VILLAGE OF EXETER MINUTES FEBRUARY 7, 2024 The regular meeting of the Exeter Village Board was convened in open and public session on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 7:00 pm at the Exeter Village Office. Notice of the meeting was given by posting 10 days prior at the Exeter Village Office, Post Office, and Generations Bank. Chairperson Alan Michl called the meeting to order. Board members present upon roll call were: Alan Michl, Justin Harre, Jim Anderson, and Kim Gloystein. Jim Anderson arrived at 7:10 pm. Bob Mueller was absent. Clerk Becky Erdkamp recorded the minutes. Chairperson Michl noted that a copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act is available in the Village Office for public inspection and review. Visitors present included: Dean Lif, Kiley Wiechman, Jean Engle, Mark McFarland, Rhonda Stokebrand, Tyler Salmon, Derek Axline and Cindy Markowski. Minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed and approved without correction. An accounts payable listing was presented for approval. Harre moved and Gloystein seconded the motion to approve the invoices. All present voted aye. Approved invoices as follows: Ameritas Life Insurance Corp $1,488.75; Bell Bank Equipment Finance 7,509.51; Black Hills Energy 1,737.35; Capital One 1,326.47; Due, Jim 1,469.00; EFTPS 4,926.73; Erdkamp, Rebecca 100.00; Exeter Lumber LLC 235.89; Farmers Cooperative 1,421.22; Fyr-Tek, Inc 82.41; Generations Bank 140,000.00; Generations Bank 27,538.75; Generations Bank 200.00; Generations Bank 15.00 ; Greg’s Market 50.83; Hometown Leasing 125.49; Kelch Plumbing & Heating 156.05; Kopchos Sanitation Inc 108.50; League of Ne Municipalities 940.00; Leesa Bartu Designs 240.00; Mueller, John 150.00; NE Department of Revenue 363.34; NE Department of Revenue 1,644.41; NE Dept of Energy & Env. 40.00; NE Public Health Env Lab 15.00; Perennial Public Power District 2,907.38; Salaries 18,306.38; Seward County Independent 98.53; USA Blue Book 495.78; Total Invoices $213,692.77 Dean Lif and Kiley Wiechman of HBE CPAs presented the 2022-2023 fiscal year ending audit report. A brief discussion was held on the financial statement, bank reconciliation and stamped signatures. HBE CPAs will submit the report to the State Auditor. Harre moved and Anderson seconded the motion to approve the audit report as presented. All present voted aye. Brad Slaughter of Northland Securities (formerly First National Capital Markets) discussed the Amortization Schedules for the GO Water Bonds for the water tower project to begin this spring. The 10 year schedule shows rates of 3.9 to 4.0% interest with annual payments between $26,000.00 to $29,000.00 per year. Total interest would be $51,700.00. The 15 year schedule shows rates of 3.9 to 4.6% interest with annual payments between $18,450.00 to 23,310.00 per year. Total interest would be $86,115.00. By going with the 10 Year Schedule the Village would save $34,415.00 in interest. Anderson moved and Harre seconded the motion to approve the 10 Year Amortization Schedule for the GO Water Bond. All present voted aye. Michl introduced Ordinance #601 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLICATION WATER BONDS, SERIES 2024, OF THE VILLAGE OF EXETER, NEBRASKA, IN THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT TO EXCEED TWO HUNDRED FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($240,000) TO PAY THE COSTS OF CONSTRUCTING ADDITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OF THE VILLAGE; PRESCRIBING THE FORM OF SAID BONDS; PROVIDING FOR A SINKING FUND AND FOR THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF TAXES TO PAY SAID BONDS TO THE EXTENT NOT PAID FORM OTHER SOURCES; PROVIDING FOR THE SALE OF THE BONDS AND AUTHORIZING THE VILLAGE TO ENTER INTO A BOND PURCHASE AGREEMENT; AUTHORIZING THE DELIVERY OF THE BONDS TO THE PURCHASER; PROVIDING FOR THE DISPOSITION OF THE BOND PROCEEDS AND ORDERING THE ORDINANCE PUBLISHED IN PAMPHLET FORM. Anderson moved and Harre seconded the motion that the statutory rule requiring reading on three different days be suspended. All present voted aye. Michl moved and Anderson seconded the motion to approve Ordinance #601. All present voted aye. Michl introduced Ordinance #602 AN AMENDED ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION MUNICIPAL BUILDING BONDS, SERIES 2024, OF THE VILLAGE OF EXETER, NEBRASKA, IN THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT TO EXCEED THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($300,000) ISSUED FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING A MUNICIPAL BUILDING IN AND FOR THE VILLAGE; PRESCRIBING THE FORM OF SAID BONDS; PROVIDING FOR A SINKING FUND AND FOR THE COLLECTION OF TAXES TO PAY SAID BONDS; PROVIDING FOR THE SALE OF THE BONDS; AUTHORIZING THE DELIVERY OF THE BONDS TO THE PURCHASER; PROVIDING FOR THE DISPOSITION OF THE BOND PROCEEDS AND ORDERING THE ORDINANCE PUBLISHED IN PAMPHLET FORM. Anderson moved and Harre seconded the motion the statutory rule requiring reading on three different days by suspended. All present voted aye. Anderson moved and Gloystein seconded the motion to approve Ordinance #602. All present voted aye. Amortization Schedules for the fire hall project will be reviewed at the next meeting. A Fire Station Lease Agreement was reviewed. Slaughter noted that it is required by state statute to enter into a lease agreement between the Village of Exeter and the Exeter Rural Fire Protection District prior to starting the building project. Michl moved and Harre seconded the motion to approve the lease agreement as presented. All present voted aye. An estimate for $27,200.00 from Meininger Fire Protection for the sprinkler system for the new fire hall addition was reviewed. Gloystein moved and Anderson seconded the motion to approve the estimate for the sprinkler system. All present voted aye. Fillmore County Emergency Manager Jean Engle and Mark McFarland from the Fillmore County Sheriff Office discussed the Fillmore County Communications Project. They would like to install a fiberglass antenna on the water tower and repeater inside the fire hall. The county is updating the outdated analog system to a digital system. Since the village is doing a water tower improvement project this spring, they obtained an estimate of $5,350.00 from Viking Industrial Painting to install the antenna and paint the surfaces to match the tank surfaces at the same time as the water tower renovation project. Since dedicated fiber will need to be installed in the fire hall for the repeater the Village would also like to use the fiber. Glenwood Communications will be installing the fiber. Cindy Markowski presented the annual library report. 4,255 people came through the doors of the library during the fiscal year. Twenty two new cards were issued to patrons. Markowski reported on a grant provided by the Nebraska Library Commission to get fiber installed at the library and city offices. The Library Commission would pay for the installation of $38,709.46. Glenwood Communications would do the work. They are offering a three year contract at $79.95 per month. The Village Board approved the project. Markowski also inquired about expanding Storybook Park to include the land between the village and Legion buildings. The board told her there was not enough room for bigger playground equipment in the area. Markowski also inquired about having the camera footage from Storybook Park on her computer and cell phone. Diode will be consulted when they finish installing the camera system. Markowski would also like to increase the book budget from $500.00 per month to $700.00 per month. The board instructed her to make the request for the next budget in September. A change order from Michael Schultes of JEO Consulting Group for the Highway 6 Water Main Project was reviewed. The change order was for a deduction of $12,841.00 from the cost of the original bid. Van Kirk’s did not have to dig up and remove the valve at Union Avenue. The valve was instead closed and abandoned in place. Some concrete was deleted due to the valve not being removed. The village will seed the areas in the spring if needed. Encasement of a storm sewer pipe was not needed. Michl moved and Anderson seconded the motion to approve the change order. All present voted aye. The Contractor’s Application for Payment for the Highway 6 Water Main Replacement Project was reviewed. The total payment due for the project is $120,888.00. Anderson moved and Gloystein seconded the motion to approve the payment application. All present voted aye. ARPA funds of $92,387.60 will be used to partially pay for the project. The rest of the funding will come from the general water fund. John Mueller presented recommendations from Sargent Drilling for when the water tower is down for repairs this spring. Sargent recommends installing a transfer switch & electrical for $6,070.00 and the rental of a generator for two months during the project. The rental fee would be $7,637.66. Four pumps are needed for the wells at a cost of $1,207.99 each. The 4 year Drive Protection warranty for Well #2 expires in 2024. The cost to extend for another 4 years is $2,064.00. Harre moved and Gloystein seconded the motion to approve the transfer switch, pumps, generator rental and extended warranty. All present voted aye. Updated Exeter Volunteer Fire Department Constitution and Bylaws were reviewed. Changes include establishing a six month probation period. If taking the EMT class, a member must test two times if they do not pass the first test, if they fail the test or do not take the required times, they must reimburse the village for one half the cost of the class. Itemized receipts must be presented for reimbursements for food at conferences. No alcoholic beverages will be paid for by the village. The maximum per day reimbursement will be at the federal rate. Harre moved and Gloystein seconded the motion to approve the amended constitution and bylaws. All present voted aye. During the recent snowstorms Broc Mueller helped with snow removal on an emergency basis. Harre moved and Anderson seconded the motion to approve paying Broc Mueller $17.00 per hour to help with snow removal as needed. All present voted aye. The new Polaris UTV has been ordered. Clerk Erdkamp noted that CD#19111 in the amount of $12,452.89 is coming due on February 21st that is ear marked for maintenance/streets. Erdkamp was instructed to use CD#19111 and take the rest from the general street fund to pay for the UTV when it is ready to be picked up. A resignation letter from Amanda Wince was reviewed for the position of cleaning person for the Senior Center, Fire Hall, Library and Village Office. Harre moved and Gloystein seconded the motion to accept the resignation and post the vacant position. All present voted aye. Tyler Salmon presented the Marshal’s Report. Three complaints regarding a semi tractor and ammonia trailer parking on the street have been received. The owner was contacted. The tractor and trailer will no longer be parked on the street. John Mueller presented the Maintenance Report. The annual water and wastewater consumption report was reviewed. The total water consumption for 2023 was 29,982,500 gallons. The total sewer consumption for 2023 was 4,634,770 gallons. Becky Erdkamp presented the Clerk’s Report. Sales tax receipts for November 2023 were $33,727.30. Keno receipts for December 2023 were $277.59. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday March 5th at 7:00 pm. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm. Becky S. Erdkamp Village Clerk FS — February 28, 2024 ZNEZ
