City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that this is a request for a one-year extension on the projects that are not yet completed and for a recently added project to start and be completed by the new deadline. 

City Administrator Tom Ourada explained that this is to start the process where the City Council sits as the Board of Equalization to determine benefits to properties for paving assessments in the 2021 gap paving projects. 

City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that he participated as the city's representative at the League Association of Risk Management annual meeting and voted on various agenda items including the election of nominees to the LARM Board of Directors. All board members have to go through this with their councils to ratify actions. 

City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that this application is for grant and technical assistance and coaching over the course of the next several years. This could help raise chances for grant approvals from 2% to maybe about 10% higher depending on the applicaiton. 

Mayor Dave Bauer stated that Bridges is a current city employee and was on the department in the past. 

City Administrator Tom Ourada explained that the City of Crete has been working on the policy since November 2017. Since then there has been many personnel changes and now it is ready for council action. 

City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that this policy is different from the DOT plan, which is dictated by federal law. This item will do pre-employment screening, test for cause, and testing for suspicion, which requires two people to validate reporting. That will help so that a person can't target another person based on personal issues. 

City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that this amends an existing ordinance. Where, instead of referencing a business located in the city, it references businesses transacting in the city. 

City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that this change adds the Library Aide position, which is not an additional staff position, but would take the place of a librarian who is not working that day. The pay is a little under the position they would be filling. The other change is with the Parks Seasonal Laborer, Transfer Station Attendant, and Public Works Seasonal Laborers, so they are consistent with each other. 

City Administrator Tom Ourada explained that this codifies rates which were already approved as part of the Waste Connections franchise agreement. 

City Administrator Tom Ourada explained this is a small change that will allow how deposits are calculated when someone has a deposit returned to them. This change will update the new service deposit amount instead of an average. 

Chief of Police Gary Young stated that there have been failures with their current software Brazos. Just last Monday there were 77 errors with the record keeping software. TraCS is already being used by numerous agencies and it works. The Police Department would like to stop using Brazos and switch to Tracs for e-citations. They are alreadyign using TraCS for accident reports. 

• Officer’s Reports:
  • Library Director, Joy Stevenson stated the following:

• Over 100 people attended the Solar Eclipse activities last Saturday, October 14^th 2023.
• On Sunday, October 22^nd at 1pm Crete Reads 2023 author Ellen Marie Wiseman will be part of the speaker series. There will be a lunch provided for those who wish to purchase
• Thursday, October 26^th 2023 will be the Crazy Scientist activities at 5:30 p.m.
• The next Puzzle Race will be on November 14^th 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at the 1206. There are already 6 teams registered and the cost per person is $5 to cover the pizza.
•  The Pinkalicious Party will be on November 18^th 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
• The Teen Nights Beginners Crochet will be on November 30^th 2023 at 5:30 p.m.

• Chief of Police, Gary Young mentioned the following:

• The traffic grant Captain Pucket had explained to the City Council to apply for has been awarded to the Crete Police Department in the full amount of $77,490.00. The police department won’t have to apply for the traffic grants now they can allocate the hours from events such as the truck or treat as long as there is a traffic safety message.
• The Police and Fire Department have lost Colin Gaman, a solid performer, he has moved to Houston, Texan and will continue his law enforcement career. The Crete Police Department wish him the best of luck.

• Parks and Recreation Director, Liz Cody stated the following:

• Has returned from completing her lifeguard certification in Ogallala, NE.
• With this training they can continue to provide lifeguard and CPR instruction to aquatics staff and CPR to all parks staff.
• This training will also help Cody with the 3-year contract which is coming up in the Spring for renewal and to be a part of the training curriculum they use to train the staff.
• There will be additional programing for youth and adults this fall.
• Park improvements have been happening. Cody stopped by the ADA accessible Peyton Parker Lane Park in York, NE which has many great amenities and will serve as ideas for future projects here. The next step will be looking and grants and how to fund those projects.
• Highlighted the work being done at the Library Park and the work being done with Library Director, Joy Stevenson.
• Cody gave thanks for the plants and planters donated by Crete ACE Hardware.
• Closing down the pool. They are taking the pool pump to Omaha for repairs.
• The construction at City Park is wrapping up.
• Tyler Ward with the Eagles Scouts has been collaborating with Cody on trail restoration at Tuxedo Park.

• City Administrator, Tom Ourada informed the following:

• Reminded that the Nuisance Hearings will be Wednesday, October 18^th at 4:00 p.m.
• The large water loan and grant is being differed so the scope of the project can be expanded. The grant will be expanded to get more grant money. The loan is less than 1% interest over thirty years. They would like to finish the water remediation project which is going to possibly be over 1 million dollars. They will possibly get 3 or 4 hundred thousand in grant money and a loan of $800,000.
• Burlington Northern Santa Fe will be working on the Main Street crossing all of next week.
• Talked about the temporary signs on Iris Ave, possible next steps and will be gathering information and looking at possible partnerships.
• Discussed more gap paving opportunities and reconstruction of streets including 15^th street.
• Ourada mentioned that there will be new restrooms built at City Park. The current location of the restrooms will be rebuilt to expand office space for the Community Assistance Office and the Building Inspector’s office and a sitting area for clients.
• Ourada, Wilcox, and Mayor Dave Bauer attended the Grand Grand Opening of the Calabria Italian Restaurant located at the College Heights Country Club.
• The City of Crete will be submitting an inquiry for a very large Economic Development project.

• Mayor Dave Bauer stated that if BNSF does work on the Main Ave crossing that would be a major change we have been waiting for a long time. Bauer thanked everyone who participated in the Great Pumpkin Festival and especially the Doane University Students.

• Meeting adjourned: 6:49 p.m.