April 1, 2024 at 7:00 PM - Beatrice Regular City Council Meeting

Discussion:  Mayor Morgan presented to Councilman Fairbanks. Ted - grandson, cooper, 12 years old.  asked son Tim, on state board in Iowa & testing early is important, young people, after 2nd birthday, used to say different not less, not less than anyone else.  always places for outreach.  acceptance is very important.

Discussion:  Hannah Bell introduced Abby Dobson & Mikayla Schirmeier, 9 years with FORVIS previously BKD.  Abby thanked Hannah & team for hard work.  High level - responsibilities, forming & expressing opinions if GAP accounting principles, look at audit & design audit test to obtain reasonable, can't look at every transaction & all invoices.  look at audit from risk based approach.  design audit with scoping Place audit opinion, does't dismiss management from responsibilitiy
clean, unmodified audit.  believe material correct with accounting principles.  required to audit government standards - internal control & compliance - based on audit, clean unmodified opinion for internal control & compliance.  audit for city - compliance with federal programs, single audit required, pg 122 compliance, clean report on that as well.  no significant deficiencies.

auditor's opinion - referred to - do not audit the Beatrice public library foundation.
auditor has responsible to read entire document, not audit each page.  submitted to GFOA, certificate for FY22 is included in document.  great program to be a part of.  in regards to, other info - included but not required.

significant accounting policies, pg 28 - fund accounting & reconciliation, government wide, baswa blended component, library as discretely separate.  new accounting standards adopted - gas 96 subscription, last year 87 for leases.  GASB 96 software agreements - the city does not have any meeting the requirements.  alternative  - none

management - accounting estimates, allowance on uncollectible accounts, depreciation, etc., could change.    financial statement disclosure - note L pg 64 tax abatement,   OUr judgment - 1 item related to government merger of Airport Authority to City of Beatrice.  additional disclosure on pg 44, 

audit adjustments - no matters reportable no changes required - kudos to Hannah for number of transactions   uncorrected misstatement - city did make decision 1 uncorrected misstatement - related to opiod over many years 10-15 years, report as $ comes in, 
Other communication - talked about no material issues, discussion of segregation of duties with Bell & TT, due to size of finance department.  continuing to look to segregate, city has done great job, overall governance, check signing, help mitigate risks Hannah has, but not uncommon for size of city

other financial reporting matters - new GASB 100, not until FY25.  require to analysis of uncomposated absenses.  in addition, one other GASB102 on risk disclosures - not included, will also be applicable in FY25.  look at some disclosures around certain risks

Mayor - done great job, as well as Hannah.  thanked for relationship, believe in good financial shape.  already on website as part of our transparancy.

TD- prefer the notes, page 110 long term debt, 3-4 years ago 6.7 mill net bonded debt, now 6.1, issued 2.75 debt during this time, reduced by __________. Thank Hannah for hard work, dept heads, tt & everyone.  sidenote - relative to long term debt, point of which you can stifle growth, keep looking at that for community projects ,very good financial   113 interesting population 12, 600, now 12,200, google 50 years 12,389 - either growing or not growing & if not, need to start growing,  need to continue to make this community grow.  keep working to grow.  page 125 - financial statements no dificiances, etc, none




 

Discussion:  TT - jeo 2 outfield signs $1,250 for three years - amanda handling signs & logos, with sponsors printed & prepared, will start getting installed. 

Discussion:  fee resolution - only changes rate increase at water park.  $0.50 daily increase; $3.00 pass increase; party rental fee increase also.

Ruh - rest fees same?

Mayor - as minium wage goes up, unfortunately, hike is reasonable

Discussion:  BCA oversees Evergreen & Beatrice Cementery on Scott STreet, largely paper records, make digital, search ancestors, digitalization process, $18,000 from public funding - $30k annualy,
mitch deines, 1813 Wildwood Circle, thanked for consideration, matching grant, raised $7,000 from big give Gage, match the $25,000.  project approxmiatley $70,000.  18,000 records all paper, lots of history that needs to be.  cemetery not flush with cash, most in perpetual care fund.  had to replace backhoe, this will be great benefit to community.  Doyle -how will it work? Public have access?  Mitch- business side - books with quickbooks, forward facing for community - will develop website for them.  type name, put on phone, name & walk to grave site.
Fralin - who will enter? Mitch - part of process, still writing receipts.  McLain - good project.  National software?  Mitch- yes, looked at 3, great backup
eskra - good with this project 
 no more from public.

Discussion:  IRS has rules for tax exempt debt, cant arbitrage, borrow, put in bank, & try to make money on.  wasnt issue for decades, has become issue when interest rates were low & now higher.  jay speakman put in touch,  they will look through & determine if any arbitrage happened.  fire bonds ________ 2021 fire station 0.98%; 2021 sanitation rev bond 1.33%, could see where it becomes issue.  most no concern, most we spent $ fast enough, fee not to exceed $9,000, depends upon how many bonds turned over. 

Ted - forestation bonds months ahead on, is that the money we have to turn over?  TT - NO, 2021 Sanitation, borrowed Tues, WEd bought, nothing here worried about.  2021 fire station bonds, didn't spend all, then had extra money, Ted - if we have extra money laying around because we brought in more.  TD - ???  , TT - different criteria, gets to be months or years
 no public comment

 

Discussion:  WHAT DO I HAVE TO PUBLISH???

third & final time, North & West of existing Industrial Park.  rezoned & declared GCIP, no comment for or against annexation.

Discussion:  TT - last meetign public hearing on this ordinacne.  hospital looking for storage, amend definition to allow storage for hospital.  P&Z did recommend.  Didn't bring last time unsure on # of council that would be present.

Discussion:  Larry Wolken, 1921 IRving STreet, complaining about cleaning up properties.  shouldn't have to put up with people next door that don't take care of their property.  think will help population of town, older parts of town cleaned up.  haven't seen anything getting cleaned up.  need to take them to court

Discussion:  Doyle - successful Mayor's prayer breakfast, Ted, Gary, Mayor MCd, meeting tomorrow to discuss next year. 
Mayor - will be back again.