April 15, 2025-6:00pm
700 Box Butte Ave. Hemingford, NE. 69348
Zoom Virtual Meeting information
Meeting ID 876 7345 1332 Passcode 663992
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 6:00 p.m.
Present: Smith, Hunter, Frost, Wacker.
Trustee Mahoney entered the meeting at 6:07pm.
Consent Calendar items included the Minutes of the March 25, 2025 Regular meeting. Claims against the Village of $39,710.37, Claims against the Utilities of $147,560.01. Claims against the Hemingford Street Project Phase 1 of $70,663.34. March 2025 Village Financial Statements and Bank Reconciliations reports. March 2025 Library Report. Motion by Hunter, Second by Smith to approve the consent calendar as read.
Voting Aye: Smith, Hunter, Frost, and Wacker
Absent: Mahony.
Discussion and Possible action: Presentation from Olivia Hasenauer from Eagle Communications regarding upcoming events for the Village. The Splash Pad and Playground Grand Opening Celebration is on June 20, 2025, The Village currently has purchased 50 30-second commercial spots to use promoting the new Splash Pad and Playground opening, but would also like to host a 2 hour live broadcast during the celebration to generate more community participation the day of the celebration as well as let listeners know about the Splash Pad, new Playground Equipment, and all other community quality of life enhancements. This broadcast would be hosted on KQSK, this station demographics are more family orientated. Jason Wentworth would be the talent for the broadcast. Cost for a live broadcast would be $400. Motion by Smith, Second by Hunter to approve a 2- hour live broadcast at the Splash Pad/ Playground celebration at a cost of $400 using Lottery/Keno funds.
Voting Aye: Smith, Mahony, Hunter, Frost, and Wacker
Discussion and possible action: Hemingford Volunteer Fire Department quarterly update presented by Taylor Keegan During the first quarter of 2025 there has been one retirement and one resignation. The department has participated in 5 fire calls, 39 EMS calls, and 12 training events.
Discussion and possible action: Hemingford EMS quarterly update presented by Barb Keegan. The new ambulance will go into production late summer of 2025, ambulance cost is $339,196.08. Dr. Ott is the Medical Director for the department and approved Abby Vogel, APRN-C as her surrogate.
Discussion and possible action: Hemingford residents Lynda Novotny, and Ken Bryner discussed the possibility of making the intersection at Custer St and Sidney Ave a 4-way stop, putting stop signs in all directions at that intersection. They both expressed concerns for the safety of pedestrians walking to the school, park and pool as well as other vehicles traveling east and west on Custer St. It seems that traffic on Sidney Ave. north and south are traveling at high rates of speed and little caution. In the past there has been a 3-car accident at this intersection. The Board directed the clerk to create a community survey regarding the need for a stop sign at this intersection and will address the issue at the next regular meeting of the Village Board of Trustees.
Discussion and possible action: An Arbor Day Proclimation was read by Chairman Wacker naming April 25, 2025 as Arbor Day.
Motion by Mahony, Second by Frost to approve the Proclimation naming April 25, 2025 as Arbor Day. Voting Aye: Smith, Mahony, Hunter, Frost, and Wacker
Discussion and possible action: Deconstruction or sale of playground equipment to be removed from the park to make way for the new structures. There is significant cost to relocating the old structure to the ball fields. The ground surface would need to be prepared and meet national safety standards, and a contractor willing to take the set down and reinstall it at the ballfield would be required, based on conversations with the Village insurance provider. At this point in time, it is still the wish of the Board to move the existing play structure to the ball fields and directed the clerk to continue to search for a contractor willing to move the structure and also obtain a solid quote for the ground preparation. No further action taken at this time.
Discussion and possible action: Updates on the Care Center and agreement status. Amendment to lease agreement with Tenant Future Nebraska at Hemingford LLC. No Action Taken as no updated agreement has been provided.
Discussion and possible action: June 20th celebration in the park. Celebrating the Splash pad and new playground equipment. The organizing committee would like to show a movie in the park that evening. The cost of licensing to show the movie Moana 2 a family friendly movie is $550. The Village received $200 from ACE/Choice Gas for project of the year, Splash Pad, and as this is the official grand opening celebration those funds could be used toward the licensing of the movie. Therefore, it was requested of the Board another $350 from the Lottery/Keno funds.
Motion by Mahony, Second by Hunter to use $200 received for project of the year and $350 from the Lottery/Keno funds for the licensing to show Mona 2 at the park on June 20, 2025
Voting Aye: Smith, Mahony, Hunter, Frost, and Wacker
Discussion and possible action: Amy Sapp with Panhandle Area Development District (PADD) explained to the Board services PADD provides to member communities. Services include Leadership community applications, comprehensive plans, blight and substandard studies, abandon and vacant property listings, as well as grant writing and administration. Amy encouraged the Village to utilize PADD with future projects.
Administrators Report: Box Butte County Sheriffs Office reported 20 calls for service and 17 traffic stops with additional patrols doing building checks and school speed Patrols. Cindi Trickler was hired as the new Library Director, her training started on the 9th of April. – Barb Straub
Discussion and possible action: The new utility bucket truck has been delivered, so it is time to consider the sale of the old truck. Kyle would like to put it on Big Iron auctions where he has seen these trucks sell for as much as $6000. Administrator Straub was directed to post notice of the sale of the bucket truck. Motion by Mahony Second by Hunter to list the old bucket truck on Big Iron Auctions and have the Village Attorney prepare a resolution for the sale of the vehicle.
Voting Aye: Smith, Mahony, Hunter, Frost, and Wacker
Discussion and possible action: Village donation of a utility pole, lights, and labor at the Body Shop. Jace Haas and Jade Sorensen were part of a group of young people that wrote a successful grant for upgrades to the basketball court at the Body Shop. The grant is $10,000 and can be used for any upgrades at the basket ball courts. If the Village would donate the pole lights and labor the grant could be used for other upgrades to the court.
Motion by Hunter, Second by Frost to donate a utility pole, lights and labor to put them up at The Body Shop basketball court.
Voting Aye: Smith, Mahony, Hunter, Frost, and Wacker
Utilities Department Report: New bucket truck arrived; the truck has more height so it will be very handy. Sewer jetting is started for the summer, Tracy Hicks will start on May 5th at the cemetery for the summer, Stacey Dillard has been hired for the summer to work in town mowing at the parks and other Village properties. AMI progressing well all but 5 water accounts are on AMI and the residential electric meters will arrive soon, electrical polyphase meters will be reprogramed to show power factor. The street project is started on Ogallala from Fremont St to Sheridan and then will start tear out on Cheyenne between Fremont and Sheridan.
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Code Enforcement Report: No Report.
Public Comment: B. Keegan suggested prior to putting in any stop signs that the Village Engineer be consulted.
Motion to adjourn at 7:21pm by Mahony, Second by Smith.
Voting Aye: Smith, Mahony, Hunter, Frost, and Wacker
ATTEST: Richard Wacker, Chairman
Barb Straub, Village Clerk
Publish: July 2, 2025
ZNEZ