December 18, 2024 Minutes
December 26, 2024
A meeting of the Stratton Village Board of Trustees was called to order at 7:00pm on Monday December 16, 2024 at 7:00 pm CT at the Village Office by Chairman S. Hanes. Notice of the meeting was posted in three public places: Village Clerk’s Office, MNB Bank Stratton, and United States Post Office Stratton. Availability of the agenda was communicated in the advance notice. A poster of the “Open Meetings Act” was clearly visible on the wall, and Chairman S. Hanes directed the attention of those present to the poster. All proceedings hereafter shown occurred while the meeting was in session.
Present: Chairman S. Hanes, Trustee J. Griffiths, Trustee P. Bohochik, Trustee J. Stewart. Also in attendance were: Utilities Superintendent M. Petersen, Clerk T. Hedrick, Assistant Utilities Superintendent C. Stout, Deputy Clerk D. Burk, David Blau with M&A, and members of the public Rick Moore, Jack Sage, Jen Moore, Melissa Dailey, Dennis Renfro, and Sabrinna Morgan.
OPEN FORUM:
Member of the public Dennis Renfro inquired as to the status of vacant buildings needing destroyed. Clerk Hedrick advised she is continuing to work on the vacant property registration to identify the status of vacant properties. Member of the public Melissa Dailey asked about her street light. Petersen stated it was still on the list to be done. Trustee Griffiths informed the board of intent to obtain a swimming safety brochure to have available to members of the public.
Motion by Griffiths and second by Stewart to approve the previous minutes, treasurers’ report and claims as presented. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Absent: McDonald. Motion carried.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Motion by Griffiths and second by Bohochik to amend the motion adopted at the November 18, 2024 meeting to purchase Galveston playground equipment from ProPlaygrounds by substituting $38,867.00 in the place of $30,000. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Absent: McDonald. Motion carried.
Bids received for computer support and services were reviewed. Motion by Hanes and second by Stewart to accept the bid from HonorBound for monthly support and backup services. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Absent: McDonald. Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS:
1&6 Year Plan Hearing opened at 7:27pm. Current plan was reviewed. It was noted M567(43) had been completed and would be removed. It was discussed to move M567(37) to the one year plan. Hearing closed at 7:36pm. Motion by Stewart and second by Griffiths to adopt Resolution 538 to approve 1&6 Year Street Improvement Program with the following change: move M567(37) to the one year plan. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Absent: McDonald. Motion carried.
Motion by Griffiths and second by Hanes to accept the Certificate of Election of the November 5, 2024 General Election, as certified by the County Clerk, and place on file. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Absent: McDonald. Motion carried.
Oath of Office was administered to Rick Moore by Clerk Hedrick.
Board of Trustees code of ethics and conduct was reviewed and acknowledgments were signed by new board trustee.
Board Reorganization:
Nominations were opened for Chairperson. Hanes was nominated by Bohochik and second by Stewart. With no further nominations, nominations were closed. Roll call to appoint Hanes as chairperson. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart, Moore. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Nominations were opened for Vice Chair. Bohochik was nominated by Griffiths and second by Hanes. With no further nominations, nominations were closed. Roll call to appoint Bohochik as vice chairperson. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Stewart, Moore. Nays: Bohochik. Motion carried.
Motion by Hanes and second by Stewart to select MNB Bank as our Financial Institution. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart, Moore. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Griffiths and second by Hanes to retain Schroeder & Schroeder, P.C. as our Attorney. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart, Moore. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Griffiths and second by Hanes to select AMGL, P.C. as our auditor. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart, Moore. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Bohochik and second by Hanes to select Miller & Associates Consulting Engineers, P.C. as our engineer. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart, Moore. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Hanes and second by Griffiths to select Chris Miller License Number S-1091 Class A with Miller & Associates Consulting Engineers, P.C. as our street superintendent. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart, Moore. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Griffiths and second by Bohochik to appoint Tara Hedrick as Clerk and Treasurer. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart, Moore. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Hanes and second Griffiths to select Scoop Media News as our newspaper. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart, Moore. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Griffiths and second by Stewart that the Village of Stratton Board of Trustees will meet at the Village Office at 411 Bailey in Stratton, NE in the conference room on the third Monday of each month at 7:00 pm unless it falls on a holiday, which the meeting will then be moved to the Tuesday following the third Monday. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart, Moore. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Hanes and second by Griffiths to have the following committee organization: Streets, Alleys & Landfill: Moore and Griffiths; Electricity: Moore and Bohochik; Water & Sewer: Hanes and Stewart; Finance: Hanes and Griffiths; Health & Welfare: Hanes and Stewart; Park & Recreation: Moore and Bohochik. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart, Moore. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Stewart and second by Hanes to take a short recess. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Stewart, Moore. Nays: Bohochik. Motion carried and meeting recessed at 7:44pm.
Meeting called back to order by Chairman Hanes at 7:46pm.
Motion by Hanes and second by Stewart to give wage adjustment of $375 to Utilities Superintendent Petersen; $350 to Clerk Hedrick; $150 to Custodian Stout; $250 to Assistant Utilities Superintendent Stout; $250 to Deputy Clerk Burk; and $150 to Librarian Faimon. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart, Moore. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Employee evaluations were reviewed. Motion by Hanes and second by Stewart to increase Utilities Superintendent Petersen hourly wage to $28.00 per hour; increase Assistant Utilities Superintendent Stout hourly wage to $20.00 per hour; increase Clerk Hedrick hourly wage to $26.00 per hour; increase Deputy Clerk Burk hourly wage to $19.00 per hour; and increase Custodian Stout hourly wage to $15.00 per hour. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Moore, Stewart. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Current benefits discussed. Motion by Stewart and second by Hanes to provide $600 monthly stipend for each full time employee. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart, Moore. Nays: None. Motion carried. Retirement benefit will remain unchanged while Clerk Hedrick does research on the possibility of increase for Village match percentage.
Motion by Stewart and second by Bohochik to approve building permit at 508 Hamilton Street. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Moore, Stewart. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Employee Report: Nothing new to report.
Streets, Alleys, & Landfill Committee Report: Trustee Stewart commended Petersen and Stout for a job well done on the repair of alleys.
Electricity Committee Report: Meeting with MEAN was discussed. Ideas discussed were to co-op with other surrounding towns for services and supplies or have an independent company on contract to do scheduled projects. Options discussed for support during electric outages. Board members agreed the electric system needed accessed and mapped. Petersen will contact companies for more information. Petersen advised City of Hastings has been contacted to arrange for purchase of electric meters. Plans to schedule pick up of meters is still being worked out.
Water & Sewer Committee Report: Petersen advised last month the water had a hit for coliform. Petersen reviewed the results from sewer line from Railway Street to the lift station being jetted. Discussion of possibility of needing to install a sewer liner in the future. It was noted the manhole between Hamilton and Hitchcock was unable to be located. Petersen stated it was most likely covered years ago and is several feet under the alley.
Finance Committee Report: Nothing new to report.
Health & Welfare Committee Report: Hedrick advised there were three separate dog complaints however none met qualifications for ordinance violation. Discussion of purchase of AED machines for the Village Office and Utility Works Building.
Park & Recreation Committee Report: Nothing new to report.
Motion made by Hanes and second by Griffiths to adjourn the meeting. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Moore, Stewart. Nays: None. Motion carried and meeting adjourned at 8:32pm.
The next regular meeting of the Village Board of Trustees will be held on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 7:00 pm at the Village Office.
| December 2024 Claims | ||
| Vendor | Description | Amount |
| American Agricultural Laboratory | Water testing | $177.56 |
| Baker-Taylor | Books | $233.40 |
| Charles Schwab & Co., Inc | Retirement Contribution | $518.42 |
| Cornhusker Press | Dog Tags | $99.34 |
| Culligan Water Conditioning | Monthly Rental | $36.93 |
| D.A. Davidson | Water Bond Payment | $8,122.00 |
| Eakes | Printer charge | $101.50 |
| Farmers Cooperative Grain & Supply | Fuel & Prepaid propane | $154.95 |
| Great Plains Communication | Phone Service | $488.99 |
| Hitchcock County Treasurer | General Election Costs | $117.24 |
| IIMC | Membership Fee | $195.00 |
| Municipal Supply | Parts | $397.74 |
| Nebraskaland Magazine | Magazine Renewal | $44.00 |
| Nebraska Rural Water Association | Membership Fee | $250.00 |
| Owens Ace Hardware | Parts | $38.97 |
| Paul Bohochik | Mileage Reimbursement | $67.00 |
| Scoop Media | Publication Fee | $335.58 |
| Southwest Nebraska Clerks Association | Membership Fee | $10.00 |
| Southwest Public Power District | Power cost and assistance | $19,366.05 |
| Tara Hedrick | Mileage Reimbursement | $67.00 |
| US Bank | Payroll Fee, Books, Shipping | $98.75 |
| USPS | Postage | $241.00 |
| Verizon | Cell Phone Service | $161.13 |
| Walmart | Supplies | $10.84 |
| Waste Connections of Nebraska | Town Disposal Charge | $4,190.16 |
| Mandatory Disbursements: | ||
| Aflac | Employee Withholding | $161.38 |
| MNB- Stratton | ACH Fees | $38.27 |
| Nebraska Department of Revenue | Sales Tax | $2,103.77 |
| Payroll | ||
| Salaries | Salaries | $14,638.85 |
| Payroll Taxes | Taxes | $1,114.38 |
| Total Claims | $35,523.55 | |
| Total Mandatory Disbursements | $2,303.42 | |
| Total Payroll | $15,753.23 | |
| Total Claims Report | $53,580.20 |
