January 26, 2022 Minutes
February 02, 2022
A meeting of the Stratton Village Board of Trustees was held on Tuesday, January 26, 2022 at 7:00 pm CT at the Village Clerk’s Office. Notice of the meeting was posted and availability of the agenda was communicated in the advance notice. A poster of the “Open Meetings Act” was clearly visible on the board room wall, and Chairman J. Griffiths directed the attention of those present to the poster. All proceedings hereafter shown occurred while the meeting was in session. Present: Chairman J. Griffiths, Trustee J. McDonald, Trustee M. McDonald, Trustee S. Hanes, Trustee T. Jones, Utilities Superintendent K. League, Clerk T. Hedrick, Assistant Utilities Superintendent D. Magley, members of the public Peggy McDonald, Wade Hanes and Patrick Shelton.
The meeting was called to order at 7:03 pm.
OPEN FORUM:
Peggy McDonald reviewed new information she received regarding the employee cafeteria accounts.
Motion by J. McDonald and second by M. McDonald to approve the previous minutes, treasurers’ report and claims. Roll call: Ayes: M. McDonald, S. Hanes, J. Griffiths, T. Jones, J. McDonald. Nays: None. Motion carried.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
A letter from Attorney Schroeder was reviewed regarding the annexation process. Clerk Hedrick will begin gathering the information needed and set up the public hearing for a possible March date.
Wade Hanes addressed the board regarding the access of property on Hartford Street. Potential costs and options of access were discussed.
NEW BUSINESS:
Motion made by S. Hanes and second by M. McDonald to excuse the absence of T. Jones from the January 18, 2022 regular board meeting. Roll call: Ayes: M. McDonald, S. Hanes, J. Griffiths, J. McDonald. Nays: None. Abstained: T. Jones. Motion carried.
Motion made by T. Jones and second by S. Hanes to excuse the absence of J. McDonald from the January 18, 2022 regular board meeting. Roll call: Ayes: M. McDonald, S. Hanes, J. Griffiths, T. Jones. Nays: None. Abstained: J. McDonald. Motion carried.
Motion made by J. McDonald and second by T. Jones to excuse the absence of M. McDonald from the January 18, 2022 regular board meeting. Roll call: Ayes: S. Hanes, J. Griffiths, T. Jones, J. McDonald. Nays: None. Abstained: M. McDonald. Motion carried.
Motion made by S. Hanes and second by J. McDonald to approve extension request #2 for CDBG 19WW001. Roll call: Ayes: M. McDonald, S. Hanes, J. Griffiths, T. Jones, J. McDonald. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion made by J. McDonald and second by S. Hanes to approve the Program Income Report for owner occupied rehab. Roll call: Ayes: M. McDonald, S. Hanes, J. Griffiths, T. Jones, J. McDonald. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by T. Jones and second by J. McDonald to approve de-obligating CDBG Owner Occupied Rehab funds and donating the funds to South West Nebraska Community Betterment Corporation. Roll call: Ayes: M. McDonald, S. Hanes, J. Griffiths, T. Jones, J. McDonald. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by S. Hanes and second by T. Jones to retain employment of Dorey Magley and remove him from probation. Roll call: Ayes: M. McDonald, S. Hanes, J. Griffiths, T. Jones, J. McDonald. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by M. McDonald and second by S. Hanes to increase Assistant Utilities Superintendent Dorey Magley’s hourly wage by $0.50. Roll call: Ayes: M. McDonald, S. Hanes, J. Griffiths, T. Jones, J. McDonald. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Utilities Superintendent League briefed the board regarding upcoming water operator training with Nebraska Rural Water Association and his current ongoing lineman training with Kansas Municipal Utilities.
Clerk Hedrick has completed her online training for parliamentary procedure and informed the board that she will be submitting her training hours to work towards gaining her certified municipal clerk designation with the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.
Motion by S. Hanes and second by M. McDonald to offer $150 annual clothing allowance for work shirts and pants for full time employees on a reimbursement rate. Roll call: Ayes: S. Hanes, J. Griffiths, J. McDonald, M. McDonald. Nays: T. Jones. Motion carried.
Motion by M. McDonald and second by S. Hanes to purchase a Carhartt coat for Assistant Utilities Superintendent Dorey Magley. Roll call: Ayes: S. Hanes, J. Griffiths, T. Jones, J. McDonald, M. McDonald. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Utilities Superintendent League informed the board that he would be purchasing fire retardant safety clothing in the near future.
Motion by J. McDonald and second by M. McDonald to adopt resolution 506 adopting the Village of Stratton cafeteria plan. Roll call: Ayes: S. Hanes, J. Griffiths, T. Jones, J. McDonald, M. McDonald. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by S. Hanes and second by M. McDonald to make a onetime payment to each full time employee of $545 for reimbursement regarding the employee cafeteria plan for the month of January 2022. Roll call: Ayes: S. Hanes, J. Griffiths, T. Jones, J. McDonald, M. McDonald. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by M. McDonald and second by S. Hanes to authorize automatic payment of $25.00 per month from the Village general checking account into the Village Building Maintenance Reserve savings account. Roll call: Ayes: S. Hanes, J. Griffiths, T. Jones, J. McDonald, M. McDonald. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by T. Jones and second by M. McDonald to approve Rates Resolution 507 to reflect current water rates. Roll call: Ayes: S. Hanes, J. Griffiths, T. Jones, J. McDonald, M. McDonald. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Surplus property of the Victor safe from the old Village Office building was discussed. More information regarding the use of the safe was requested. Surplus property was tabled.
Streets, Alleys, & Landfill Committee Report: Utilities Superintendent League stated that he was planning to upgrade some street signs and would be purchasing them soon with a quote of $1655.40. He also informed the board that he is looking to begin pricing and planning for armor coating.
Electricity Committee Report: There will be a committee meeting on Friday the 28th with members from Southwest Public Power District.
Water & Sewer Committee Report: Utilities Superintendent League stated that we would need to update our testing sites as we have had continued issues with results from one residence. A new sewer service request was reviewed on County Avenue. League will contact the village engineer regarding providing the service. Water meters that are still in need of repair were reviewed and one meter was removed from the list.
Finance Committee Report: Nothing new to report.
Health & Welfare Committee Report: The status of the school was reviewed. Superintendent League will monitor the upkeep of the grounds to ensure that it doesn’t become a nuisance. Clerk Hedrick requested that the ban of tobacco use and disposal of tobacco products in the trash cans in the Village Office be enforced.
Park & Recreation Committee Report: Nothing new to report.
Correspondence: A letter from resident Bill Condon regarding a complaint on snow removal was read aloud to the board by Chairman J. Griffiths. A thank you letter to the Board of Trustees from Teri Faimon was read aloud by Chairman J. Griffiths.
With no objections Chairman J. Griffiths declared the meeting adjourned at 9:44pm.
The next meeting of the Village Board of Trustees will be held on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 7:00 pm at the Village Office.
