Co Minutes 06-25-2019City of Blair Regular Council Meeting
June 25, 2019
The Mayor and Council of the City of Blair, Nebraska, met in regular session in the City Council
Chambers on June 25, 2019 at 7:00 PM. The following were present: Mindy Rump, Brad Andersen, Chris
Jensen, Marty Shepard, Jon Stewart, Kevin Willis, and Frank Wolff. Absent: Kevin Hall. Also present
were: Mayor Hansen, City Administrator Storm, Assistant City Administrator Green, Director of Public
Works Schoemaker, Police Chief Lager and City Attorney Solomon.
The Mayor publicly stated to all in attendance that a current copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings
Act was available for review and indicated the location of such copy posted in the room where the meeting
was being held. Notice of the meeting was given in advance thereof by publication in the Enterprise or
the Pilot -Tribune as shown by the affidavit of publication filed in the City Clerk' s office. Notice of the
meeting was simultaneously given to the Mayor and all members of the City Council, and a copy of their
acknowledgement of receipt of notice and the agenda is filed in the City Clerk' s office. Availability of
the agenda was communicated in the advance notice and in the notice to the Mayor and Council of this
meeting. All proceedings hereafter shown were taken while the convened meeting was open to the
attendance of the public.
Mayor Hansen called the meeting to order and introductions at 7:00 p.m. followed by the Pledge
of Allegiance.
Agenda Item #3 — Consent agenda approve the following: 3a) Approval of Minutes of the June 11,
2019 meeting, 3b) Clerk report of Mayoral Action of the June 11, 2019 meeting, 3c) City Department
reports for the Blair Public Library and Technology Center and Police Department, 3d) Consider
specifications and authorization to go out forbid for anew pickup truck for the Street Department. Motion
by Brad Andersen, second by Kevin Willis to approve the consent agenda. Council members voted as
follows: Brad Andersen: Yea, Kevin Hall: Absent, Chris Jensen: Yea, Mindy Rump: Yea, Marty Shepard:
Yea, Jon Stewart: Yea, Kevin Willis: Yea, Frank Wolff. Yea. All Council members voted: Yea: 7, Nay:
0, Absent: 1. Mayor Hansen declared the motion carried.
Agenda Item #4 — Mayor Hansen opened a public hearing to consider a Conditional Use Permit
submitted by Mark & Payton Reynolds, 12906 Ames Ave, Omaha, NE, to operate TimberNook of Greater
Omaha, a recreational nature program providing creative outdoor play and sensory experiences, on Tax
Lots 1, 7, 14 and part of Tax Lot 10, (NW corner of intersection of Co Rd P33 and Co Rd P35), in Section
24, Township 18 North, Range 11 East, of the 6th P.M., Washington County, Nebraska for five (5) years.
(This item was tabled from the June 11, 2019 meeting). Applicant Peyton Reynolds presented
documentation from the Register of Deeds office that the pie shaped piece of land, which they plan to use
as one access point, is owned by the Janet A. Nelson Trust who they plan to purchase the property from.
Peyton presented new plan for parking to include 4500 sq. ft. parking lot with 12 lots for enough parking.
They plan to construct a picnic shed with a metal roof for activities and snacks. They will also be
constructing house on the property and the basement of that home will be shelter for adverse weather.
They plan to use the entrance off P33 because that road has less traffic. Scott Jorgenson, 9751 Co Rd 35,
asked about fencing because he is concerned about kids entering onto his property and wants everyone to
be safe. Payton reiterated 1:6 adult supervision for children. Payton said she was more than willing to be
good neighbors. There were no comments in writing. Mayor Hansen closed the public hearing. Motion
by Brad Andersen, second by Mindy Rump to approve the Conditional Use Permit application as presented
Council Meeting June 25, 2019
for five (5) years with the Planning Commission recommendations: 1) One (1) structure up to 1,000 square
feet, 2) At least a 2,000 square foot parking area with a bus turn around and 3) All fire pits have design
and location approval from the local fire department and building department. Council members voted as
follows: Brad Andersen: Yea, Kevin Hall: Absent, Chris Jensen: Yea, Mindy Rump: Yea, Marty Shepard:
Nay, Jon Stewart: Yea, Kevin Willis: Yea, Frank Wolff: Nay. Mayor Hansen voted Aye. All Council
members voted: Yea: 5, Nay: 2, Absent: 1, Mayor Aye. Mayor Hansen declared the motion carried.
Agenda Item #5 — City Administrator Storm stated the proposed Ordinance will allow an
amendment to the city's loan agreement with the Nebraska Department Environmental Quality to expand
the scope of financing for improvements to the city's water plant and water distribution system. The bond
will increase from $1,400,000 to $1,700,000. Therefore, we need to amend the original bond series to
allow for this increase in funds. Council member Wolff introduced Ordinance 2380 authorizing the
issuance of a Water System Revenue Bond, Series 2019, of the City of Blair, Nebraska in the principal
amount of not to exceed $1,700,000, in the form of a Promissory Note issued to evidence indebtedness to
the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A WATER SYSTEM REVENUE
BOND, SERIES 2019, OF THE CITY OF BLAIR, NEBRASKA, IN THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
OF NOT TO EXEED ONE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,700,000),
IN THE FORM OF A PROMISSORY NOTE ISSUED TO EVIDENCE INDEBTEDNESS TO THE
NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY; APPROVING THE FORM
OF SAID BOND (ISSUED AS A SINGLE PROMISSORY NOTE) AND RELATED
AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT; PLEDGING AND HYPOTHECATING THE
REVENUES AND EARNINGS OF THE WATERWORKS PLANT AND WATER SYSTEM
OWNED OR TO BE OWNED BY THE CITY FOR THE PAYMENT OF SAID BOND;
PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF SAID BOND; AUTHORIZING THE
DELIVERY OF SAID BOND AND RELATED AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT TO
THE NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY; PROVIDING FOR THE
COLLECTION, SEGREGATION AND APPLICATION OF THE REVENUES OF SAID
WATERWORKS PLANT AND SYSTEM; DETERMINING THAT INTEREST ON SAID BOND
SHALL NOT BE EXCLUDABLE FROM GROSS INCOME FOR PURPOSES OF FEDERAL
INCOME TAXATION; PROVIDING FOR THE DISPOSITION OF THE PROCEEDS OF SAID
BOND AND ORDERING THE ORDINANCE PUBLISHED IN PAMPHLET FORM.
Council member Frank Wolff moved that the statutory rule requiring reading on three different
days be suspended for consideration of said Ordinance. Council member Chris Jensen seconded the
motion to suspend the rules and upon roll call vote the following Council members voted: Brad Andersen:
Yea, Kevin Hall: Absent, Chris Jensen: Yea, Mindy Rump: Yea, Marty Shepard: Yea, Jon Stewart: Yea,
Kevin Willis: Yea, Frank Wolff: Yea. All Council members voted: Yea: 7, Nay: 0, Absent: 1. Mayor
Hansen declared the motion carried.
Said Ordinance was then read by title and thereafter Council member Kevin Willis moved for final
passage of the Ordinance, which motion was seconded by Council member Brad Andersen. The Mayor
then stated the question was "Shall Ordinance 2380 be passed and adopted?" Upon roll call vote, the
following Council members voted: Kevin Willis, second by Brad Andersen to approve Ordinance 2380
as presented. Brad Andersen: Yea, Kevin Hall: Absent, Chris Jensen: Yea, Mindy Rump: Yea, Marty
Council Meeting June 25, 2019
Shepard: Yea, Jon Stewart: Yea, Kevin Willis: Yea, Frank Wolff. Yea. All Council members voted: Yea:
7, Nay: 0, Absent: 1. The passage of said Ordinance having been concurred in by a majority of all
members of the Council, the Mayor declared the Ordinance adopted. A true, correct and complete copy
of said Ordinance can be found in the Ordinance Record Book.
Agenda Item #6 — Motion by Frank Wolff, second by Jon Stewart to receive and place on file the
bids received for new playground equipment at Steyer Park. Council members voted as follows: Brad
Andersen: Yea, Kevin Hall: Absent, Chris Jensen: Yea, Mindy Rump: Yea, Marty Shepard: Yea, Jon
Stewart: Yea, Kevin Willis: Yea, Frank Wolff. Yea. All Council members voted: Yea: 7, Nay: 0, Absent:
1. Mayor Hansen declared the motion carried. City Administrator Storm what option the Council selects
will depend on how you want to spend city funds. Betsy Andersen, 1235 Pinewood Dr. and Jeenie Hobbs,
2018 Grant St. spoke on behalf of the Park Board supporting the low bids from Sterling West for both
projects. They also support the poured in place option on both projects because the crumb rubber option
would catch debris and other things. The poured in place is more durable and lower in maintenance that
will assist the employees of the Parks Department. A local contractor will provide the concrete work to
help with cost. The poured in place option will be eligible for 25% rebate of approximately $12,000 to
$13,000. The Park Board thanked the Park Department employees for their dedication and thank Pat Long
for his overall commitment to the Parks Department. Motion by Brad Andersen, second by Mindy Rump
to accept the bid from Sterling West for new playground equipment at Steyer Park in the amount of
$102,579.75. Council members voted as follows: Brad Andersen: Yea, Kevin Hall: Absent, Chris Jensen:
Yea, Mindy Rump: Yea, Marty Shepard: Yea, Jon Stewart: Yea, Kevin Willis: Yea, Frank Wolff. Yea.
All Council members voted: Yea: 7, Nay: 0, Absent: 1. Mayor Hansen declared the motion carried.
Agenda Item #7 — Motion by Brad Andersen, second by Frank Wolff to receive and place on file
the bids for new playground equipment at Stemmermann Park. Council members voted as follows: Brad
Andersen: Yea, Kevin Hall: Absent, Chris Jensen: Yea, Mindy Rump: Yea, Marty Shepard: Yea, Jon
Stewart: Yea, Kevin Willis: Yea, Frank Wolff: Yea. All Council members voted: Yea: 7, Nay: 0, Absent:
1. Mayor Hansen declared the motion carried. City Administrator Storm reviewed the bids. The state will
give a 25% rebate for a poured in place project and 15% for a crumb rubber project. Jeenie Hobbs noted
the playground would be moved away from 10'h Street for safety of the children. Motion by Mindy Rump,
second by Marty Shepard to accept the bid from Sterling West for new playground equipment at
Stemmermann Park in the amount of $90,979.25. Council members voted as follows: Brad Andersen:
Yea, Kevin Hall: Absent, Chris Jensen: Yea, Mindy Rump: Yea, Marty Shepard: Yea, Jon Stewart: Yea,
Kevin Willis: Yea, Frank Wolff. Yea. All Council members voted: Yea: 7, Nay: 0, Absent: 1. Mayor
Hansen declared the motion carried.
Agenda Item #8 — City Attorney Solomon stated all changes had been made to the covenants as
requested by the Council. Council member Andersen introduced Resolution 2019-16 approving
Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, Restrictions and Easements of Transformation Hill. Motion by
Brad Andersen, second by Chris Jensen to adopt Resolution No. 2019-16 as presented. Council members
voted as follows: Brad Andersen: Yea, Kevin Hall: Absent, Chris Jensen: Yea, Mindy Rump: Yea, Marty
Shepard: Yea, Jon Stewart: Yea, Kevin Willis: Yea, Frank Wolff. Yea. All Council members voted: Yea:
7, Nay: 0, Absent: 1.
Agenda Item #9 — City Administrator Storm stated the proposed Resolution will change the rental
fees at the Depot and now require a rental fee for several shelters. The changes will also allow commercial
type events to rent the park. These increased fees will help cover the extra cost of the service in reserving
Council Meeting June 25, 2019
the facilities. Those that want the ability to reserve will help fund the cost of doing it versus it falling on
the general taxpayers. Changers were also made to the policy and procedures on renting the Depot which
will only allow a reservation to be made one year in advance, but the city will honor all current reservations
but the new fees will be charged. The Resolution also increased the fees at the Hardy RV Park and the
Blair Cemetery. These new fees will begin August 1, 2019. Council member Wolff introduced Resolution
2019-17 approving Policies and Procedures for Cemetery Charges and Reserving and Rental of Park
Facilities. Motion by Frank Wolff, second by Kevin Willis to adopt Resolution No. 2019-17 as presented.
Council members voted as follows:
Brad Andersen: Yea, Kevin Hall: Absent, Chris Jensen: Yea, Mindy Rump: Yea, Marty Shepard: Yea,
Jon Stewart: Yea, Kevin Willis: Yea, Frank Wolff. Yea. All Council members voted: Yea: 7, Nay: 0,
Absent: 1. Mayor Hansen declared the motion carried.
Agenda Item #10 — City Administrator Storm stated the proposed Resolution would approve
policies and procedures for reserving and renting meeting rooms at the library. Prior to this time, no fees
have been charged for rentals at the library nor was a cleaning deposit required. As with the park shelter,
this makes sure the people using the facilities for social and other events are paying for it and not the
general taxpayer. Rentals can only be made one year in advance and the new fees will being August 1,
2019. Darrel Boesiger, 2264 Crestridge, asked if a cleaning deposit would be required for a nonprofit.
Librarian Roberts stated they will only be required to put down a deposit for the duration. Discussion was
held how the library track reservations. Council member Wolff introduced Resolution 2019-18 approving
Policies and Procedures for the Blair Public Library & Technology Center and Reserving and Rental of
the Meeting Room Facilities. Motion by Frank Wolff, second by Marty Shepard to adopt Resolution No.
2019-18 as presented. Council members voted as follows: Brad Andersen: Yea, Kevin Hall: Absent, Chris
Jensen: Yea, Mindy Rump: Yea, Marty Shepard: Yea, Jon Stewart: Yea, Kevin Willis: Yea, Frank Wolff -
Yea. All Council members voted: Yea: 7, Nay: 0, Absent: 1. Mayor Hansen declared the motion carried.
Agenda Item #11 — City Administrator Storm stated no action will be taken on the Resolution
approving a developer's agreement with Jay Nielsen Construction for a Replat of Lot 1, Arbor Heights
Addition, Blair City, Washington County. Mr. Nielsen has not had an opportunity to sign the agreement
as of the meeting time and no action should be taken until such time Mr. Nielsen is comfortable with
signing the agreement.
Agenda Item #12 — City Administrator Storm stated the city street crew has been helping with the
asphalt project. He also noted people are not noticing the turn lane at 1 Oth and Washington so additional
signage may need to be put up.
Agenda Item #13 — Motion by Brad Andersen, second by Frank Wolff to adjourn the meeting at
8:08 p.m. Council members voted as follows: Brad Andersen: Yea, Kevin Hall: Absent, Chris Jensen:
Yea, Mindy Rump: Yea, Marty Shepard: Yea, Jon Stewart: Yea, Kevin Willis: Yea, Frank Wolff: Yea.
All Council members voted: Yea: 7, Nay: 0, Absent: 1. Mayor Hansen declared the motion carried.
Richard Hansen, Mayor
Council Meeting June 25, 2019
Attest:
Brenda Wheeler, City Clerk
Seal
Council Meeting June 25, 2019