[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.