FRIEND CITY COUNCIL MINUTES-REGULAR MEETING February 3, 2026 Mayor Judith Knoke called the regular meeting of the City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmembers present: Kristen Milton, David Sladek, and Phyllis Schwab. Jeremy Collier absent. A quorum being present, the meeting was duly convened. Mayor Knoke led the meeting in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. As required by the Nebraska Open Meetings Act, Mayor Knoke announced that a copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act has been posted on the south door of the City Hall meeting. Motions were made, seconded, and passed unanimously for the following: to approve the minutes from February 3, 2026 Regular meeting to approve the February Treasurer report to approve February claims and payroll to postpone approval of Hospital Financial report to next meeting to postpone approval of Resolution 26-01: Ambulance Building Transfer Agreement until next meeting to approve postpone approval of zoning modifications and subdivision regulations until next meeting to postpone approval of updated comprehensive plan until next meeting to approve Class C Liquor License for MacCallum’s Tavern to approve Veteran’s Memorial being placed at Binzebo park with guidance of City to approve payment for installation and utility deposit to Norris Public Power District for electric service at Public Safety Building to approve annual appointments to committees and boards to approve 34 Electric’s bid to replace lights at Ball Field and have Norris PPD supply and set the poles to table discussion on outsourcing payroll & possible other accounting functions and other solutions for office staff shortages until Executive Session at end of meeting to table discussion on public works raises until Executive Session at end of meeting to postpone discussion on bid for repair on south door of Grange Hall until next meeting to postpone discussion of bids for pool painting until next meeting to post jobs and accept applications for Pool Manager from March 4th to April 3rd, and Assistant Manager and Lifeguards between April 8th and May 10th to approve bid for Ball Field fence repairs to approve purchase of one anchored pickleball net to table discussion on clerk position until Executive Session at end of meeting to approve writing off past due utility bills from prior to 2020 to enter Executive Session to discuss personnel issues at 7:55pm to exit Executive Session at 8:25pm to post an ad seeking Deputy Clerk assistant/trainee to update City Clerk ads to offer position as salaried to adjourn meeting at 8:30pm The claims approved were as follows: February Payroll, 22552.91; Ameritas, 1628.00; EFTPS, 3648.30; NE Dept of Rev SWH, 622.04; AquaChem, su 1814.71; Black Hills Energy, fe 1560.51; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, fe 4608.25; Brother’s Equipment, su 58.50; Bruning Law Group, fe 2552.00; Cengage Group, su 98.96; Center Point Large Print, su 98.28; Jacob & Johnathan Clouse, fe 850.00; Community Redevelopment Authority, re 8248.60; Country Compost LLC, se 2000.00; Culligan Water Service, se 20.00; EMS Connect, fe 110.00; Eakes Office Solutions, su 684.61; Farmer’s Union COOP, su 308.52; Follett Software, LLC, se 1045.68; Guardian Life, fe 269.53; Hampton Commercial Construction, fe 258491.25; Hemmings Motor News, su 25.00; Holiday Inn of Kearney, fe 259.90; Hometown Leasing, fe 98.60; Lee Enterprises, fe 3305.00; Lichti’s, INC., su 9387.60; MMC Consulting, se 1863.35; Mastiff Systems, se 415.00; Midwest Laboratories Inc, se 162.75; Brent Milton, re 4951.51; MDWEE, fe 40.00; NE Dept. of Revenue ST, fe 1183.85; NE Public Health Environmental Lab, se 30.00; Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center, fe 1000.00; Norris Public Power District, fe 31143.49; Diane Odoski, re 242.24; One Billing Solutions, LLC, se 243.09; One Call Concepts, Inc., se 12.65; Postmaster, se 305.00; Principal Mutual Life Ins. Co., se 114.75; Qwik 6, su 742.76; Ryan Yoder, re 85.79; Southeast Nebraska Development District, fe 1925.00; Susan Fortune, se 575.00; Taste of Home, su 13.98; Tim Shrunk, re 113.12; US Cellular, se 296.81; Waste Connections, se 7562.25; Windstream, se 1647.94. Total Claims Approved: $379,017.08 Deputy Vogel from Saline County Sheriff’s Department gave portion of Police report Public Comments: Community Clean-Up day June 13, 2026. More information to come closer to event No action on Public Works wages Diane Odoski gave Library Report. No action taken. No Hospital report No Building Inspector report Brent Milton gave Fire Department Report. No action taken. Ray Rohrig gave Rescue Squad Report. No action taken. Travis Peterkin gave Police Report. No action taken. Kristen Milton gave Pool Report. No action taken. Trent Roesler gave Public Works Report. No action taken Heather Varney gave Clerk Report. No action taken. 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 — March 25, 2026 ZNEZ
