February 8, 2022 at 8:00 PM - Village of Kenesaw - Board of Trustees Meeting

Discussion:  Chairman Kroos called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m.
Attendence:  Kroos-present, Knuth-present, Uden-present, Ehly-Present.  Others present:  Village Superintendent-Jeff Edmondson, Village Clerk/Treasurer-Shelley Dick, NERWA-Randy Hellbusch, Village Planning & Zoning-Henry Wilson.

Discussion:  Chair Kroos gave notice of the Open Meetings Act Literature to be on the south wall of the meeting room.

Discussion:  Randy Hellbusch of the Nebraska Rural Water Association presented the board with his findings from the study of the sewer rates.  He suggested single residential and commercial sewer rates be changed to $20.00 per month + $1.30 per thousand gallons based on the December, November, & January average.  Multi-dwelling units, which include apartments , trailer houses and multiple businesses served by a single meter, rates will be $20.00 for one unit and $5.00 for each additional unit + $1.30 per thousand gallons based on the December, January & February average.  He pointed out to the board that changing the sewer to what he suggests will equal the sewer rates for all consumers paying the same rates versus having several different rates.  The board asked Clerk Dick to construct an ordinance that states the details and rates suggested to them by Randy.

Discussion:  Clerk Dick asked the board if she could attend the League of Municipalities 2022 Midwinter Conference in Lincoln from February 28 - March 1, 2022 for the fee of $325.00.  The board looked over the conference schedule and Trustee Kroos stated that she thought it would be an excellent idea. Trustee Ehly stated that she would get paid her wages for attending the conference and mileage.

Discussion:  Clerk Dick provided the board with a spreadsheet of other town pool lifeguards', pool assistant managers' and pool managers' wages.  The board looked at the spreadsheet and noted that the village's pool employee pay is significantly lower than other towns.  Trustee Ehly suggested the starting wage for a lifeguard be increased from $8.50 to $10.00.  Also, to compensate the pool manager, pool assistant manager(s) and returning pool employee(s) with the same $1.50 increase and the customary 3% returning employee raise.

Discussion:  Clerk Dick suggested to the board that the village purchase some banners for the Village of Kenesaw's 150th year to display.  Jeff explained that the village has pole banner holders that will fit into the Christmas light attachments that are already on the poles.  He stated that making the banners to fit these holders would save the village money and be more efficient than getting new banner holders.  Trustee Kroos asked Clerk Dick to put together a work session and ask some volunteers from the Kenesaw Museum to help with deciding what to put on the banners.  Trustee Ehly requested Clerk Dick to get ahold of Zimmerman Printing to get some quotes on the banners.

Discussion:  Clerk Dick informed the board that Robin Hendrickson with Hendrickson Appraisal came to do the appraisals on January 31st.   He was here to appraise the empty lot at 109 N Smith Ave and the lot at 214 N Smith Ave.  He stated the appraisals would take about a month to produce.

Discussion:  Clerk Dick informed the board that only one person, besides the two board members who volunteered for the committee, showed up to the organization of the park committee.  She told the board that she needed to put the meeting notice on social media so that more residents would be aware of it.  Also, she would put the rescheduled meeting in the newsletter going out to the residents in March.  Trustee Kroos suggested that Clerk Dick make a Facebook page for the village office to post notices like this and keep the community updated on things going on.

Discussion:  Adjourn to Executive Session at 8:51 p.m.

Discussion:  Resume Regular Session at 9:23 p.m.