20201116105937887 - CopyCity of Blair Regular Council Meeting
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
The Mayor and City Council met in regular session in the Blair Public Library on October 27,
2020 at 7:00 PM. The following were present: Chris Jensen, Mindy Rump, Jon Stewart, Kevin Willis,
and Frank Wolff. Absent: Brad Andersen, Kevin Hall, and Marty Shepard. Also present were: City
Administrator Storm, Director of Public Works Schoemaker, City Attorney Solomon, and Chief Lager.
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.
Agenda Item #1 & 2 — Mayor Hansen called the meeting to order and made introductions at 7:00
p.m. by Mayor Hansen followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Agenda Item #3 — Consent approved the following: 3a) Approval of Minutes of the October 13,
2020 meeting and 3b) Clerk report of Mayoral Action of October 13, 2020 meeting. Motion by Frank
Wolff, second by Kevin Willis to approve the Consent Agenda. Council members voted as follows: Brad
Andersen: Absent, Kevin Hall: Absent, Chris Jensen: Yea, Mindy Rump: Yea, Marty Shepard: Absent,
Jon Stewart: Yea, Kevin Willis: Yea, Frank Wolff. Yea. All Council members voted: Yea: 5, Nay: 0,
Absent: 3. Mayor Hansen declared the motion carried.
Agenda Item #4 — City Administrator Storm stated following the 2014 hailstorm, 40 feet of the
left field fence was cut down from 6' to 4' with plans to put a hard surface area, bleachers and a picnic
area. However, that plan never came to fruition. James Bilslend, Blair Legion Baseball, 842 N 12, Blair,
appeared before the Mayor and City Council to request permission to reconstruct the left field fence height
to the same level as the rest of the outfield. Bilslend said they have received request to put up advertising
signs on the fence and the higher fence would allow more signs. This will help the Legion baseball
program and help keep the costs down for the kids. All the materials and labor to reconstruct the fence has
been donated. There will be no cost to the city. Council member Stewart stated he would voting against
this request as a protest because he had hoped the city would build bleachers in that area. Motion by Chris
Jensen, second by Mindy Rump to approve the request by Legion Baseball to reconstruct left field fence
height to the same level as the rest of the outfield. Council members voted as follows: Brad Andersen:
Absent, Kevin Hall: Absent, Chris Jensen: Yea, Mindy Rump: Yea, Marty Shepard: Absent, Jon Stewart:
Nay, Kevin Willis: Yea, Frank Wolff: Yea. All Council members voted: Yea: 4, Nay: 1, Absent: 3. Mayor
Hansen declared the motion carried.
Agenda Item #5 — Director of Public Works Schoemaker stated back in 2017 a portion of the south
trunk sewer main broke off and dumped raw sewage into the neighboring creek after the west bank of the
creek sloughed off and broke the sewer main. At that time, the necessary repairs were made to the sewer
main understanding the repairs would be temporary. An analysis of the sewer main was completed to
determine the cheapest option for the repairs of the sewer main for a long-term repair. The first option
Council Meeting October 27, 2020
considered was to stabilize the west bank of the creeks for approximately 1000 feet at a cost of $500,000.
The second option was to relocate the existing sewer main 20 feet to the west moving it away from the
creek to help prevent another sloughed bank and sewer main failure at a cost of $200,000. $300,000 has
been budgeted this year to design and construct the relocation of the existing south trunk sewer main from
approximately 1000 feet south of Grant Street north to Grant Street. The following engineering proposals
were received for the design work for this project: 1) HDR Engineering - $16,122, Olsson - $19, 787,
HGM Engineering - $21,500 and Schemmer - $23,700. HDR is the low bidder and they also performed
the original study for this project. This project will be completed by October 1, 2021. Schoemaker also
noted that easement will need to be obtained, which the engineers will secure. Motion by Jon Stewart,
second by Mindy Rump to approve an Engineering Agreement with HDR for the South Trunk Sewer
Main Relocation Design. Council members voted as follows: Brad Andersen: Absent, Kevin Hall: Absent,
Chris Jensen: Yea, Mindy Rump: Yea, Marty Shepard: Absent, Jon Stewart: Yea, Kevin Willis: Yea,
Frank Wolff. Yea. All Council members voted: Yea: 5, Nay: 0, Absent: 3. Mayor Hansen declared the
motion carried.
Agenda Item #6 — City Administrator Storm stated several months ago the Mayor and City Council
heard concerns from resident Kelly McManigal regarding damage to a sprinkler system as a result of a
water line project being completed in the city's right of way. The proposed Resolution would establish a
specific policy governing the repair of private property located within the public right of way. It would
allow the city to give homeowners a 7 -day notice on new construction of water, sewer and storm sewers
within the right of ways, and a 3 -day notice for repairs and maintenance to allow residents to remove any
personal property, including sprinkler lines, sprinkler heads, flower beds, flower planters, trees, bushes or
other landscaping prior to the work. There would be no notice for emergency repairs, such as a water
main break. Discussion was held regarding different options causing Council members to disagree on
how the city should address these issues. Motion by Mindy Rump, second by Chris Jensen to postpone
consideration of Resolution No. 2020-40 establishing a specific policy governing the repair of private
property located on the public right of way within the City of Blair for further review. Council members
voted as follows: Brad Andersen: Absent, Kevin Hall: Absent, Chris Jensen: Yea, Mindy Rump: Yea,
Marty Shepard: Absent, Jon Stewart: Yea, Kevin Willis: Yea, Frank Wolff: Yea. All Council members
voted: Yea: 5, Nay: 0, Absent: 3. Mayor Hansen declared the motion carried.
Agenda Item #7 — City Administrator Storm stated the renewal proposal for employee health
insurance for 2021 was received from BCBS with a 2% increase. The budget included an anticipated 8%
to 9% increase. This low increase will save the city $110,000 in insurance premium. The employees will
continue to pay 14% of the premium and the city pay 86%. No changes will be made to the plan or HSA
contributions. HSA contributions starting January 1, 2021 will be deposited each pay period into the
employees account as opposed to quarterly. Motion by Mindy Rump, second by Frank Wolff to approve
renewal proposal received from BCBS for 2021 employee health insurance. Council members voted as
follows: Brad Andersen: Absent, Kevin Hall: Absent, Chris Jensen: Yea, Mindy Rump: Yea, Marty
Shepard: Absent, Jon Stewart: Yea, Kevin Willis: Yea, Frank Wolff. Yea. All Council members voted:
Yea: 5, Nay: 0, Absent: 3. Mayor Hansen declared the motion carried.
Agenda Item #8 — City Administrator Storm stated city staff is now spraying daily for COVID at
the water plant, water treatment plant, city hall, police department, library and in vehicles between shifts.
Spraying between the meetings held at the library is also ongoing. Staff is doing everything possible to
help with the spread of COVID when the public is using our facilities as well as for the safety of our
employees.
Council Meeting October 27, 2020 2
Agenda Item #9 — Motion by Mindy Rump, second by Frank Wolff to adjourn the meeting at 7:33
p.m. Council members voted as follows: Brad Andersen: Absent, Kevin Hall: Absent, Chris Jensen: Yea,
Mindy Rump: Yea, Marty Shepard: Absent, Jon Stewart: Yea, Kevin Willis: Yea, Frank Wolff. Yea. All
Council members voted: Yea: 5, Nay: 0, Absent: 3. Mayor Hansen declared the motion carried.
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Richard Hansen, Mayor
ATTEST:
Bren Wheeler, City Clerk
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Council Meeting October 27, 2020