FRIEND CITY COUNCIL MINUTES-REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 5, 2025 Mayor Judith Knoke called the regular meeting of the City Council to order at 7:05 p.m. Councilmembers present: Kristen Milton, and Phyllis Schwab. David Sladek late. Jeremy Collier absent. A quorum not yet being present, and the meeting duly convened, with agenda order being adjusted to delay votes. Mayor Judith Knoke led the meeting in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. As required by the Nebraska Open Meetings Act, Mayor Judith Knoke announced that a copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act has been posted on the south door of the City Hall meeting. Diane Odoski gave Library Report. No action taken. Mark Stutzman gave Building Inspector Report. No action taken. Stanley Krase gave Fire Department Report. No action taken. No rescue Squad Report. Mayor Knoke gave Police Report. No action taken. Heather Black gave Pool Report. No action taken. Ann Bruntz gave her report on the Pond and community involvement. No action taken. Nathan Hanneman gave Public Works Report, and discussed condition of Pond Well. Was told to get estimate on work needed. No action taken. Heather Varney gave Clerk Report. No action taken. David Sladek arrived at this time 7:40 pm. A quorum now being present, the meeting resumed. Motions were made, seconded, and passed unanimously for the following: to approve the minutes from July 1, 2025 Regular meeting to approve the July Treasurer report to approve July claims and payroll to approve June & July Hospital Financial report to waive 3 readings of Resolution 2025-01 to approve Resolution 2025-01 to approve authorization for Interim City Clerk Nancy Bryan to sign at bank to approve refunding trash billed in error at 215 6th St to approve refunding trash billed in error at 238 Maple St to approve replacing Brian Himmelberg with Amanda Ellison on Friend Housing Authority Board to approve contract with AMGL for performing fiscal year ending 9/30/2025 to approve raising trash rates to 3%, from $14.00 to $14.42 base to approve SCAT annual contribution of $2846.00 to enter executive session to discuss personnel, inviting Chris Groom, at 7:55pm to exit executive session at 8:27pm to adjourn meeting at 8:30pm The claims approved were as follows: July Payroll, 49807.85; Ameritas, 2818.14; EFTPS,11548.86; NE Dept of Rev SWH, 1599.69; Architechtural Design Assoc., fe 4526.50 ; Aqua-Chem Inc., su 3995.55; Baker & Taylor Books, su 18.18; Beatrice Concrete Co., Inc., se 1009.78; Better Homes & Gardens, su 10.00; Black Hills Energy, se 624.29; Blue Blossom Florist, se 160.00; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, fe 11648.37; Bruning Law Group, se 520.00; Cengage Group, su 98.96; Center Point Large Print, su 98.28; Claire Brejcha, su 73.00; Jacob & Johnathan Clouse, fe 850.00; Community Redevelopment Authority, fe 6556.32; Core & Main LP, se 1608.10; Country Compost LLC, fe 2000.00; Culligan Water Service, se 302.50; Depository Trust Corp., fe 5715.00; Drake Refridgeration, se 376.00; Eakes Office Solutions, su 500.20; Fairfield Inn & Suites, fe 1169.55; Farmer’s Union Cooperative Co., se 2045.61; Filament Essential Services, se 2000.00; First Wireless, Inc., su 2551.80; Guardian Life, fe 1027.28; Heather Black, re 311.52; Hometown Leasing, fe 95.61; Johnson Pharmacy, su 60.25; League of NE Municipalities/ Utilities Section, fe 54.00; MMC Consulting, se 7425.00; Rosemarie Markus, se 50.00; Mastiff Systems, se 840.50; Chris Michl, se 428.40; Miller & Associates, se 1000.00; NE Dept. of Revenue ST, fe 32636.24; NE Public Health Environmental Lab, se 117.00; National Arbor Day Foundation, fe 20.00; Nick’s Farm Store Co., se 236.73; Norris Public Power District, fe 8371.00; Diane Odoski, re 129.12; One Billing Solutions, LLC, se 83.32; One Call Concepts, Inc., se 44.98; Paper Tiger Shredding, se 35.00; Kelly Paulsen, re 200.00; Pepsi-Cola of Hastings, su 438.05; Postmaster, fe 280.00; Premeir Med Supplies, su 1398.00; Qwik 6, su 2148.83; Saline Co. Area Transit System, fe 2846.00; Saline County Aging Services, fe 2551.00; Saline County Clerk, fe 12866.00; Seward County Independent, fe 229.06; Marvin Slepicka, se 1137.50; SENDD, fe 12221.00; Tuttle, Inc., su 43.00; US Cellular, se 295.68; Visa, su 4478.67; Vyhnalek Insurance Agency, se 1705.20; Waste Connections of Nebraska, se 5920.80; Windstream, se 1371.54. Total Claims Approved: 2117328. RESOLUTION NO. 2025 - 01 WHEREAS, the City of Friend, “City” is organized and authorized to own and operate an electric distribution system, together with all required distribution lines necessary to provide electrical energy to its customers; WHEREAS, the City has established a dedicated restricted electric distribution fund (“Light 250 Fund”) within its annual budget for all revenue and expenses associated with its electric distribution system; WHEREAS, the City entered into an Electric System Lease Agreement “Agreement” with Norris Public Power District “Norris”, effective January 1, 2023 under which the City incurs no expenses associated with the maintenance and upgrade of the City’s electric distribution system. WHEREAS, said Agreement contemplates the payment by Norris of quarterly lease payments for use of the City’s electric distribution system for the delivery of service to customers within the jurisdiction of the City. WHEREAS, said lease payments have previously been deposited into Light 250 Fund but will not be utilized for costs and expenses associated with the maintenance and upgrade of the City’s electric distribution system; WHEREAS, the Nebraska Legislature, in LB 34 of the First Special Session of 2024, modified the definition of governmental body found in Neb. Rev. Stat. §13-518(3) to exclude cities from the limitation of the transfer of surplus fees from restricted funds as part of a city’s annual budget pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. §13-519. AND, WHEREAS, the City of Friend, Nebraska believes it is in the best interest of the City to transfer all funds in Light 250 Fund into the City’s General Fund 100, to close the Light 250 Fund, and to direct all future deposits from Norris relating to the Agreement into the City’s General Fund 100 as part of the City’s 2025-26 budget. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Friend, Nebraska that the City will transfer all funds currently held in the City’s Light 250 Fund into the City’s General Fund, close the Light 250 Fund, and direct all future deposits from Norris relating to the Agreement into the City’s General Fund as part of the City’s 2025-26 budget. PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Friend, Nebraska on this 5th day of August, 2025 Judith K. Knoke, Mayor ATTEST Heather L. Varney, Deputy City Clerk A complete copy of the minutes is available for review upon request at City Hall during regular office hours. FS — August 27, 2025 ZNEZ
