FRIEND CITY COUNCIL MINUTES-REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 7, 2025 Mayor Judith Knoke called the regular meeting of the City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmembers present: David Sladek, Phyllis Schwab, and Jeremy Collier. Kristen Milton running late. Arrived at 7:10pm. A quorum being present, the meeting was duly convened. 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. Motions were made, seconded, and passed unanimously for the following: to approve the minutes from September 2, 2025 Regular meeting, and both September 8, 2025 Budget Confirmation Meeting & Tax Hearing Request Meeting to approve the September Treasurer report to approve September claims and payroll to approve September Hospital Financial Report to approve amendment to Ordinance 25-810 to reflect actual bank interest rate, and to clarify beginning principal balance to approve Ordinance 25-812, which amends chapter 113 of Municipal Code to repeal Sunset Provision of Enhanced Employment Act Occupation Tax to spend up to $6500 on a bid for Binzebo area maintenance to spend $1000 on Inspection Services for inspection of two nuisance properties to continue steps to remediate nuisance property at 302 2nd St to table discussion of employee raises until executive session and end of meeting to approve up to 3 days of work grinding tress and storm debris, and to then reassess reaining debris and work needed. to approve purchase of 25,000 more text messages for use with TextMyGov service to approve posting of Public Works Supervisor ad in Geneva newspaper for two weeks, Journal Star Sunday paper for 2 weeks, and keep all ads in local paper to enter executive session, inviting each Doug Welch, Ryan Yoder, and Heather Varney separately at 9:30 pm to exit executive session at 9:53 pm to raise employee horly pay rates, effective October 1st, as follows: Doug Welch, Sewer Operator, to $26.00; Ryan Yoder, Street Maintenance, to $23.50; Heather Varney, Deputy Clerk, to $19.00; Diane Odoski, Head Librarian, to $16.50; and Lori Sizer, Assistant Librarian, to $11.75 -to adjourn meeting at 9:55 pm The claims approved were as follows: The claims approved were as follows: September Payroll, 17969.38; Ameritas, 1346.60; EFTPS, 4392.15; NE Dept of Rev SWH, 678.24; AMGL, se 530.00; Architectural Design Assoc., fe 3579.00; Aniston Meints, re 200.00; Atticus Perkins, re 200.00; Axline Lawn & Landscaping, se 33800.00; Baker & Taylor Books, su 40.60; Black Hills Energy, se 637.84; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, fe 4826.62; Bound Tree Medical LLC, su 51.02; Grady Bresson, re 200.00; Brother’s Equipment, su 84.17; Bruning Law Group, se 4920.00; Cengage Group, su 98.96; Center Point Large Print, su 196.56; Jacob & Johnathan Clouse, fe 850.00; Country Compost LLC, fe 2000.00; Culligan Water Service, se 242.75; Eakes Office Solutions, su 743.52; Emmett Crawford, re 100.00; Fairfield Inn & Suites, se 636.00; Farmer’s Union Cooperative Co., su 984.58; First Wireless, Inc., se 757.80; Friend Insurance Center, fe 80314.47; Gabrielle Theis, re 200.00; Hometown Leasing, fe 98.60; Isabel Weber, re 200.00; Johnson Pharmacy, su 31.95; Johnson Service Co, se 13035.00; Keltyn Kirchhoff, re 200.00; League of Nebraska Municipalities, fe 4235.00; Lily Lehr, re 200.00; Lincoln Winwater Works, su 64.50; London Fog, Inc., su 58.70; MMC Consulting, se 5039.44; MacQueen Equipment, su 2596.59; Malorie Lawver, re 200.00;; Mastiff Systems, se 210.00; Chris Michl, se 436.80; Midwest Laboratories Inc, se 1062.76; Midwest Living Magazine, su 20.00; NE Dept. of Revenue ST, fe 1457.30; NE Public Health Environmental Lab, se 178.00; NE Library Commission, fe 500.00; Nebraska Municipal Clerks’ Association, fe 100.00; Norris Public Power District, fe 8049.00; Diane Odoski, re 114.74; One Billing Solutions, LLC, se 315.78; One Call Concepts, Inc., se 14.29; Pepsi-Cola of Hastings, su 90.25; Postmaster, fe 305.61; PowerManager, su 710.34; Principal Mutual Life Ins. Co., fe 215.46; Qwik 6, su 1789.63; Reagan Bartley, re 200.00; Reminisce, su 42.98;; Saline County Clerk, fe 159.00; Selah Petersen, re 200.00; Seward County Independent, fe 2212.32; Mark Stutzman, fe 4625.00; The Pioneer Woman Magazine, su 24.00; Tokio Marine, fe 1000.00; Tori Bresson, re 100.00; US Cellular, se 346.10; Visa, su 1351.03; Waste Connections of Nebraska, se 12738.96; Windstream, se 1498.79; York News-Times, se 4216.95. Total Claims Approved: 235.716.63 Public Comments made by Tom Clouse concerning weeds on baseball field, and concerning labeling of zoning subdivisions. Comments also made regarding property at 113 Maple St, Trunk-or-Treat, and Community Christmas Celebration. Discussion about updates to paid employee sick and vacation time. No action taken. Discussion about nuisance property at 503 Cherry St. No action taken. Discussion about lease on train depot building. No action taken. Discussion about changing allowable size of propane tanks in town to 500 gallons. Fire chief Brent Milton recommended not to allow. No action taken. Jake Clouse presented insurance renewal information. No action taken. Diane Odoski gave Library Report. No action taken. Jared Chaffin, CEO of Friend Community Healthcare Systems gave Hospital report. No action taken. Mark Stutzman gave Building Inspector Report. No action taken. Brent Milton and Stanley Krause gave Fire Department Report. No action taken. Ray Rohrig gave Rescue Squad Report. No Police Report. Kristen Milton gave Pool Report. No action taken. Heather Varney gave Clerk Report. 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 — November 05, 2025 ZNEZ
