SUMMARY OF MINUTES OF REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING
VILLAGE OF AVOCA BOARD OF TRUSTEES – AVOCA, NE 68307
Date: Monday, January 11, 2021
Present: Ehmke, Kirchhoff, Lehn, Mosses, Clark and Clerk, Kirchhoff
Guest: Keene
All board members, Clerk and Keene were present. Attendance was noted by the Clerk and the Board recited the Pledge of Allegiance to begin the meeting. The members were separated and kept the 6 feet distance. The meeting was brought to order at 6:00 pm by the Chairman and reminded all in attendance of the Open Meetings Act posted on the wall.
The Minutes of the December 14, 2020, were submitted for approval. A motion was made to approve the minutes followed by a second and upon roll call all voted yea.
The Treasurer’s Report for November was submitted for approval. A motion was made and seconded to approve the report and upon a roll call vote all voted yea. A motion was made and seconded to approve the report for December and upon a roll call vote all voted yea.
Guest/Reports:
Fire department had nothing to report. Clark mentioned he resigned from the department and Moses will soon be retiring. It is unsure who will give an update to the Board.
Library Board has not given an update.
Keene reported that the leak in the alley has been repaired and a tracer wire was put in place for future use. The flow has gone down substantially. Rural Water Association had completed a reading which was misread but has been corrected. He then discussed with the Board for a raise. After discussion, a motion was made and seconded for the Water Operator wages to be increased by $250 and for the Wastewater Operator to also be increased by $250 per month. Upon a roll call vote all voted yea. The travel life at the sewer plant will need work done and Keene will look into insulation for the chlorine building.
Old Business:
There is currently nothing pending with the attorney.
Utility Bills – There were 15 shut off notices mailed, 8 have made payments and 7 remain unpaid. The meter is reporting a resident and main leak. Nothing has been done yet to install water meter at the fire department.
The new recycle container has been brought in. The old one will be removed shortly. The contract was discussed with the Board and the Clerk will complete and return it to Papillion Sanitation.
Still waiting for concrete work and tractor shed to be completed.
The Ordinance to change the hours of operation for the bar was discussed. Trustee Lehn introduced the prepared Ordinance providing for hours of sale of alcoholic beverages in the Village limits to 2:00 am. The motion was seconded by Trustee Moses and upon a roll call vote, all voted yea. Trustee Lehn moved that the statutory rule requiring reading on three different days be suspended. Trustee Moses seconded the motion to suspend the rules and upon a roll call on the motion, all Trustees voted yea.
New Business:
Appointment for the Village Accountant. A motion was made to reappoint Melinda Clarke, CPA, as the Village Accountant. The motion was seconded and upon a roll call vote all voted yea.
The Trustees have concerns with several properties, the regulations for trimming trees and mowing lawns and would like to discuss these with Jerry Stilmock at the February meeting before reappointing for attorney for 2021. The Clerk will take new photos of properties.
Wages:
The Chairman receives $45 per meeting and Trustees receive $30 per meeting. This will remain the same for 2021.
A motion was made to increase the hourly wage to $16 for work done. The motion was seconded and upon a roll call vote 2 voted yea, 2 voted nay and 1 abstained. Motion died. A motion was then made to increase the hourly wage to $14 for work done. The motion was seconded and upon a roll call vote 3 voted yea and 2 voted nay. Motion passed.
Mileage will remain at $ .575 per mile.
The wages were previously discussed for the Water and Wastewater Operator.
A motion was made to increase the wages of the Village Clerk/Treasurer (60 hours monthly) and Utility Clerk (20 hours monthly) to $14 per hour. The motion was seconded and upon a roll call vote all voted yea.
There have been several complaints received about the parked cars not getting far enough off the road and even bikes left on streets.
Clerk Questions or Correspondence:
The Audit Waiver for 2019-2020 has been submitted to the state.
The W-2s and other tax forms have been prepared and delivered.
A request was received from the Scarlet Hotel – room naming. The Clerk is going through the Centennial book and will provide information regarding events, history and “famous” people of Avoca.
The computers in the office need to be updated. It was suggested that both be updated on to one laptop. The Clerk will work with QTeq of Lincoln.
Trustee Reports:
Water/Clark: Nothing to report.
Sewer/Kirchhoff: Nothing to report.
Finance/Lehn: Nothing to report.
Parks/Moses: Nothing to report.
Street/Ehmke: Nothing to report.
Discussion of bills to be paid for January: A motion was made and seconded to approve payment for Ehmke, upon roll call four yea and Ehmke abstain vote. A motion was made and seconded to approve payment for Moses; upon roll call four yea and Moses abstain vote. A motion was made and seconded to approve payment of the monthly bills as listed; upon a roll call vote all votes yea. A motion was made and seconded to approve payment of the automatic bills; upon a roll call vote, all voted yea.
The following bills were approved for payment:
General: Kirchhoff - $648.18; Windstream Nebraska - $125.28; One Call Concept - $10.39; Intuit - $8.44; Office Depot - $34.16; NE Dept of Revenue - $189.09; Clarke - $2000
Sewer Account: Keene - $894.98; Kirchhoff - $89.95; Postmaster - $55; Meeske Hardware - $15.38
Water Account: Keene - $159.63; Kirchhoff - $89.95; Sewer Account - $2888.96; Rural Water Dist. #3 - $3457.50; NE Department of Revenue - $409.97; NE Public Health Environmental Lab - $185; NE Rural Water Association - $100; Seay - $120; Kerns Excavating Co - $2500
Street Account: Ehmke - $459.90; Moses - $297.18; R & R Wilson Trucking LLC - $1133.20
Community Improvement Account: Antes - $55; Papillion Sanitation - $1138.20
KENO: Kerns Excavating Co - $2418.70
Automatic Payments: Black Hills Energy - $99.44
OPPD – General - $278.80; Water - $53.43; Sewer - $519.15; Street - $827.40
A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting. Upon roll call, all voted yea; and the meeting was adjourned by Chairman at 8:03 pm. The next meeting of the Avoca Village Board will be held on Monday, February 8, 2021, at 6:00 pm at the Village office at 609 House Street. Minutes are submitted by Marilyn Kirchhoff, Village Clerk/Treasurer.