[0:57] Let's call the order the uh

[0:58] Phillsburg City Council meeting

[1:00] for September 8th.

[1:01] Please join me in the pledge of allegiance.

[1:03] [crowd]

[1:05] I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States

[1:08] of America and to the Republic for which it stands,

[1:12] one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty

[1:16] and justice for all.

[1:18] [crowd]

[1:24] All right, before we get started, I'm going to introduce

[1:27] Ordinance 1465 and your pack and I I wrote a letter to it.

[1:33] All you guys members,

[1:35] [paper rustling]

[1:39] I'm going to read it. Um

[1:43] I placed it on the agenda for consideration and adoption.

[1:47] The purpose of this proposal is not to restrict disagreement,

[1:50] debate, criticism or any council member's right to express

[1:53] his or her opinion.

[1:55] Rather, it's intended to establish clear and consistent

[1:58] standards for how all members of the governing body conduct

[2:01] themselves while city council meetings are being conducted.

[2:05] We have an obligation to the to to conduct the public's

[2:09] business in an orderly, respectful and effective manner.

[2:13] Council members should be able to present different

[2:16] opinions and vigorously debate important issues

[2:19] without personal confrontations, disruptive behavior,

[2:23] or conduct that prevents other members from participating.

[2:27] We already have a code of ethics applicable to all elected

[2:31] and appointed city officials and employees.

[2:34] That code recognizes that public officials hold office

[2:38] for the benefit of the public,

[2:40] require that we observe high standards of conduct,

[2:43] provide that our conduct should be above reproach

[2:47] and states that we should work together in full cooperation

[2:51] with other public officials and employees.

[2:54] This proposed rules provides specific standards for applying

[2:58] those principles.

[5:00] during City Council meetings.

[5:03] They're intended equally to every council member including me

[5:06] when presiding over a meeting.

[5:10] The rules are not intended to favor the majority, protect the member

[5:15] or restrict a minority viewpoint.

[5:18] A council member will continue have the right to disagree with the mayor

[5:22] or any other council member, criticize city policies or proposals,

[5:26] ask difficult questions and vote against any matter before the council.

[5:31] The rules address conduct rather than the viewpoint.

[5:37] The proposal provides the presiding offers with reasonable procedural

[5:39] tools to maintain order,

[5:42] including the ability to warn a member, rule a member out of order,

[5:44] require the member to yield the floor,

[5:47] take response and take other reasonable procedural measures necessary

[5:50] to allow the meeting to proceed.

[5:54] The proposal also establishes a graduated approach to violations.

[5:58] You'll see that if you read the rules.

[6:02] Beginning with the warning, escalating only when an inappropriate or

[6:05] disruptive conduct continues.

[6:09] I recommend the council adopt the proposed City Council meeting

[6:12] decorum and conduct rules so that all

[6:15] council members have a clear understanding of standards

[6:18] expected during council meetings and so that those standards can be applied

[6:21] consistently and fairly.

[6:24] This is an opportunity for the entire council to reaffirm the

[6:27] vigorous disagreement and public debate are appropriate.

[6:31] But personal attacks, intimidation, disruptive conduct and behavior

[6:34] that interferes with the council's ability

[6:36] to conduct the business, public's business are not.

[6:42] Respectfully submitted.

[6:45] And in your packet, you've got it.

[6:49] It would be ordinance 1465.

[6:52] If you have any questions on it, I

[6:55] I had it originally as a resolution,

[6:57] and I sent it over to Dakota. Dakota said making an ordinance.

[7:02] and he used Molvane and Junction cities as examples to kind of

[7:05] match it into this.

[7:08] since they had meeting conduct rules.

[7:12] We really don't have any. We've just basically have the code of ethics,

[7:14] which are very difficult to

[7:18] administer.

[7:26] I'll make a motion to adopt ordinance 1465.

[7:30] Second.

[7:32] Second. Any further discussion?

[7:37] All in favor? I. Opposed?

[7:40] Motion passes.

[7:45] Let me know what's 6:15 so we can go to the budget hearing.

[7:49] for right now, Chris Delzer, you're up for public comment.

[7:54] Do you want me to stand? Do you want me on the podium?

[7:56] Yeah. Perfect.

[7:59] Just don't start soon.

[8:01] Very good, Mr. Sell.

[8:04] Um, you want my name, title, whatever you want to call it?

[8:07] Oh, I

[8:07] How official are we going?

[8:09] We're just going your name name and address.

[8:11] How's that?

[8:12] Well, I'm Chris Delzer, of course, I'm from the community here.

[8:16] Um, I'm just representing from Sawyer's Ace Hardware right now,

[8:19] and manager, owner, whatever you want to call it.

[8:23] Um, as I'm sure several may be aware,

[8:28] Um, we had had an incident

[8:32] on August 19th, approximately 12:30.

[8:35] Um, around lunchtime.

[8:37] Um, we had had a City Council member

[8:41] and approach into our store and approach another citizen to

[8:44] which there had been

[8:48] prior disagreements, I guess would be the nicest that I could call it,

[8:53] um, regarding some Facebook posts from everything that I had taken it as.

[8:59] Again, at that point in time, I feel as if it was a

[9:04] I guess the best way I can put it, it was a professional problem

[9:08] being conducted

[9:11] as their professional viewpoint

[9:14] onto whereas they were having issues with stuff sided being from the council.

[9:21] Again, not necessarily during this time during the meeting.

[9:24] Um, but on Facebook afterwards or however.

[9:30] It didn't escalate to anything more than a lot of yelling, some swearing.

[9:37] Um, again, it had finally made it to where it could go outside.

[9:41] and, you know, everything was everything was fine, kind of

[9:44] calmed down from there. Everyone went their separate ways on it.

[9:48] Um, where I have an issue with it at,

[9:51] um, you know, that's not that is not under my opinion what we elect

[9:55] the officials for.

[9:59] That's

[10:00] beyond where their conduct needs to be at.

[10:03] I feel like anyhow, again,

[10:05] coming from professionally, it's nothing, nothing personal on my end.

[10:11] Again, it's it's just a step too far.

[10:15] A step too far. And

[10:17] again, I just I I'm disappointed that I had to be here talking about it.

[10:22] Um, you know, I know that none of you want to be represented in that light.

[10:29] And it's just it's it's bad, especially in a business.

[10:33] And when especially there are customers, more people around,

[10:38] not just a customer too, there were six, eight in there at the time.

[10:41] And

[10:43] You know, when I've got people that are upset and afraid,

[10:47] little ladies that are upset and afraid to leave the store

[10:49] while all this commotion is going on.

[10:52] That's that's too far.

[10:53] That's too far.

[10:55] Um, again, where it all pertain to, you know, stuff

[10:58] here and there on Facebook.

[11:00] I I don't know. I guess I could have put this on Facebook

[11:03] put a rant on Facebook about it, but I don't use it.

[11:06] I don't use it, haven't used it in years.

[11:08] I figured this is probably a more professional setting in which to do this. So,

[11:13] Again, nothing personal here there on it.

[11:16] It's, you know, act better, let it roll off your back.

[11:22] And I and and and Chris, I apologize for it, for for doing that.

[11:25] And that's exactly why I asked him to go outside.

[11:30] You know, he has the floor right now.

[11:34] No, yeah, I'm sorry.

[11:36] I can and addressing that, thank you. I appreciate that.

[11:40] Yes, truly appreciate it.

[11:42] Um, it could have, it could have gone a different way.

[11:46] It could have gone a different way.

[11:49] You knew he was in there, you saw him in there.

[11:51] You could have waited for him to walk outside and finish his business up.

[11:54] Not come in right there and beyond him.

[11:57] I I didn't say anything disrespectful or anything in there.

[12:01] I just said, hey, we we need to go outside and talk, my my exact words.

[12:06] It could have been handled differently, I feel like.

[12:08] But I did, I didn't scream or holler in there, I didn't do anything in there.

[12:12] It escalated quickly.

[12:15] It escalated quickly.

[12:18] Definitely outside.

[12:22] That's that's where I'm coming from.

[12:24] So I don't have

[12:25] again, I don't have anything personal against anyone on it.

[12:28] I said this is me as a business owner saying this is again, conduct

[12:33] unbecoming.

[12:35] It's just it's again, just a step too far.

[12:38] So, again,

[12:40] we have, um,

[12:43] you know, the citizens we put our trust in, in all the council members.

[12:47] We do. We believe that you're here for the betterment of

[12:50] our lives here in the community

[12:53] and the community itself. So, again,

[12:57] I I understand things get misconstrued, especially online.

[13:02] Just let it roll off your back.

[13:05] It's politics. Everyone's gonna say something.

[13:07] No one does everything right.

[13:10] I don't know, that's all I've got.

[13:12] I appreciate it.

[13:16] I do have something to say just because, I mean,

[13:19] it's it's out there and I'm not gonna hide anything

[13:21] and I'm not going to stop being me,

[13:24] But when you are setting there downing, uh,

[13:28] and don't know what you're talking about, there again,

[13:31] going back to the true ignorance of society today,

[13:35] know what you're talking about 100% of facts.

[13:40] before you just start slandering and throwing stuff out there.

[13:44] Because that's what it is. Plain and simple.

[13:47] And I am not going to stand by.

[13:49] I don't care if I'm on the council or what I am.

[13:53] I am going to tell you that it is dead wrong. Plain and simple.

[13:58] And again, I apologize to Chris and Ace Hardware,

[14:02] that's why I took it outside. Plain and simple.

[14:08] What time we got?

[14:10] We got four minutes, Jack.

[14:11] Yeah, 6:11.

[14:13] Thanks, Chris.

[14:14] We we got a chance to do the, uh, minutes.

[14:20] We still got four minutes.

[14:22] [paper shuffling]

[14:57] I make a motion to approve August 17th, 2026.

[15:01] second. All second, sir.

[15:02] All in favor.

[15:04] All right. Pose.

[15:05] Motion passes.

[15:08] Corporation ordinance 1055-08-26B.

[15:22] that roof masters that 11,000 was at the community building.

[15:27] That's the firehouse. Firehouse.

[15:29] It was like the last 10%.

[15:31] Okay.

[15:42] Is the pump working that was is it working now?

[15:48] The pump repair out the airport, I guess.

[15:54] Sure.

[15:55] We're just now getting build on it.

[15:58] There was a problem with the email that they had to send the invoices to,

[16:03] so these are actually from January of last March.

[16:07] Oh, they're old.

[16:08] Okay.

[16:11] No wonder you look so surprised.

[16:17] I'll make a motion to approve.

[16:20] 105508-26B.

[16:24] Do I have a second?

[16:25] Oh second.

[16:26] On favor.

[16:27] All right.

[16:28] Pose, motion passes.

[16:31] We are two minutes away from the budget.

[16:35] You got something the last two minutes?

[16:37] I.

[16:38] Myself? No, no, I don't have nothing. Thank you.

[16:40] You don't have anything?

[16:41] No, sir.

[16:42] Can, do you have any?

[16:44] Actually, I apologize. Yes, I do.

[16:47] Um, I had um, a lady and myself.

[16:52] um, wanted to thank the entire staff

[16:55] for uh, repairs in the alley.

[16:58] in between Nebraska and well, not Nebraska, it'd be ninth and eighth.

[17:05] Ninth and eighth.

[17:07] They was horrible. Thank you very much.

[17:08] Appreciate it.

[17:10] Sory deserves it.

[17:11] All right.

[17:13] We are it's close enough.

[17:18] We'll officially start the budget hearing.

[17:23] I'm Sarah Korman with Mason Miller.

[17:25] I had the opportunity, excuse me, to work with the finance committee

[17:30] to due the city of Hellsberg's 2027 budget.

[17:35] So, we'll kind of go through that.

[17:38] Um, in your packets, I believe,

[17:40] the most important page that we need to look at is,

[17:42] I think it's page 44 in your packet.

[17:47] Um, it's page 19 of the budget, but I think it's 44 in your

[17:52] Is that correct?

[17:55] So, after discussion with uh, the team, I guess, it was decided

[18:00] that the city did not want to exceed revenue neutral.

[18:06] So, that's how we prepared the budget so that it keeps it um,

[18:09] revenue neutral, meaning the city plans to levy taxes at the exact

[18:14] same dollar amount that it did for 2026.

[18:19] So, the mill levy rates change based

[18:21] on the valuations that came in from the county.

[18:26] But we use those valuations

[18:27] and you have to configure the budget to make it work.

[18:31] But if you'll look on that page um, that I mentioned,

[18:35] the second to the right column, the

[18:39] 1 million 54217,

[18:43] that's the proposed amount of taxes that we're going to levy.

[18:47] That corresponds with the 26 column for total taxes levied.

[18:52] So, that's why we're saying we're revenue neutral,

[18:55] we're um, not going to exceed.

[18:59] So, based on the team,

[19:00] they felt like they could fit the parameters of the budget within that,

[19:04] so we made it work.

[19:06] Um, if you look up at the top, the bond and interest,

[19:10] um, we are not leving any funds for that anymore.

[19:13] Uh, in 2024, that um, debt was relieved, and so

[19:18] we didn't have or in 2024, what 24, it was relieved.

[19:22] So, um, the debt that is remaining is not to be used for

[19:29] um, levied funds.

[19:30] So, that will be transferred in from the water department to

[19:34] uh, pay that debt.

[19:35] So, no levy on the bond and interest fund.

[19:37] The library, employee benefit fire,

[19:41] equipment capital outlay and industrial development,

[19:44] you can see we're we're doing flat rates there.

[19:48] Um, the library fund, we always do five mills.

[19:50] Industrial development and fire equipment capital outlay,

[19:54] we do one and two for those respectively.

[19:57] Um, we did decrease the employee benefit mill.

[20:01] low rate by quite a bit.

[20:03] Um, just because what we've been doing in the past,

[20:05] there's been kind of a shift in

[20:08] how the accounting has been done,

[20:11] and so we were leving funds there that weren't quite getting

[20:14] funnel to where they needed to be.

[20:16] So we we changed that up and we lowered that employee benefit.

[20:21] if you can see the year before for 26,

[20:24] we level levied 12.67 mils.

[20:27] This year we dropped that to seven.

[20:30] Um, so that that's quite a bit of difference in that

[20:32] employee benefit fund.

[20:33] Not that employee benefits are going down necessarily.

[20:37] It's just how and where they are being paid from.

[20:41] So instead of funding that fund,

[20:45] uh, we shifted things around so that we could

[20:47] pay those employee benefits easier

[20:49] from where they're being drawn from.

[20:53] Um, so in doing that, we were able to move some of that mill

[20:57] rate, I guess, up to the general fund and create some more space

[21:00] in the general fund, which was a big reason why we could do

[21:03] the revenue neutral on that side.

[21:06] So, um, overall we're setting at 6.

[21:10] excuse me, 62.495 mils, which again gets us

[21:15] revenue neutral with what the county um proposed to us for the

[21:20] uh tax dollars coming in on those levied funds.

[21:24] Um, we can go through the other funds if we need to.

[21:28] I don't know if you guys have questions on that.

[21:31] But after going through the transfers and everything with the

[21:34] Finance Committee.

[21:36] Um, that like I said, this last page is the most important

[21:39] because it shows um, the levied funds.

[21:42] The non-levied funds, um, we leave ourselves plenty of room

[21:45] in case there's emergencies

[21:46] or anything big projects come in, we have plenty of budget

[21:49] authority uh, to do projects on that.

[21:53] And working with the team, I think we're, I think we're good on that.

[21:57] or feel like we are at this point.

[21:59] So if there's any other questions, I'd be happy to answer those,

[22:03] but not long.

[22:06] [rustling paper]

[22:09] Again, because we're not exceeding or doing the revenue neutral

[22:12] exceeding, it's just a unanimous.

[22:15] Um, if you adopt it, you don't have to do the roll call this year.

[22:19] That's only if you do the exceeding the revenue neutral.

[22:21] Right. We need a motion to approve.

[22:23] Yeah.

[22:24] You would need a if you want to approve it tonight.

[22:26] You don't have to approve it tonight, but um,

[22:28] if you're going to, I guess, that's

[22:30] you don't have to do the roll call.

[22:31] Okay.

[22:32] [rustling paper]

[22:34] to open it to the public for comments.

[22:37] We need to open it to the public.

[22:38] Oh, comments from the public.

[22:40] [chair creaks]

[22:41] Any questions? questions?

[22:45] [applause]

[22:46] [laughter]

[22:47] You like flat?

[22:50] [rustling paper]

[22:51] Um, I will mention, I guess, um, this is the second year

[22:54] in a row that the city has chosen not to exceed revenue neutral.

[22:59] Um, which means essentially, city is planning on same

[23:03] dollars coming in from

[23:08] 2006, but also same from 2025.

[23:13] So,

[23:14] that that takes a lot of planning

[23:16] for these guys to be able to make the budget fit within those

[23:19] constraints because they're not increasing with inflation

[23:24] on what they're doing there.

[23:25] So,

[23:26] Um, probably, um, from my standpoint,

[23:30] two, three years of not exceeding revenue neutral is going to be

[23:33] going to be tough, um, on that side of it.

[23:37] Um, you know, we got to keep keep up with inflation and

[23:39] unfortunately, it's not really going down.

[23:43] Um, but this year we were able to make that work as far as the

[23:46] 27 budget and the plan to go there.

[23:49] So just something to keep in mind for next year.

[23:52] three years at the same dollar rate probably isn't much of a

[23:56] reality. Um, unfortunately.

[23:59] Thank you for setting the state.

[24:02] Well, if there was a catastrophic problem that happened,

[24:06] they can pull from the CD, right?

[24:09] Absolutely. The CDs are part of their cash balance.

[24:12] Yes.

[24:13] [rustling paper]

[24:16] Any other comments?

[24:17] [rustling paper]

[24:22] With no further comment.

[24:23] make a motion to adopt the 2027 budget.

[24:29] I make a motion to adopt.

[24:31] 2027 budget.

[24:33] Second. I got a second.

[24:35] All in favor? Aye.

[24:36] Opposed?

[24:38] [rustling paper]

[24:39] Budget pass.

[24:40] [rustling paper]

[24:42] All right.

[25:01] attention and everything

[25:03] and I thank Brian for his I think heartfelt apology.

[25:07] Uh, but I have had citizens that say this has to stop.

[25:12] And hopefully this ordinance that we did will take us forward.

[25:18] Um, a lot of the people were saying, you know, okay, what goes on here

[25:22] doesn't need to be out there too.

[25:24] So hopefully this ordinance will.

[25:28] Uh, this and I'm not trying to interrupt, I apologize.

[25:31] But this this ordinance does nothing to do with me personally out there.

[25:37] And I will continue to confront people.

[25:41] But do you think the people want to really see that

[25:43] where you're a representative of the city?

[25:46] I will hold my tongue.

[25:47] I will, I will be more respectful.

[25:51] I will. Yeah, I will.

[25:53] But I am not going to be a pushover.

[25:56] I won't do it.

[25:57] No, nobody saying you have to, it's just being respectful

[25:59] for everything you do, yeah.

[26:01] And and and there again, I did, I I I took him outside

[26:06] and uh uh took him to the

[26:08] I tried taking him over in front of the Lunder Mountain and having

[26:11] a discussion, he just wouldn't do it.

[26:14] Okay. But regardless, yes.

[26:17] Anything else?

[26:18] Uh, yeah, I, in a way, I think there also needs to be uh

[26:21] an apology given to

[26:23] the other members of the council and the people who were here last month.

[26:28] I understand you you have the right to say what you want

[26:30] and give your opinion.

[26:33] But there was some condescending and finger pointing and stuff last meeting.

[26:38] And I would appreciate it if that happened,

[26:40] and I think people would look at it better if that happened too.

[26:44] Apology for what?

[26:46] Well, for the the the way you conducted yourself

[26:48] during the meeting.

[26:51] I didn't conduct myself any any which way at all in here.

[26:56] Well, that's that's your opinion, I have mine.

[26:58] Okay, I got my opinion, I will not apologize because nobody did not do it.

[27:03] No one's forcing anybody to do anything, so.

[27:08] Nobody's forcing.

[27:09] Huh? Nobody can force anybody to do anything.

[27:12] I'm. You just asked, you asked nicely. Do you have anything else?

[27:16] Nope. Okay.

[27:17] Don. No, I have nothing.

[27:19] Terry. Yes, I've got a couple of things.

[27:21] Awesome. On the back to school.

[27:23] I uh didn't realize there was other businesses that contributed

[27:28] to the uh support of this uh

[27:30] I had mentioned Amber Salon and her team.

[27:36] Uh it's been brought to my attention that there's some other

[27:38] businesses that contributed.

[27:40] And at this time I'd like to recognize them.

[27:43] All right.

[27:44] Uh Amber Wave is one of them.

[27:45] Blossoms and Butterflies.

[27:47] First National Bank and Trust.

[27:49] Gilded Grace.

[27:51] Doctor Juneman.

[27:52] Luxury Cuts and Colors.

[27:54] Midwest Family Health and Phillips County Health Systems.

[27:58] I apologize.

[27:59] For not mentioning him but I didn't know at the time what they had

[28:02] contributed.

[28:03] So I'd like to mention those businesses.

[28:06] And thank them for their support, the community and the kids.

[28:10] All right. Thank you.

[28:11] One other thing on street signs.

[28:14] Uh Trent, down on Park Street and 183, right by the cemetery.

[28:19] That sign is all faded and it's white you cannot read it at all.

[28:23] Okay.

[28:23] I know always changed out some of them signs on in the last year or

[28:26] two, but that one.

[28:28] It comes right off the highway and down Park Street, you know,

[28:31] they're going to hook avoid somebody out town that don't know.

[28:33] Uh that we just need to change that one out.

[28:35] Okay.

[28:36] While we're on signs.

[28:39] Somebody looks like hit the one in front of the post office,

[28:42] twisted it.

[28:44] Just take a look at it.

[28:45] Okay.

[28:47] Oh, there's I had one.

[28:49] Corner of uh 6th Street and B, right there at the railroad tracks,

[28:53] somebody wiped that street street sign out.

[28:57] 6th Street and B.

[28:59] Trent.

[29:02] Okay.

[29:05] Char.

[29:06] Uh, couple things.

[29:07] Um, I had a question about the potholes out at the water plant,

[29:11] talked to Kent, those have been filled.

[29:14] Also, uh, a couple of people contacted me about raising the

[29:18] rate from a quarter to a dollar.

[29:22] Um, and said, you know, the hose was leaking and that was one of

[29:25] the things I talked to Kent

[29:26] and that's been new hose has been put on, so.

[29:30] That was done today actually, I think.

[29:34] Uh, we got there's a hump, I guess, on Nebraska and second.

[29:39] It's on the it's beyond Nebraska

[29:42] and I've had a couple ladies that walk early in the morning

[29:46] or late at night have tripped and fell on that thing.

[29:49] I did drive by.

[29:50] On the street or.

[29:51] It's on the street near the sidewalk.

[29:54] It's where it's where the street goes from brick to asphalt.

[29:57] Okay.

[29:58] It's been there for only 30 years.

[30:01] Whatever.

[30:02] Okay, I got to.

[30:02] we can do. That's why they make sidewalks.

[30:05] I'm not going to make any promises on that

[30:07] because we'd have to probably mill it down.

[30:09] No. I don't know. I'll look into it.

[30:11] Okay. See what the guys say.

[30:13] That was the uh what I had.

[30:16] Back to, you know, Brian and I, you and me and you were,

[30:19] we were friends.

[30:21] You know, uh, but you know,

[30:23] I know last time we were in this meeting

[30:25] and you talked about a Facebook post,

[30:26] and you were upset about a Facebook post.

[30:31] And 10 minutes after I got home

[30:33] from the meeting,

[30:35] I got a picture of Councilman Roberts

[30:37] on my phone

[30:38] that you or your wife had put out on

[30:40] Facebook.

[30:44] You know, so, I mean, I don't know

[30:45] if you're complaining about Facebook posts,

[30:47] but yet you turn right around and put

[30:49] one out there.

[30:50] Not me. Not you? Not me.

[30:53] Is that your wife? I don't have Facebook.

[30:54] Your wife put it out there? I don't know.

[30:56] You don't know? Don't have a clue.

[30:58] But do you want to know the reason why that

[31:00] was put out there?

[31:02] Why is that?

[31:03] Because when this man right here said

[31:05] thank you to my wife's salon,

[31:07] this man right here rolled his eyes,

[31:09] not once but twice.

[31:11] I'm not.

[31:12] In the middle of a meeting.

[31:14] Attacking members.

[31:16] I'm not I'm not attacking members.

[31:17] When you go to fingerpoint,

[31:19] I'm not attacking. I'm trying to talk here.

[31:22] When I'm when you're attacking Don

[31:23] or whoever in a meeting.

[31:25] It's not last week wasn't the first,

[31:27] last meeting wasn't the first time.

[31:30] I'm just saying, that that needs to be handled

[31:31] better.

[31:33] I agree with him.

[31:34] It does have to be handled better.

[31:36] Yeah.

[31:37] You've cussed in meetings before.

[31:38] I don't think you should do that.

[31:40] I've had people bring that up.

[31:43] Okay? But if you're going to complain about

[31:44] Facebook posts,

[31:45] I'd recommend not not posting Facebook

[31:47] posts.

[31:49] I didn't do it.

[31:51] Well, okay.

[31:54] Anything else?

[32:00] Anything else?

[32:00] I don't have anything else.

[32:03] Okay, Lauren.

[32:05] I have I've been helping the county

[32:07] on their trash trucks because they're

[32:08] having some problems there

[32:09] and that's not none of our problems.

[32:13] But I wondered if I watched some people,

[32:15] new people in town,

[32:16] buy houses and things.

[32:18] If if there a paper, it kind of explains the

[32:20] rules of like, you know,

[32:22] you're supposed to have everything in your

[32:24] poly cart and all that

[32:25] for people moving to town.

[32:28] Because if anybody in this county would

[32:29] happen to move to Phillipsburg,

[32:32] the laws are completely, the rules are

[32:34] completely different about

[32:36] trash pick up because they can put

[32:37] anything out they want.

[32:39] And I wondered if there was some kind of

[32:41] a deal that explains what you

[32:42] what you what the trash truck will

[32:44] pick up and what it won't pick up.

[32:48] And if if we have that, maybe make sure

[32:49] all the realtors

[32:50] have a copy, so if they sell a house to

[32:52] sombody from out of town,

[32:54] they can give them a copy.

[32:57] Or maybe landlords, some landlords

[32:58] might want one.

[33:00] Is it on our website?

[33:01] It is.

[33:01] We also do give out copies of it when they

[33:03] if they come into the office

[33:05] to set up service and they're new,

[33:06] we will give them a copy.

[33:08] Okay, I I

[33:09] If they just call us, we don't off.

[33:10] I I didn't know if there I didn't know if there

[33:12] was such a list or anything cuz

[33:14] when you're out there in these other towns

[33:16] and see what people put out and

[33:17] they will pick up,

[33:18] it's vastly different

[33:19] than what gets what they will what they will

[33:22] pick up in Phillipsburg,

[33:23] and I just thought it might help.

[33:27] you know, people just don't know,

[33:28] you don't know

[33:29] where they came from or what the rules were.

[33:31] So I I didn't know that because

[33:34] It's been quite a few years since I've

[33:35] done that.

[33:36] I think the rules changed because

[33:37] when I bought my house,

[33:39] we piled it all on the curb and

[33:40] little bags.

[33:42] So, okay.

[33:43] That was mainly website.

[33:45] Okay.

[33:46] I I just didn't know if such a thing

[33:47] was available.

[33:49] Anything else?

[33:50] That's it.

[33:51] All right.

[33:54] Kent.

[33:56] Yeah, a few things, um, the 104 generator

[33:58] startup is scheduled for Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m.

[34:02] Uh, South Central Electric will be there to finish a little bit of wiring.

[34:06] Uh, Nebraska Generator Service will be there to do

[34:08] the actual startup and training for for me and some of my staff.

[34:12] Uh HOA will be there to tie in some alarms to our Scada system.

[34:16] And Prairie Land will be there to disconnect the power so that they can do their wiring.

[34:20] And then also they'll do a test with the generator running to make sure that

[34:23] they're not backfeeding any power to utility.

[34:27] Power, so Prairie Land will be there for to witness that.

[34:29] And then that'll be up and running and

[34:31] will be good there.

[34:34] Uh, the stickers have been put on the water maintenance vehicle.

[34:39] And

[34:41] We had an issue yesterday with our slurry pump on our lime slaker.

[34:44] Uh, the guys got it repaired this morning and back in service.

[34:48] Uh, and I'm looking at maybe utilizing local business to take

[34:51] our samples down to Hayes.

[34:54] Uh for pickup.

[34:56] Uh, KDH has a pickup site down at the Ellis County Health Department

[34:59] that they don't we don't get charged if we take.

[35:03] our samples down there.

[35:05] Um, currently we're paying for a courier service and we've had

[35:09] not picking up samples, getting them there late, so they

[35:14] Uh, so I'm looking at a different option.

[35:17] Um, it would just be too expensive

[35:19] and we'd be down an employee if we

[35:21] sent somebody to Hayes to drop them off.

[35:24] So I think we're going to try to utilize some local business

[35:28] see if we can make that happen. So.

[35:31] Um, other than that, that's about it. You guys have any questions for me?

[35:38] [paper rustles]

[35:39] Trent. Okay. Um,

[35:42] Bear, you had asked me about the painting in the school zone, the curbing.

[35:47] Um, I wasn't quite sure.

[35:50] I asked the guys out at the shop who usually did the painting. They said

[35:55] the school took it over. And I called the school and they said

[36:00] So we don't, we don't paint those. The school does.

[36:02] [paper rustles]

[36:04] Um, properties

[36:06] I was directed to get an updated photo of dangerous structures

[36:11] I got those photos, handed them out to you guys.

[36:15] Um, to me they show improvements have been made, and the openings

[36:19] and the properties are no longer exposed to weather, animals or

[36:24] So I guess I'm just going to ask how else you want me to proceed with it.

[36:29] [paper rustles]

[36:32] Are no longer dangerous, Craig?

[36:34] [paper rustles]

[36:39] Are they no longer a dangerous structure?

[36:41] I mean there's basically, I feel like what I was directed to was, you know,

[36:45] making sure that the outside elements didn't get in there, that

[36:49] nobody could get inside of them that wasn't permitted access to them.

[36:52] And to me that's what the photos show.

[36:55] As far as dangerous structures, I mean, I can eyeball it and look and see,

[37:01] you know, this ain't quite right or this quite quite quite right,

[37:04] but as far as the credentials to back that up, I don't currently have those.

[37:08] I guess from a standpoint of dangerous structure, what's our definition?

[37:13] Now you put me on the spot.

[37:15] Uh, I think it's have an openings. Yeah.

[37:17] Have a porch that's about ready to fall down on somebody.

[37:20] Yeah. Those type of things.

[37:22] Which I have had conversations with people about those, and they are taking

[37:26] Maybe it's not quite as fast as people want, but they are making progress.

[37:31] Yeah. So, I mean, I just, I guess I'm asking the council how they want me to

[37:36] continue. You want me to bring them in for another hearing? How do you want to

[37:41] I think, uh, basically just keep in close communication with the people

[37:46] Which they're all talking with me.

[37:48] Right. And so I haven't had anybody

[37:52] duck and dodge out of the way. So

[37:54] Well, as long as they're making progress on,

[38:00] um, taking care of the situations.

[38:03] I, I don't see hammerin' 'em is going to take and and do any good.

[38:08] Granted, some of these old structures aren't great.

[38:12] And maybe some of them need to be tore down, but as long as they're

[38:16] not dangerous and fallen down or animal ridden or whatever.

[38:20] As long as they're showing continual, uh, correcting the situations,

[38:27] which I've been driving around seeing some of them and stuff. So

[38:30] I have seen that there have been good progress on several of them.

[38:35] Yep. So,

[38:37] but like these four here, I'm still on the deal where if we're

[38:42] going to pick on four, we need to take care of all the others too. So

[38:45] they need to be brought before us to,

[38:49] you know, if there's other people that need to be addressed.

[38:54] Yeah, there's some other other locations that need to be addressed.

[39:00] I agree with Kenny.

[39:02] [paper rustles]

[39:05] If you get a list of others, then we'll go take a look at them.

[39:11] If you want to have a hearing, then we have to

[39:16] Well talking talking to the other cities and stuff like that on some

[39:21] granted we can visually do stuff, but we don't have a structural

[39:27] engineer to actually grade the deterioration.

[39:29] Granted, we can say, okay, it's got open windows, it's got

[39:34] Get them covered, but as far as the structures themselves and their

[39:38] you might need a structural engineer to do the inspection for something

[39:45] Well, I can tell there's

[39:48] Just from viewing one on 3rd Street that that

[39:53] porch is going to fall, it just slowly too. That porch is going to go.

[39:57] Which I actually talked to the guy who's buying it.

[40:01] We, we put forth some stipulations.

[40:03] stions to making that uh less hazardous and he's going to work on that.

[40:08] Yeah. So,

[40:09] he he was well aware of that.

[40:10] That's funny, you knew what I was talking about.

[40:12] He was well aware of the situation when he purchased it.

[40:14] We'll put it that way.

[40:15] Okay.

[40:15] And he's going to work directly with me to make sure it's

[40:18] corrected at least to where it's not a hazard to people walking by.

[40:22] At first, and then he's going to move to tear it down,

[40:24] but it's going to be a step process.

[40:26] So you were working with 4C on Gary Litro's place.

[40:31] They had they had called me up there to chat about it.

[40:34] I don't know.

[40:35] It's sold there it said it's sign out front today.

[40:37] Sold.

[40:39] Okay.

[40:40] So, I got a call from them to come up and consult about what

[40:45] this was going to need done in order to

[40:48] get it to where financially they can slowly dismantle it

[40:52] and take it down.

[40:55] It's not going to be like an instant No.

[40:59] bring a dozer in.

[41:00] But the front porch, covering the holes, making sure entry,

[41:03] front door, all of that, uh,

[41:06] were stipulations that were brought forth. He asked how the council

[41:10] was going to

[41:13] be about it, and I said, as long as you get that front door first

[41:15] and you get these holes and windows boarded up

[41:19] and you take that porch down, I think they'll be

[41:21] more than willing to work with you.

[41:24] So, I didn't mean to speak for everybody, but that's how

[41:26] I felt in that situation.

[41:28] Something on that front door besides pallets.

[41:30] And that's that's number one.

[41:32] So, it's been brought up.

[41:33] Good.

[41:34] I just know he'd worked with him.

[41:36] Yeah. And told the young kid who bought it what

[41:38] needed to be done, so.

[41:40] Yeah, the house actually sold before they even got a sign up,

[41:42] so.

[41:44] Oh, good.

[41:46] Okay. So,

[41:47] sidewalk project, I told you guys I'd make what all

[41:49] announcements here and there as that goes.

[41:52] It's scheduled for next summer, but still.

[41:55] Um, permanent public use easements and two temporary easements were

[41:59] filed the register deeds office and water meters that were

[42:02] agreed upon prior,

[42:04] were moved out of the way.

[42:06] So, basically a necessary step for Beninsh to move to the

[42:09] next step.

[42:11] It was requested of me to do that. It was done ahead of time,

[42:14] which the guys deserve credit for that.

[42:16] They did a great job moving all that with short notice.

[42:21] Um, trees, Brian, you brought up last meeting about the trees.

[42:24] I've seen that. It looks 110% better.

[42:27] And you had called me and asked about why we'd done what

[42:30] we'd done.

[42:31] Um,

[42:33] they were removed due to safety concern at Golden Plains

[42:35] as far as going out.

[42:37] Um, I was I discussed it with professionals on what the

[42:40] best options were, whether transplanting or just

[42:42] cutting them down.

[42:44] Which we don't want to do.

[42:45] But,

[42:47] um, it was recommended to me to remove them and not

[42:49] transplant them because they probably they had a 50/50

[42:52] shot of surviving anyways.

[42:54] You spend extra money and they also had some ant

[42:56] infestation in them too.

[42:58] So,

[43:00] really, yeah, we didn't want to spend a whole bunch more money

[43:03] than we had to just for them to die anyways.

[43:07] Um, trees discussed out at the cemetery and the one on

[43:09] Armory Lane are scheduled to be removed being dead and dangerous.

[43:14] Um,

[43:15] Let's see.

[43:17] Which leads me to my final point.

[43:20] Um,

[43:21] So, since overgrown yards have become an issue, I've been

[43:24] focusing on finding a long-term fix and long-term problem.

[43:28] Right now Philipsburg essentially has one enforcement tool, and

[43:31] the hammer it's basically a hammer of full state abatement

[43:35] with certified mail and long delays, and that's our protocol.

[43:38] That's what we are supposed to do.

[43:41] Um, and I'm required to use it even on simple cases.

[43:44] So,

[43:46] what I'm working on finally gives us a toolbox of fast practical,

[43:49] a fast, practical, local abatement for routine violations

[43:53] and state abatement reserve for habitual and serious offenders

[43:56] who truly need that level of action.

[44:00] This kind of work isn't quick, it takes research, legal

[44:02] review and coordination to make sure it's done correctly and

[44:05] sustainable.

[44:08] The community is frustrated with how some areas look and I

[44:10] understand that.

[44:11] But the easy option would be to keep using the old process,

[44:13] waiting all those days, being restrained while the weeds

[44:16] get taller,

[44:18] just to send the abatement's taxes and hope it gets paid,

[44:21] which most don't.

[44:24] So,

[44:25] an example.

[44:27] Um, I was asked about 195 Fifth Street.

[44:31] 192.

[44:32] Or 192.

[44:33] Sorry.

[44:34] Sorry 195.

[44:36] Um, and it's a perfect example of what you deal with sometimes

[44:40] and the public needs to kind of understand that this is a process.

[44:44] It's not just I can go mow whatever I want, whenever I want.

[44:49] So the the council directed to take care of the problem and

[44:52] it's clear the property is a real issue.

[44:54] But the posted phone number on the door sends you to a company.

[44:58] Which sends you to another company.

[45:00] And then the first company again.

[45:02] And then you learn it was sold to this company, which

[45:05] was bought by the last company

[45:08] and they responded to my email

[45:10] by saying they will inform the lender.

[45:13] So basically you get the big run around.

[45:15] Over and over and over.

[45:17] So that channel alone explains why certain

[45:19] properties cannot be resolved quickly.

[45:22] Um, when ownership is buried under multiple transfers,

[45:24] third-party services and national lenders, the city

[45:27] is stuck waiting while the weeds keep growing.

[45:30] All of this is happening while I'm also trying to rewrite how

[45:33] we handle these situations legally, responsibly

[45:36] and with common sense approach that can speed up

[45:37] this process.

[45:39] So I'm asking for the community and the council to hang with me.

[45:42] I'm building a system that fixes the underlying issues

[45:45] instead of repeating the same stalled processes year after year.

[45:49] And I will go more into that as I talk with Dakota more

[45:52] about, I just, I just want to make sure it's right

[45:55] before I present it.

[45:57] that it's legal, that it's sound, that it doesn't change

[46:00] our other, the way we handle other things like their bills

[46:03] through certified mail.

[46:05] I want to make sure there's no unintended consequences there.

[46:08] a civil abatement opens up things to where we can civilly

[46:12] take care of these actions instead of go to the state

[46:15] every single time, which has to be done by certified mail.

[46:20] So, you presented the problem. I'm hoping I come up with a solution.

[46:25] And that's unless you got something else for me.

[46:28] As I ask you at one time,

[46:30] Does that what you're talking about there cover the people

[46:34] that have say about the neighbor's backyards or is

[46:37] that mainly going to be just front yards?

[46:39] Backyards are tricky.

[46:41] Well, I know, so.

[46:44] There's so many rules when it comes to this kind of stuff.

[46:47] It's a learning process each and every one of them.

[46:51] Um, I'm loading the metaphorical toolbox every time

[46:55] I have to deal with one, but there are rules that I have to

[46:59] follow to the T. Otherwise, it's trespassing or worse. So,

[47:05] I'm trying to be very careful with this.

[47:07] I know we did take care of one's backyard once because

[47:12] Yeah, I know it's been done in the past.

[47:13] because there were rats in it.

[47:14] Yeah, and I know it's been done in the past.

[47:16] Um, I I said, I've got about 12 irons in the fire.

[47:22] and we're we're getting through all of these all at once, which

[47:25] slows the process down a little more.

[47:27] It's not an excuse, but we're getting there.

[47:34] And if you want it to be, you have a say.

[47:37] If you want backyards, put backyards.

[47:40] And let's have a debate about it.

[47:43] Okay? What?

[47:44] If you want backyards to be included, Lord,

[47:47] then we put it on there.

[47:49] I I think I think it's hard to include a backyard

[47:53] because if it's somebody else unless you have some very strict

[47:56] standards because if it's like right now, I think some of it's

[48:00] because the neighbors call up

[48:01] and say the front yard's not getting mowed.

[48:03] Well, but if you do that with a backyard,

[48:06] somebody in my opinion has some stuff stored in the backyard

[48:09] but it's nicely arranged,

[48:12] but the neighbor says, well, I don't think that's right.

[48:14] If you're going to have something in the backyard,

[48:16] it needs to be in a building.

[48:17] So, I mean, there's a point where we're not an HOA.

[48:21] Now you're seeing the problem with code enforcement.

[48:23] Yeah. Yeah, I mean that that's what a lot of people

[48:24] don't understand.

[48:26] rules for all.

[48:27] I was speaking mainly weeds, but

[48:29] Yeah. Well, but you, you know, you're getting into a situation,

[48:33] you know, if you're going to you could just barely easily covered

[48:37] by the entire, say, the entire lawn.

[48:40] I mean, granted, we can't go in the backyard, but if a neighbor's

[48:43] right there and he's got weeds blowing over in his yard.

[48:45] Right, right. If it if if if we're just talking weed.

[48:48] If we just say total yard, that's, you know,

[48:51] That's been brought That's been brought up too.

[48:53] But there again, you're getting into the property across the

[48:56] street from me was bought from somebody in Colorado.

[49:00] Okay, do they know our rules? Is that yard going to get mowed?

[49:04] They will.

[49:06] Well, yeah.

[49:08] But, I mean, something that we might want to put out to the

[49:11] realtors when they sell to out of town.

[49:15] is give them some kind of notice that they need to make arrangements

[49:19] to care for these properties since they're living out of state.

[49:24] that, you know.

[49:25] Some kind of notice that.

[49:27] That should be a responsibility on the buyer

[49:29] to immediately find that out.

[49:32] I would say a lot of the research that I've been doing, especially

[49:35] when it comes to civil versus state abatement and the options

[49:38] with it, is it's pretty uniform no matter what state, city,

[49:43] whatever you're in. Just take care of your yard

[49:44] and don't let it get past your knees.

[49:49] and but here we are, you know.

[49:53] It's it'll be ready.

[49:56] You started the clock on the 192 fifth though.

[49:59] I have the I have the emails and I have them time stamped

[50:02] when they were sent and received and

[50:05] Yeah, I believe so.

[50:06] Okay.

[50:09] Anything else?

[50:11] for Trent? Any

[50:12] Uh, I did forget one thing. I had somebody bring up uh some pot holes

[50:15] on 7th and state on the seventh side, seven, seven street side.

[50:21] Okay. Or on the south side.

[50:22] So over by the elementary school or over by by between Loves and

[50:25] the elementary. Okay.

[50:27] All right, that's all. That was all.

[50:29] You mean Loves and the junior

[50:31] Yeah.

[50:32] He knows what I'm talking about.

[50:33] [laughter] Middle school.

[50:34] It is middle school.

[50:36] Sure I

[50:37] Randy.

[50:39] Um, I do not have anything.

[50:43] You got your reports in there.

[50:44] Okay, I have and I only give this to the council and the people

[50:46] on there.

[50:49] We're going to I'm going to change the agenda format

[50:53] for how we run meetings.

[50:55] So what I've got on the bottom there, I gave you a copy of a format that

[50:59] we're going to go with as well as what goes kind of in the description

[51:02] of what goes in each to hopefully speed some of this up

[51:09] and pinpoint our discussions to things that really need council's

[51:12] attention and voting.

[51:19] [paper rustling]

[51:24] And it's pretty self-explanatory, it's it's standard.

[51:28] We're going to go call to order, pledge of allegiance,

[51:31] approval of the agenda.

[51:34] And then consent agenda, which is your preparation ordinance,

[51:37] as well as your minutes.

[51:40] So it's going to force you guys to actually read those before you come in.

[51:45] Because we're going to approve the consent agenda.

[51:49] And then uh if there's any routine reports in there,

[51:52] uh other routine non-controversial matters or any council member may

[51:56] request that any item be removed if they want to discuss it.

[52:03] Public hearings if we have any, like we did tonight.

[52:07] Then we're going to do old business, new business that needs council action.

[52:12] And then council discussion, which will have things that need to have

[52:16] input, not necessarily something we're going to to vote on.

[52:21] Like we just did with your um ordinance on keeping yards up.

[52:29] Get the have a discussion on.

[52:32] You can feed that into your uh draft.

[52:37] And then uh there's a typo there that we don't have a city administrator.

[52:42] But with department reports.

[52:47] which is what we just did with you guys.

[52:49] And then we're going to have a mayor's report and then the council members

[52:52] reports and what what should be in there.

[52:55] Then public comments at the end and executive session if necessary.

[52:59] and then action following executive session and then adjournment.

[53:04] Which

[53:05] If there's no further discussion.

[53:08] Is there any further discussion?

[53:11] Then I would welcome a motion to adjourn.

[53:15] I make a motion to adjourn.

[53:16] I would second.

[53:17] All in favor?

[53:18] Aye, aye.

[53:19] Opposed?

[53:20] Motion passes.

[53:22] Very good.

City Council Meeting - September 8, 2026

Transcript