February 5, 2024 at 7:00 PM - Beatrice Regular City Council Meeting

Discussion:  Mike & Justin Antons

Discussion:  tt - sold to D2 in _____, sold 20 acres, project has not moved forward, agreed to sell back for $210,000 same $ amount
Mayor - wasn't sure what was going to be done to begin with, good way to get back & control

Discussion:  closing looking to be mid-February

Discussion:  schwartzkopf property, rezoned industrial, declared industrial park, annex next step, set public hearing within 60 days.  P&Z hearing, CC hearing, 3 separate meetings according to state law.  wrap up by APril 

Discussion:  TT - in Feb 2023, loaned LB840, $12,500 for 1 senior housing duplex site of old hospital, 10th & arthur.  went through documents, some referred to 1 duplex, some stated 2, 1 duplex, 2 living units. clarifies.

Discussion:  moving forward with redvelopment with elementary sites, largest econ dev we have is TIF, first step is have blight & substandard study.  $8,500 Hanna:Keelan, late march early April.  Ted - doesn't change?  TT - state legislature deemed, nothing to do with good or bad properties are one is any bldg 40 years or older is deemed blighted/substandard.  other standard, does not change valuation of house, resale of property, most have no idea.  school was ok with designation.  TF - another tool bag, state said something we can use. only certain % of community designated. McLain - %?  TT - at 34.14%, once annex Schwart 34.99%, between then & study, we will look at some areas to de-TIF.  did a few years ago, took out AIrport.  Have identified 30 acres that could be taken out, which would keep us in our range.  Kerr -   TT - since all blgds will qualify on their own, its just bldg at this time, GB - proactive & move forward.  Kerr - Cedar already in?  TT - correct in #3.  Kerr -grants?  TT- not usually grants, can use TIF.   

Discussion:  TT _ working with MM one is RAISE Grant for Court STreet, asking for letters of support, working with downtown property owners, etc, asking for this support, mayor will also sign letter, Sen Dorn & ______already signed letter of support.

Discussion:  TT - about 1 year ago, city awarded Rrual workforce $1 mill paddock kensington derv - thought all went well, every recipient turned down grant, strings attached  LB850 introduced to eluviate the federal strings & give back to original applicants to use funds for the rural workforce housing iniative will submit to committee hearing this bill.  TF - will we go to testify?  TT - will make sure someone is there.

Discussion:  TT _ purchased 1908 lincoln, currently out for rent, instead of waiting until find tenant, approve generic lease.  TT & Mayor can sign.  would rather not have tenant have to wait 2 weeks for approval.  number of applicants, nothing approved at this time.

Discussion:  familiarize add boats/watercraft, increase penalties $150-$200; _________

Mitch Menke, 210 Granville Avenue, how soon city can go back if not taken care of stated can go back 3 days back to back.  will city work with citizens?  IF they work 12 hour, hospital, Mayor - first want to work with citizens before implementing fines, standard practice today.  Mitch  if get visit, will take time, how lenient will they be.  TR - frequency, rarely gets to court, usually get property cleaned up prior to fines.  Mitch  police wont issue citation, will they get letter, process?  TR - code enforcement officer will treat like nuisance.  educate employees to report, which employees, all, public, etc.  TR - all of the above  Mitch - trailer/vehilce  TR - where parked, where prohibited pursuant to zoning code  vary similar.  got called about camper, TR _ if traffic violation.  

Discussion:  TT - section 9-38 number of years 1971 recodified.  nothing since 1971, fire chief responsibility fire drill 1 time per month. not done by last 3 chiefs, school has their own rules, remove from books & get cleaned up.

Discussion:  proposal fowl - birds, chickens, ducks, no more than 6 at family residence, no duplex, covered enclosure, no roosters, effective july 1st, have until 7/1 to come into compliance.
Ted - will effect alot of people, many have chickens at homes.  asking them to pay attention.  Fralin- agree, just had junked vehicles & only 1 person appeared 1 time.  Gary - if you don't start on something Duane & Gary got called on chicken runs, have rights, researched & looked at other communities & what they do.  its a compromise.  the issue he went to had 30 broilers, after rain smelled.  Kerr- fines?  TT - general ordinance, up to max of $500 Mayor - first avenue of conversation, right place to start & give them opportunity to walk through.

Discussion:  Mayor - remind doing 3 times, certainly understand lot of issues on both sides, compromise that said, some may want to amendment, can put in amendment in next mtg, to allow to ensure exactly what you want
TT - 6/28 to 7/5, proposal 6/29 to 7/4. shortens by 2 days. selling & discharge
Gary - kicked around a lot, some may want wording changed, at this time, ask that pass in form written now, then TT & TR can look to amend later on down the road.
McLain - last time voted down, ordinance stayed as is, need to pass as is & get to the stage to amend if needed.
Ted - used to have for 1 day, changed to 1-4th, then changed to 7 days, now changing to 6, from 1 to 6 isn't comprmise.  personally would like to see 1-4, no problem with people selling fireworks, have problem with discharge, take back to 6 days back where we are today, ppl were caught off guard with extended days.  only people complaining are unhappy, those reaching the boiling point & not happy, assuming they are tolerating it.  do intend to reduce to just 1st to 4th. not apposed to selling, opposed to discharge. 
Fralin - will vote yes tonight to get to next stage, business man invested $ in selling, shouldnt' be taking money out of local business pocket.  wasn't lot of support for or against, part of job to bring stuff up.  will talk with council, don't care about discharge, care about days of selling
Kerr-  vote tonight, waiting for amendments coming through, asking Ted - with amendment, will you add sell
Ruh, 1st through 4th.  talking about weekend, this year  thought about having a weekend, this year & next 5 years will be weekend days until you wont have weekend day.  no problem to sell prior to 1st, will go to other towns to buy, look at having set time every day instead of having varied times.voting to extend
Doyle - committee has reviewed multiple times, 4 ppl discussed and recommending.  feel this is a compromise, need to see all amendments before voting, but needs to move foward

Dana Hydo, 208 Sherman Street, everyone was caught off guard last time, think if taken over 3 meetings, think public would have spoken out.  compromise is 4 days.  would like 1 or 2.  don't care how many days people sell, as long as not discharging, as long as PD will issue citations.  people do care about fireworks, don't want to hurt business, but there are rules in place.  
Mitch Menke, 210 Granville Avenue, 4th of July 2nd Christmas, also understanding pets, people with noises, unfortunately people will break laws.  fireworks consumable item, if decide to restrict discharge of dates, also restricting amount to be consumed in those 4 days, also effects sales.  something to consider business owners dumping in thousands into their business, get compromise talks, 5th wipe out, would like 28th but think 29th is ok, if discharge & selling.
Rita Hydo, 208 Sherman Street, found ironic feel bad about sounds & smells of chickens but not smells & sounds of fireworks.  When thought about bars not selling liquor longer, did they think of those impacts of those sales, they sacrifced.  have recording inside house with fireworks, loud enough to not talk over.  like fireworks, like neighbors, agree with Dana, 1-4 is nice compromise, sell all eayr long, but discharge 1-4
chris cullison, 1725 Ella STreet, want to talk about bars selling alcohol, can sell 365 days a year, has limited time to sell.  stake his claim in Beatrice, grow business to employ more than just him & family.  365 days in a year, give 7 days to shoot off, not being able to discharge, can buy in Missouri, tons shooting off NYE, invested in tent to grow, a lot of peoples Christmas, kids & adults people by $2000 at a shot & see daily.
Margaret Haith, 104 Granville, didn't know about until heard on radio, last fall out & about town, found some areas had no issues with them, others had alot of issues.  belvedere 1 block away had a couple neighbors on June 28 - would go until 1230-1 in the am, daily except for 5th.  left in street the next day.  some will abuse regardless. most would like 1-4 like it was, think its enough 8 was too much.  don't care how long they sell, even 6 days would be alot.  Fralin- appreciate coming up here.  heard times during year going off, sure she hears those also, I don't call police when that happens, what is the resolution to solve issue.  how does limiting the number of days shoot off help, because they are shooting off through year, come with some resolution to talk through & figure out what is good for everyone.  MH - issue is when you have multiple people shooting off, only during 4th, not continual from dark to midnight, it at least ends.
emily 308 South 22nd Street, firework & Military family, understand they don't like noise of fireworks.  talked family member down from flashback of war, even though he had a moment taking him back to a bad place, loves what fireworks mean, its our freedom & is first to be out in depth of all lighting off fireworks celebrating.  has daughter in 8th grade, fundraiser for her self to DC, fireworks extended to sell, were able to raise all funds needed to get entire trip paid for.  uncle Chris have put out numerous fundraisers, track, other organizations raise money to support their fundraising needs, agree a compromise 5th was a bad day, 4th was horrible.  if not for 5th, wouldnt' have had their own.  could come up with comprise for discharge, selling who cares, his business is bringing your town taxes in turn increasing revenue in City.  hope will listen to what public has said & will have conversations with owners & make so he is also able to make money
Chris -  after thought, compromise will be educating public about what laws are.  found conflicting information, they try to do that, other part is enforcement, if doing it at 1:00 boils down to enforcement, neighbors need to call in.  dont' let rotten apple spoil fun for everyone.
Gary - Dave anything to weigh in on
Dave - discussed compromise is important, more than just Chris involved in sales, large amount of organizations that sell & sell alot. always going have those who want less, those who want less.  State law allows June 25 to July 4.  part of reason recommend 29th to 4th is contrary to comments, 6th day is something we can live with, nice rotation of weekend days.  shooting only until 10 during 29-3rd, kearney sold for 30 years, have had same rules for 30 years, they do 6, 10 town stops, understand how it works.3&4 have right to sell until midnight.  compromise i believe 6 is the way to go. several phone calls on both sides, always going to have not everyone happy.  believe if can live with, enforce what you can, don't care how long they sell, they are going to discharge as soon as they buy, shoot when buy, foolish thought to expect consumers not to shoot until legal days.  not sure how 5th came in to play, TEd - voted for it, eskra not on council????  6 is way better than 10 & decent compromise from 2.
DOyle - 3rd & 4th shooting & sell until midnight.
Chris - agree with estra, if can sell 7 days & shoot 6 days nice compromise, having a full weekend is helpful, people going to lakes, out of town, etc., stopped at our stand & bought from us before going out of town.  Fralin - sell in wymore?  8 days  Eskra - Lincoln for longest was 2, every other place Cortland, Hickman, cater to Lincoln.  wont 
Gary - on council when passed last councilman wish you would revisit, out of respect doesn't do any good committees because Mayor let us.  respecting committees to make decision to revisit again, but thank everyone for coming 
Rita - when do we contact? send this week
Mayor - done better job when considering items public will be listening 3 times for public input.
Ruh - how long 1-4?  20+
Kerr - if you have issue, do you know who your councilman is important to know, contact one of council
Emily - make suggestion  
Mayor - thank you for well thought out discussion.  
Gary  will meet before next council meeting

Discussion:  TT - at last mtg change order came through, State willing to increase $1 mill, interest .07%, 30 year loan, 
Doyle - ask if we could get more?  TT - asked, not an option

Discussion:  Mitch Menke, 210 Granville Avenue, when on agenda for write off of ambulance bad debts.  not on there?
water craft/cars is there a definition who decides that the watercraft is unrepairable?