January 21, 2025-6:00pm
700 Box Butte Ave. Hemingford, NE. 69348
Zoom Virtual Meeting information
Meeting ID 829 2319 0254Passcode 770154
Pledge of Allegiance
Opening prayer by – Jake Frost
Public Open Meeting Act poster location was pointed out on the north wall of Council Chambers located at the Village office.
Meeting called to order at 6:05 p.m.
Present: Frost, Mahony, Smith, Wacker
Absent: Hunter
Motion by Mahony, second by Smith to excuse Trustee Hunter from the January 21, 2025 Regular meeting of the Village of Hemingford Board of Trustees
Voting Aye: Frost, Mahony, Smith, Wacker.
Consent Calendar items included the Minutes of the December 17, 2024 Regular meeting. Claims against the Village of $51,469.09, Claims against the Utilities of $185,522. December 2024.Village Financial Statements and Bank Reconciliations reports. December 2024 Library Report.
Motion by Frost, second by Mahony to approve the consent calendar as read.
Voting Aye: Frost, Mahony, Smith, Wacker.
Absent: Hunter
Discussion and Possible action: Joni Jespersen and the Hemingford Community Foundation is requesting permission to apply for a grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, (NE DED) on behalf of the Village of Hemingford. This grant would be for surfacing at the playground. The grant is a 1:1 match at this time the Village will be asking for $50,000 from NE DED, which would not be enough to fully cover the playground with “pour in place” rubber surfacing but will allow for this type of surfacing under the new play structures and new swings, with the remainder being new rubber mulch. The Village would need to match this amount between materials and work performed on the project.
Motion by Mahony, Second by Smith to allow the Hemingford Community Foundation to apply for a grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development in the amount of $50,000 on behalf of the Village of Hemingford, for surfacing at the playground.
Voting Aye: Frost, Mahony, Smith, Wacker.
Absent: Hunter
Discussion and possible action: Hemingford Volunteer Fire Department Report from January 1 2025 to present. There have been no roster changes, there have been no fire calls, 1 EMS call, 3 training opportunities, no drills and 1 activity. The new ambulance will cost $339196.08 and will not go into production until late July or August 2025. Participated in round 2 of the Hazard Mitigation update with review due back January 27, 2025. The Department is still reviewing the new DHHS EMS Protocol and will
have it in place by March 2025. New Association Officers are: President—J. Wood, Vice President- C. Harwood, Secretary – T. Keegan, Treasurer- J. Sorensen, Sargeant -at -Arms – J. McDonough, Chaplain- J. Frost.
Discussion and possible action: Hemingford Volunteer Fire Department Annual Report/Volunteer Fire Personnel Tax Incentive Report. 4th quarter 2024 had a full 30-member roster with 2 on the waiting list, there were 48 fire calls 117 EMS calls, 17 training opportunities, 6 drills and 25 public service activities. 1 new EMT-C. Kaman. Dr. Ott continues as the department medical director. New equipment purchased includes a stair chair that was delivered and is now in service. Annual Certification of members for tax credit incentive, there were 10 members that qualified for the $250 Volunteer tax incentive. There is a legislative bill coming up for vote (LB) that would increase the incentive from $250 to $1000.
Discussion and possible action: Approval of Resolution 2025-01 for the Year End Certification of the Street Superintendent as appointed December 18, 2023 for calendar year 2024.
Motion by Mahony, Second by Smith to approve Resolution 2025-01 for the Year End Certification of Jeff Wolfe as the Village of Hemingford Street Superintendent as appointed December 18, 2023 for calendar year 2024. Voting Aye: Frost, Mahony, Smith, Wacker.
Absent: Hunter
Administrators Report: Box Butte County Sheriffs Office reports 18 calls for service and 7 traffic stops, a full report is in the board packet and can be viewed at the Village Office. BBCSO have increased patrols in suspicious activity areas. Board members appreciated the additional notes and updates on the full report. Clerk School is in South Sioux City this year both Huss and Straub will be attending. Clerk school is one week March 16-21. Cotant will be sitting in the office to help out Jones as needed during that time
Utilities Department Report: Utility crew members Lang and Henderson have successfully taken the Grad 4 Water Operator Training and Examination to receive certification, routine equipment maintenance and repair is on going to be sure that all is ready for snow removal. Huss is still actively looking for a replacement bucket truck. AMI update- water meter radios are installed and 57 electric meters have been installed, the software system is being tested for errors in compatibility with Sensus prior to going live. Water usage for both December and January will be estimated while the process is completed. There was a water main break on the north block of Sidney, that involved several hours in freezing temperatures.
Discussion and possible action: With the water break on the north block of Sidney, Huss believes that the village should include that block in the street project when work begins in the spring as there is potential for water line replacement there, also there are two blocks in the middle of Sidney Ave. he would like added to the street project, that would make the entire length from north to south on Sidney concrete. Direction given by the Board to work with engineers to get cost estimates for these additions to the street project for the next meeting.
Code Enforcement Report: In the last month there have been 12 cases closed, 4 opened for a total of 21 cases being worked on. The code enforcement flow chart included in the board packet is the standard procedure step by step in which each case is being handled. Towards the bottom of the flow chart is where the Board becomes more involved with public hearings and could potentially be a cost to the village above the regular day to day expenses of the department, due to the potential for prosecution for non-
compliance. The Board was in agreement with the flow chart and had no suggested changes or corrections. There is a dog in town that has been deemed a potentially dangerous dog. The owner has further failed to comply with licensing and vaccination requirements, despite repeated warnings, so this matter will be turned over to the Attorney for further legal action in conformity with the flow chart. There are 3 nuisance properties (all of which have the same owner) that Cotant along with the Attorney will be preparing a 5-day abatement notice for. Updating of Ordinance 573 to make provisions applicable to cats, among other things is ready to be sent to Attorney to be put into the proper form for consideration at the next regular meeting of the Board.
Discussion and possible action: Approval of Resolution 2025-02 Fee Schedule – NO ACTION TAKEN. Discussion occurred about the appropriateness of the rates, and it was suggested that these be increased.
Public Comment: B. Keegan suggested following the FEMA rate for equipment rental on the fee schedule as references in Resolution 2025-02.
Motion to adjourn at 7:00 pm by Mahony, Second by Frost
Voting Aye: Frost, Mahony, Smith, Wacker
Absent: Hunter ATTEST: Richard Wacker, Chairman
Barb Straub, Village Clerk
Publish; July 2, 2025
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