or denial of the requested change of manager. 

Discussion:  Hughes Brothers is requesting to display 100-Year Anniversary Banners along Seward Street from 4th Street to 13th Street and near the Municipal Bandshell.  Hughes Brothers is looking to put up 22-24 banners on light posts along this route. A few of the posts currently do not have banner brackets. Hughes Brothers will fabricate these additional brackets and assist with install.  Hughes Brothers will be hosting factory tours and promoting throughout 2021 and they hope the banners will spark interest in these efforts. Hughes Brothers ask that the banners be installed after Memorial Day and continue to be displayed through the Month of July.  Their tours are tentatively scheduled for mid-June, pandemic permitting.

 

Discussion:  At the October 20, 2020 City Council meeting, Councilmember Kamprath requesedt that we look at items related to lighting and plantings along the Karol Kay Project from Bader Avenue to Hillcrest Drive. Mayor Eickmeier instructed that Administration and a few Councilmembers meet with members of the Eastridge Homeowners Association (HOA) to see what specific issues they would like addressed and how they would like to see those items handled.  On November 4th, City Engineer Mike Oneby, City Administrator Greg Butcher, and Councilmembers Beck and Kolterman met with interested members of the HOA.  The City presented updated lighting and planting plans for the project.  From that discussion, it was agreed by the City that we would inquire with JEO about moving lights to be placed entirely on the west side of Karol Kay to reduce light pollution to the neighbors.  The HOA had been in contact with the Upper Big Blue River NRD about what plantings they could assist with. The HOA agreed to meet and let the City know if they would be willing to place some of the plantings on their own property as there is not enough room in the design and right-of-way for all the plantings the HOA desired.  The City contracted JEO that week and we received on November 19th a safety explanation, estimate, timeline, and plan for changing the lighting location.  JEO estimated this would be a $4,000-$6,000 change and would need to be approved by NDOT and paid entirely by the City as it was not part of the original plans.  On November 20th the HOA confirmed City Engineer Mike Oneby’s email, but did not provide an update on information from the HOA or the NRD.  City Administrator Butcher contacted the HOA in mid-December and inquired about status. The HOA then informed him that they had already voted to allow a portion of plantings on their property and that the NRD had determined that they would not be able to plant in the ROW.
 

Discussion:  The Street Department requested installing a stop sign at the intersection of 4th Street and Waverly Road. This roadway is usually closed by the cemetery gates but at various points it is open. To error on the side of caution, Administration brought forth this recommendation.
 

Discussion:  The current February 2021 deadline is the final extension for current projects to wrap up and requested funding.  To ensure the best use of the funds available and to make sure they go to qualifying applicants, it was recommend by Tom Bliss at SENDD that the City fund all projects at a 50-50 match.  Additionally there still may be some dollars left in the City allocation so allowing projects to be funded at a 50-50 match over the $50,000 threshold was also recommended.  These recommendations were approved by the LB 840/DTR Committee unanimously at their December 23 meeting.
 

Discussion:  As is the practice, when there is a vacancy, the affected department and City Administration review the job description and propose updates. The proposed job description was approved by the Tim Richtig, Water/Wastewater Director.

Discussion:  With the announced retirement of Ronda Baumbach, City Administration is proposing updates to the Job Description prior to posting the vacancy.

Discussion:  City Departments and Administrative Staff are proposing job title and job description changes for two positions in preparation for posting the upcoming and current vacancy for the Utility Billing/Account Clerk and Wastewater Treatment/Sanitary System Operator. The proposed ordinance changes the titles only (assuming the job descriptions are approved), but does not change the pay lines. 

Discussion:  Following review and discussion, a motion to accept the City Administrator's report would be in order.