[0:00] talk about later. >> Okay.

[0:04] » Yep. Let's go. >> Okay. We'll call the meeting in order.

[0:06] In accordance with state statute section 84-1412,

[0:11] the open meetings act is posted on the north wall in the council chambers for

[0:14] public information. Would you join me in the pledge of allegiance, please? I

[0:18] pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

[0:23] republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[0:30] justice for all. >> Debbie, would you do roll call, please?

[0:34] » Stokeley >> here.

[0:35] » Howard >> here.

[0:36] » Swenson >> here.

[0:37] » Boozy. >> Hugo

[0:39] » here. >> Smith

[0:40] » here. >> I will now open the public hearing on

[0:43] the proposed 2026 2027 budget. Tom. Okay. Um,

[0:50] the 2026 budget is going to be 38,433,568

[0:58] for 202627. Of that, the breakdown is 1222

[1:04] or1,224,9210

[1:08] is general fund and $147,843

[1:14] is for bonds. Any

[1:21] comments from the public or the council? >> I have a question.

[1:27] » Yep. >> 30 million. What happens to the money

[1:32] you don't spend?

[1:36] » It rolls over. >> Rolls over where?

[1:39] » Well, we >> to the next year.

[1:40] » Yeah. >> Yeah.

[1:42] » Where? >> To the next year.

[1:46] So this will be the third year you doing the rec center.

[1:51] 9 million times three 27 million. >> No no it doesn't work that way. It's

[1:57] just a carryover. >> Yeah.

[1:59] » It's it's a carryover in case we in case the council is put in a position to

[2:04] spend it. It doesn't multiply. >> It's just a carryover.

[2:13] I don't understand. I guess >> so. For example, at the end of the year,

[2:18] we're going to have money in reserves. We budget to spend the entire budget

[2:23] every year. >> Yeah.

[2:25] » Right. >> Right.

[2:27] » But that doesn't compound like the rec center dollars because the rec center

[2:31] dollars aren't there yet. But we could spend $9 million if the Rex $100 show up

[2:39] depending on the council's approval

[2:46] » of this 38 million. 9 million you got set aside for the rec center.

[2:52] » Correct. For potential expenditure. >> Yeah. So if it comes to fruit, you're

[2:58] going to have the 9 million. No, it still has to be approved by the city

[3:02] council and the fun the the funding has to show up.

[3:05] » What do you mean show up? >> Whether the the taxpayers vote to to

[3:09] fund it or and the council approves it or somebody like you makes a $9 million

[3:15] donation and we build the rec center and that still is subject to council

[3:20] approval. >> Yeah, I'm assuming the council's going

[3:24] to approve it. >> I don't know if I make that assumption.

[3:29] Yeah. >> Well, yeah, that's pretty obvious. It's

[3:32] been on the >> I mean, it's just like me making that

[3:34] assumption I just made of you donate $9 million for the rec center.

[3:39] » Why does it keep showing up on the budget then if you don't think it's

[3:42] going to happen? >> Because until it's dead in the water, we

[3:44] can't spend it, >> right?

[3:46] » Just in case the cash comes in, donation comes in or it's funded somehow, then it

[3:53] can be spent. We don't actually have the $9 million in cash. We have to budget to

[3:59] spend it just in case it comes in and just in case it's improved.

[4:05] » So, our taxes haven't been going up to cover this 9 million?

[4:09] » No, not at all. In fact, your taxes are going down again this year%.

[4:17] » And Okay. So, if that 9 million is there,

[4:22] » your budget could be 9 million less. No, because you have to project to the

[4:27] state what you could potentially spend for the next year.

[4:32] We have to tell the state what could potentially be spent for the city of

[4:36] West Point in the 2627 budget year. It's a projection.

[4:40] » Where does the city get its money? Part of it is from taxes and part of it

[4:48] is from the um enterprise funds such as water, sewer, and electric. And some of

[4:54] it is uh the the Department of Roads funds um

[5:00] » city sales tax, >> city sales tax,

[5:04] » not 38 million. out of that 38 million

[5:08] uh 1.3 of it is is top tax. >> The taxation Gary is 1.31

[5:15] $1,371,900 is what the taxation is.

[5:19] » So you're coming up with 37 million roughly from other

[5:23] » well we don't I mean just we we're not actually because we don't have the 9

[5:29] million. So you can already back that off to 27 because the 9 million is not

[5:34] We don't have So >> So you don't have any money?

[5:40] » What you're saying? >> That's 29.

[5:42] » You don't you don't have any of the 38 million?

[5:45] » Yeah, we do. We do. >> Over over the next year, you're going to

[5:50] acrew sales tax revenues. Okay. Because we have a sales tax in place.

[5:55] » Yeah. >> And we have Nel 40 in place. All those

[5:58] revenues have to be accounted for based on projections over the next year to

[6:03] expend those dollars. If you don't project it, you can't spend it.

[6:07] » But if you don't take it in, you can't spend it either, right?

[6:10] » But the but that is still something we will take in. That's the difference

[6:15] between the 27 million that Shay was talking about

[6:18] » 29 >> or 29 million because we're going to

[6:21] take in a certain amount of sales tax revenue that we on the on the one and a

[6:26] half cent plus we take in the other half a cent for the pool pond plus we have

[6:32] the debt service for the um levy project.

[6:37] It's a culmination of a bunch of different things. It's not just one

[6:40] single thing. All right. I'm just confused where you

[6:45] get the money cuz I don't pay any taxes to the city. I

[6:49] pay to the county. You get your money from the county.

[6:54] » No, we get nothing from the county. >> Well, I don't send my property taxes to

[6:59] the city. I go up to the corner. >> Right.

[7:02] » Yeah. You don't. >> That's the county.

[7:05] » So, how do you get it? >> Do you live You live in the city of West

[7:09] Point, correct? >> Yeah.

[7:10] » Okay. When you look at your breakdown sheet, you've got line items. A portion

[7:15] of it goes to the schools, >> a portion of it goes to the county, a

[7:18] portion of it goes to the city, a portion of it goes to Royal Fire Board,

[7:23] » a portion goes to the egg society. It's it's a culmination of all of those

[7:27] things, and then the county gives us our small piece of that, that share of that

[7:33] that they collect. >> That's what I'm saying. You get your

[7:38] money from the county. It's just a password.

[7:41] » That's just a password. >> That's all it is.

[7:44] » It's just a password. >> Well, yeah. I write them a check. They

[7:46] write you a check. >> Yeah.

[7:48] » Okay. >> But that's all it is.

[7:50] » But are they going to write you a check for the 38 million?

[7:53] » No. >> No.

[7:54] » No. They're going to write me a check for 1.3

[7:56] » 1.3 million because that's based on valuation.

[8:01] » And then you're going to get the other 36 million where?

[8:04] » Well, you take the $9 million off because we don't have that money because

[8:08] that project hasn't been allocated. and the funds haven't been put in place,

[8:12] right? Okay. So, now you've got your sales tax revenues.

[8:17] Okay. That's the LV840. That's a scent and a half. That's the swimming pool

[8:21] revenue. And then you have um

[8:27] » the enterprise funds. You know, you got your water, sewer, electric

[8:33] like for example, electric budget. Just electricity alone is almost $8 million a

[8:39] year. >> Yeah. And that's supposed to pay for

[8:42] itself, right? I mean, we pay that separate. No, that's all that's all got

[8:46] to be included in this budget. That's all got to be part of the budget. The

[8:50] same way with the the sewer plant, the water, the collection system,

[8:54] distribution system, all has to be part of this budget. So, you're taking all

[8:59] those enterprise funds, you're lumping them together and including them in this

[9:03] budget also.

[9:07] » Do you understand what I'm saying though? It's like, all right, let's

[9:11] let's take let's take the electric budget for example. Just like I said,

[9:15] the city's electric bill that we pay every year is around $8 million. So, we

[9:22] have to take in more than the $8 million to pay for that.

[9:27] » Yeah. And that's what you charge us every month.

[9:30] » Correct. Yes. >> So, why is that in your budget?

[9:34] » That has to be in the budget. That has that's part of part of the

[9:37] » money that's coming in. Yeah. Any bucket, money and money out of

[9:41] your budget. >> Yes. It all has to be shown. It all has

[9:44] to be shown on the budget. So it's just like water. When you when a well pumps

[9:48] the water, it goes into the distribution system, goes through your meter.

[9:53] » That all has to be accounted for also. So if you got a water bill, a sewer

[9:58] bill, a garbage bill, that's all part of this budget.

[10:05] » Okay. outside of the taxation outside >> outside of that

[10:09] » outside of what you're asking for taxes, >> right?

[10:14] » Because we we've got it broke down literally in individual line items. If

[10:17] you want to stop by tomorrow, I can sit down and walk you through the budget.

[10:20] That's not a problem. >> I mean, that's why we have that budget

[10:23] workshop that nobody shows up with for every year in July,

[10:27] » which at the end of the month >> in the paper, I guess.

[10:30] » Well, Willis wrote a pretty good article.

[10:31] » Yeah, he did. He did a real good art. >> Did a nice job. Was that last week? Week

[10:35] before? did a nice job of of summarizing our budget meeting. So,

[10:40] » okay, I got one more question. >> Okay,

[10:42] » you got 9 million set aside for the rec center, but you got no money set aside

[10:48] for the new water tower, right?

[10:52] » That's in the intended use plan. That is through the state.

[10:56] That That's a totally separate deal because that

[11:03] Okay, here >> again.

[11:05] This addition is going to be so great for the city, but gosh, we're going to

[11:09] have to charge extra because we're going to put up a water chopper,

[11:13] » right? >> Well, this could have go to the

[11:15] rateayers. Absolutely. But that's where it would go.

[11:18] » Just like rehabing the water plant. >> It's no different.

[11:22] » So, how does this all this development you guys want to do?

[11:26] » Generates tax.

[11:30] We need all these things. >> We do money. We

[11:32] » don't need housing. Try to buy a house in this town right

[11:36] now for under $400,000. I need to get young people back here.

[11:39] » Well, how are you going to lower the price? This is going to do it.

[11:43] » More housing. >> Yeah.

[11:44] » Exactly. [clears throat] >> Okay. Well, you let me know when that

[11:48] happens. >> It's going to happen.

[11:52] » All right. That's all I need to know about budget.

[11:54] » Okay. I mean, like I said, if you want to stop by tomorrow, I'm happy to walk

[11:58] you through the line item budget. >> All right.

[12:02] Take him up on a period. All right, I'm out of here.

[12:05] » Have a nice evening. >> All right, see you guys.

[12:14] » I kept my mouth shut. >> That was a switch.

[12:21] » Any more comments?

[12:29] » Yeah. And and you know to Gary's point I understand what he's saying and it goes

[12:34] right back to what what we what I said earlier.

[12:37] » There was no one here at the end of the month July.

[12:41] » I'm going to bore yourself to death. >> I mean I think the first year we put the

[12:46] rec center on the budget I think or the second year I think I asked about it

[12:49] too. Like it is a little confusing about the fact that it's in the budget.

[12:52] » So I >> and I've asked two years in a row.

[12:55] » Yeah. >> You know

[12:56] » the budget is a pipe dream of allocated >> funds. Yes. People don't people think

[13:00] it's a bucket of money to get. >> Well, and and the the ironic part of it

[13:04] is is is like I said, we have to project everything out

[13:08] » to the state auditor as to what we could potentially spend next year,

[13:12] » right? >> Doesn't mean you're going to spend it,

[13:14] » right? >> But you have to put that potential out

[13:17] there. >> Well, and well, you did an excellent job

[13:20] » in your article. I mean, >> for a retired guy did pretty good.

[13:23] » Yeah. >> It wasn't coming to any more meetings.

[13:28] » Yeah. Exactly. >> Speaking of though, I think that since

[13:32] we're going to future allocate funds that we're not going to spend, I want to

[13:35] allocate for councilman aids so that way they can bring my packet to the meeting

[13:41] for me. >> That way I don't have to worry about it.

[13:43] » I thought was maybe.

[13:50] » All right, we'll get back >> back on.

[13:52] » So move. You going to read that ordinance first?

[13:54] » I can't do nothing. I will now close the public hearing. I need a motion to

[13:59] adjurnn. >> Somebody move.

[14:01] » Second. >> Motion made by Rusty, seconded by Tom.

[14:04] Cast your votes, please.

[14:08] » Okay. Now, we'll convene to our regular council meeting.

[14:14] We'll call the meeting to order. In accordance with state statute section

[14:18] 84-1412, the open meetings act is posted on the north wall in the council

[14:22] chambers for public information. Debbie, would you do roll call? Stokeley

[14:28] » here. >> Howard

[14:28] » here. >> Swanson

[14:30] » here. >> Boozy

[14:31] » Hugo >> here.

[14:32] » Smith >> here.

[14:35] » Item B consent agenda C appointed boards and commissions LB840 economic

[14:40] developments citizen advisory review committee reappoint of Dave Kneval

[14:45] Austin Havernneick and Aaron Brockman to four-year terms fire and rescue. Accept

[14:50] membership of Marcus Oerio to the West Point Rescue. approve the minutes of the

[14:56] previous meeting, treasures report. Everybody get a chance to review the

[15:00] claims.

[15:03] » Okay, I need a motion to approve the consent agenda.

[15:06] » Move. >> Second.

[15:08] » Motion made by Tom, seconded by Rusty. Cast your votes, please.

[15:13] Okay, I will now open the public hearing to set the property tax request for the

[15:18] fiscal year beginning October 1st, 2026. >> Okay. The property tax request for 2026

[15:27] will be1,371,93510.

[15:37] Is there any public comments?

[15:42] I will now close the public hearing. The clerk will read the ordinance. Ordinance

[15:47] number 1469, an ordinance of the city of West Point, Nebraska in Coming County,

[15:52] Nebraska, approving the budget and appropriating the sums of money deemed

[15:56] necessary to defay all expenses and liabilities of said city for the fiscal

[16:00] year commencing on the 1st day of October 2026 and ending on the last day

[16:04] of September 2027, designating the purposes for which said appropriation

[16:09] shall be used and appropriating the unexpended balances for the various

[16:13] funds, repealing all ordinance ordinances. is in conflict with this

[16:18] ordinance prescribing the time when this ordinance shall be in full force and

[16:21] take effect and providing for the publication of this ordinance in

[16:24] pamphlet form. >> Okay, I need a motion to suspend the

[16:28] three readings. >> So moved.

[16:30] » Motion made by Larry, seconded by Sheay. Cast your votes, please.

[16:35] Now I need a motion for final passage. Make a motion.

[16:39] » Motion made by Rusty. >> Second.

[16:42] » Seconded by Tom. Catch your votes.

[16:47] And the clerk will re will now read the resolution studying the property tax.

[16:52] Okay. >> Resolution 2026-41.

[16:55] The governing body of the city of West Point, Nebraska

[16:59] resolves that the 2026 2027 property tax request be set at general fund

[17:04] 1,224,9210

[17:08] bond fund $147,843. The total assessed value of property

[17:13] differs from last year's total assessed value by 3.66%.

[17:18] The tax rate which would levy the same amount of property taxes as last year

[17:22] when multiplied by the [clears throat] new total assessed value of property

[17:25] would be 0.313751 per $100 of assessed value. The city of

[17:32] West Point proposes to adopt a property tax request that will cause its tax rate

[17:36] to be 0.323132 per $100 of assessed value based on the

[17:43] proposed property tax request and changes in other revenue. The total

[17:48] operating budget of the city of West Point will decrease last year's budget

[17:52] by 6.12%. A copy of this resolution will be

[17:56] certified and forwarded to the county clerk honor before October 15, 2026.

[18:02] » Okay, I need a motion to approve this resolution.

[18:06] » Motion made by Rusty. >> Second.

[18:11] » Is there any further discussion? Otherwise, cast your votes, please.

[18:17] Okay, motion carried. Number two, one and sixyear street improvement. I will

[18:23] now open the public hearing. Lean

[18:29] » um we left the one and sixear plan the same as last year. So

[18:35] um that is Kfax Street the extension all

[18:39] the way up to Plaza Drive and 18th road from Highway 33 to

[18:45] Washington Street and Pine Street from Oak Street to Maple

[18:50] Street and then the project from Washington. The one year is the

[18:56] culaxension. The other ones are six years. We did add because we have to

[19:02] report the projects within or the paving within

[19:07] river mist. So we did that as a form 11 previous year's projects. We will add um

[19:17] road paving. We should have final costs next week. So

[19:24] this will include on there. So the one you have doesn't have that on there.

[19:37] » Yeah.

[19:41] » Yeah.

[19:45] Are there any projects that you guys have talked about want to add to either

[19:51] one or six year?

[19:55] » I mean, we've talked about Mil Street off and on in the last year, but I don't

[19:59] know if we're we want to put that on at this point. water.

[20:12] [laughter] >> Yeah, I think at some point you probably

[20:15] will address mil street. I don't know if the economics are there to do that right

[20:18] now. I know that's one of the things that you always talked about.

[20:24] It's you. Uh I'm concerned about that little curve

[20:31] there by that pole.

[20:34] There's some kind of signage by that pole.

[20:39] » Oh. >> Yeah.

[20:43] I know. And one of the people involved since when did they move the road? I

[20:48] said the road.

[20:53] In fact, there was a power straight across there. I had that removed years

[20:57] ago.

[21:16] » You didn't get hurt in the process.

[21:22] Okay. >> I always complain about that.

[21:28] I know anybody water every time it rains

[21:32] coming in and I believe there's another spot south of that. And then I noticed

[21:39] up in that gravel park by closer to the pork plant. I was looking one day and I

[21:46] see water down the hole there. There's an old pole cut off there.

[21:55] So I really think that I know it.

[22:01] So in the winter time we got a nice what happens when we have ice keeps building

[22:05] up.

[22:10] And so it is uh going in because we can hear see it going into the steel that

[22:16] was put a hole because of the plan.

[22:21] » Yeah. >> They were going to do an expansion and a

[22:24] partnership on that project and then it went away. So that

[22:32] yeah and I want to get that all back in the

[22:38] middle

[22:43] to see that before I die.

[23:00] Definitely. Speaking of paving, what is I mean, where are we at on that deal?

[23:06] » Well, T brought it up.

[23:13] » Well, we're what Leah and I were just talking about is we need to get together

[23:16] with one of the other property owners out there. Here's another

[23:23] Um, regarding the intersection and part of it is there are three property owners

[23:28] involved there. is the home center and then

[23:33] um >> Kenny Emanuel

[23:35] » Kenny Emanuel right >> we will stay away from Emanuel's

[23:41] property >> and that was replanted it's basically

[23:44] will be our east rightway line >> so that just the two

[23:49] » just the two and the home center >> to try to get that intersection in there

[23:54] if we get that we can get them to go along with putting that intersection in

[23:59] So that drawing the yellow lines is that property line. So

[24:05] most of that intersection will be on Callie's property.

[24:21] » So the next process for this project is >> meet with and see if I go along with it.

[24:29] I'll try and I will communicate with them to see what I can set up for a

[24:34] meeting. Do you have a comm

[24:44] scenario? So get together couple dates that would work for them

[24:49] together and meet with them.

[25:02] Well, I think too it would provide them better accessing a lot of their

[25:05] properties also. I think that's one of the things that is going to be helpful

[25:13] » and probably safety too. >> You know, you get a lot of traffic out

[25:20] to get into that location. I would think it's a selling point for

[25:26] True Value and right now it's you can drive wherever you want. There's no

[25:31] designation for traffic. So >> this would kind of

[25:36] be so random >> based on

[25:45] that one time we had somebody that wanted to do bridge street. What what

[25:48] has ever happened to that? Never heard back from him.

[25:53] » He was down there talking to the property owners. I never heard back from

[25:56] him on

[25:59] » cuz they were talking about doing a potential assessment district.

[26:10] » Okay, we'll get back to one and six. Any more comments on this or I will close

[26:15] the hearing and need a motion to approve this plan.

[26:19] » Motion. Motion made by Rusty. >> Seconded by

[26:24] Larry. >> Larry.

[26:25] » Yeah. Cast your votes, please. >> Okay. Item three, reszoning

[26:33] or addition P to the West Point. I will now open the public hearing. Common will

[26:38] explain. >> Yeah, we've got two all three resis for

[26:43] tonight. and addition P is the and Q are the recent annexations we did on the

[26:51] north end by the travel plaza on in the sycamore there. Um we just need to sell

[26:58] those to commercial.

[27:03] The planning commission did review and approve both of those.

[27:11] Any comments from the public? All right. Then I will close the hearing

[27:15] and the clerk will read the ordinance. >> Do you want me to read both of them

[27:18] right away? >> Yeah. Okay. Ordinance number 1470, an

[27:22] ordinance of the city of West Point, Nebraska, amending zoning ordinance

[27:26] number 1401 to reszone the area described hearing from agricultural

[27:31] district AGR to highway commercial district C2 to repeal all ordinances and

[27:36] parts of ordinances in conflict herewith, prescribing the time when this

[27:40] ordinance shall take effect and providing for the publication of this

[27:43] ordinance in pamphlet form. And this is for addition Q, ordinance number 1471,

[27:50] an ordinance of the city of West Point, Nebraska, amending zoning ordinance

[27:53] number 1401 to reszone the area described herein from Agricultural

[27:58] District AGR to highway commercial district C2 to repeal ordinances and

[28:03] parts of ordinances in conflict here, prescribing the time when this ordinance

[28:07] shall take effect and providing for the publication of this ordinance in

[28:11] pamphlet form. Okay, I need a motion to suspend the

[28:15] three readings. >> Make a motion.

[28:18] » Motion made by Rusty. >> Second.

[28:20] » Seconded by Larry. Cast your votes. Now I need a motion for final passage.

[28:30] » Jerry made the mo or Okay. Shay made the motion. Jerry seconded.

[28:37] » Let's do the same thing for addition. >> Yep. I need a motion. I need a motion to

[28:41] suspend the three meetings for addition Q.

[28:44] » Salute. >> Motion made by Larry, seconded by Shay.

[28:51] » Now I need a motion for final passage. >> Motion.

[28:54] » Motion made by Rusty. >> Second.

[28:56] » Seconded by Tom. Guest your votes. Okay.

[29:04] Item C. I will now open the public hearing

[29:09] on lots three, four of the west half of lot 2, block 12, [clears throat]

[29:13] Canudson's addition to the city of West Point. This is that uh where that house

[29:18] was originally down north clinic. Um that to C2 highway commercial

[29:26] there's some potential developers that are looking at that and I think that's

[29:31] going to help get that residential to highway

[29:36] commercial.

[29:40] Any more discussion? I have the clerk I will close the

[29:44] meeting the hearing and I will have the clerk read the ordinance. Ordinance

[29:48] number 1472, an ordinance of the city of West Point, Nebraska, amending zoning

[29:53] ordinance number 1401 to reszone the area described herein from residential

[29:58] single family district R1 to highway commercial district C2, repeal all

[30:03] ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict herewith, prescribing the time

[30:07] when this ordinance shall take effect and providing for the publication of

[30:10] this ordinance in pamphlet form. >> Okay, I need a motion to suspend the

[30:15] three readings. Motion.

[30:19] » Motion made by Jerry. >> Second.

[30:21] » Seconded by Larry. Cast your votes. Now I need a motion for final passage.

[30:28] » Motion made by Rusty. >> Second.

[30:30] » Seconded by Shay.

[30:34] Okay. Item four. I will now open the public hearing. The replay of lots 11,

[30:39] 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. Block B, lots 1, two, three, four, five, six,

[30:47] seven, and eight. Block C of the Rivermiss Second Subdivision to the city

[30:51] of West Point, County, Nebraska. Okay. The ref plat on lots 11 through 19

[30:58] on block B are for the purpose of the town houses

[31:04] so they can sell them individually. And the planning commission did approve

[31:09] that also. and lots one through eight on block C. Um they narrowed up the lots to

[31:16] get a few narrowed up the properties to get a few more lots out of it so that

[31:21] they can they're they're set for individual

[31:25] homes. So they still exceed the minimum

[31:28] requirements for residential. So they also approve that.

[31:36] Any more discussion on this? I will close the hearing. Clerk will read the

[31:41] ordinance, please. >> Ordinance number 1473, an ordinance

[31:45] accepting the plat and dedication of the reflight of lots 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,

[31:51] 17, 18, and 19. Block B and lots 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 and 8, block C of River, Second

[31:59] Subdivision to the city of West Point, Nebraska, West Point, County,

[32:04] Nebraska. repealing all ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict

[32:07] herewith, prescribing that time when this ordinance shall take effect, and

[32:10] providing for the publication of this ordinance in pamphlet form.

[32:15] » I do have one correction that should be lots 1- 11 on block C.

[32:23] » 1 through 11. >> 1 through 11 block. Yeah.

[32:32] Okay. I just need a motion to suspend the

[32:36] three readings.

[32:40] » Motion made by Shay, seconded by Larry. Cast your votes.

[32:46] I need a motion for final passage.

[32:52] » Second. >> I think motion was made by Jerry,

[32:56] seconded by Shay. >> Tom, cast your votes.

[33:07] bids. We have none. Current business number one, municipal annual

[33:13] certification of program compliance to the Nebraska

[33:16] Board of Public Roads and Classifications.

[33:19] » This is just merely a statement. This is we're in compliance with everything with

[33:23] the Nebraska Department of Roads. At this time we are

[33:31] okay

[33:35] resolution. Okay. We got resolution number 2026-42

[33:42] authorizing the mayor to sign the municipal annual certification of

[33:45] program compliance form. Need a motion to approve this resolution.

[33:50] » Motion made. >> Motion made by Shay.

[33:52] » Second. Seconded by Tom. Cast your votes.

[33:58] Motion carried.

[34:02] » Okay. Item two, County Economic Development Report and renewal

[34:06] agreement. Mr. David,

[34:13] » little little quicker. Wait. >> You could have taken your cane with you.

[34:21] » You know what? I'll be happy that I don't have to listen to this anymore

[34:25] after this year. [clears throat] As you know, I will be

[34:30] retiring in February of next year. And the rumors about us moving to quit

[34:37] spreading those. So my wife said no. So county economic development has been

[34:45] a very good situation for me since 2020 and I appreciate everything West Point's

[34:51] done. for the uh community and CCD development.

[34:59] I'm not going to go over one year. I'm going to go over everything since we

[35:03] began, but I'm not going to take long. Uh the various programs

[35:09] that funds brought into coming county from economic development

[35:14] have developed many different things that have happened.

[35:19] Uh we're very proud of is since I began as

[35:25] director, West Point has contributed $130,000 in

[35:30] LBA4 funds towards annual operating budget. In addition, the city has

[35:36] provided $75,000 in rural workforce matching funds.

[35:41] This represents an investment of about $200,000 $25,000 West Point from West

[35:48] Point. 2020 CC program have utilized those

[35:53] funds and leverage additional resources to provide and or invest approximately

[35:59] $2.9 million into the West Point only.

[36:05] In addition, the city provided $75,000 sorry I'm tired of just got in

[36:11] yesterday. Uh, our owner occupied funds that we

[36:16] operate have done 55 projects since I've been here and started the program for a

[36:23] total of $1 million. Coming back into the community, this

[36:29] number is not including the current 2025 owner occupied program.

[36:36] Based on the figures, the city of West Point's investment has generated a

[36:40] return of approximately $14 for every dollar

[36:46] CC. I believe this demonstrates a very

[36:50] strong return of the city's investment in economic development. I'm proud of

[36:56] what CCD has accomplished since 2020. I believe the numbers demonstrate that the

[37:03] [clears throat] by the city of West Point and other communities have

[37:06] produced a significant return for the community.

[37:10] CCD was instrumental in uh developing the public transportation system to

[37:17] ride. In 2024, the total rides given was 355.

[37:23] In 2025, the number of rides given by tour ride nearly doubled at 7,100.

[37:31] The total paid rides given so far from January to April was 5,000 rides.

[37:40] These are important numbers just for the paid rides. This is not including

[37:45] caregiver rides. They are set and hit to about 8,000

[37:51] rides this year. So, it's been a very good program.

[37:56] I took it for the first time for vacation and joy ride. It was incredible

[38:04] because pay $50 for my wife and I go there

[38:08] and $50 back. We usually spend $150 because I don't like parking out in the

[38:13] open. I want to park in the garage so that I don't have to walk through and

[38:16] get back to my feet before winter even worse. So I believe this has been a

[38:21] great investment by all the communities and C County and Burke County. the

[38:26] numbers broke down that C County gave 20,000 Burke County 20,000 West Point

[38:32] 2500 uh city of Dan

[38:38] 4,000 city of Oakland 2500 city of Wisner 2,000 city of Lions 2,000

[38:46] village of Beamer 1500 bankro 1500 village of Decar 1500 and village of

[38:53] Craig 500 CCD also $5,000 for the last three years for the program. I believe

[39:00] that that is one of the best programs CC has done because it's done so much for

[39:06] all the community in the county and I appreciate everything everybody's done.

[39:12] But I'm going to tell you now, they're getting ready to figure out the budget

[39:15] for the next three years or yearly budget for the next three years. And

[39:19] it's not going to be as cheap because the feds just dropped the programs

[39:24] uh and increased the by the community and the state did the same thing and

[39:29] we're trying to figure out what to do. Now

[39:32] the other thing we're also trying to do and I was talking to the driver and this

[39:37] is kind of funny because I haven't hit Tyler or Brian enough about this. The

[39:42] driver said that it's bad for some of the riders because they have blocks of

[39:49] rides booked for school kids and they're paying the same the other

[39:55] people and I said, "Well, I think we need to figure out what school is paying

[40:00] or getting paying for those kids because from my past,

[40:07] I used to do a lot of IEP uh mediation in schools

[40:14] and they can paid quite a bit of money if it's a special needs child." And I

[40:19] think we need to look at what I said yesterday and I should have kept my

[40:23] mind. I whether if they're using it that much

[40:28] and blocking off that much time. I understand your budget's going to grow

[40:31] and we're going to need to make a larger uh commitment to the community, but

[40:37] we're also going to need to go to public schools that are using it and ask for a

[40:42] lot more funds from them. The other thing that was talked about with the

[40:47] drivers is that they're looking at expanding

[40:51] down into Dodge County, which I said if guys want them to pay

[40:56] for it, I don't have a problem with it. So, there's a lot of things that can

[41:02] happen with Joy Ride. The other thing that somebody else told me was that they

[41:09] have a problem with scheduling because after 4:00 there's nobody office. So if

[41:16] you call the schedule after 4:00, you can't you can do it online.

[41:21] But like yesterday we came in an hour late because of the airlines. Imagine

[41:26] that. And I was trying to call there was nobody there. I tried to go online. I

[41:33] couldn't reschedu online. And I was like, my wife goes, "What are you going

[41:38] to do?" I said, "I'm calling somebody I know." But who's got that opportunity?

[41:43] You know, if they're normal writer, they don't have the connections I have. But,

[41:51] you know, I think there's some changes and I'm going to reach out to some

[41:55] people about trying to develop a program that is better for scheduling that other

[42:02] people are using and try trying to twerk it a little bit. So, we'll see what I

[42:06] can do. Uh, I haven't done much since I've been here, but I Say thank you.

[42:13] » That's it. >> Thank you.

[42:15] » Thank you. >> Thanks.

[42:20] » Okay. Next up, >> Tina.

[42:23] » No, no, we got to approve. We need a motion to approve

[42:27] » David's spiel.

[42:33] » Motion made by Shay, >> seconded by Tom. Catch your votes.

[42:38] » Okay, now Same thing um as far as we didn't change

[42:44] anything on our agreement um from the last few years, same amount, the same

[42:50] expectation. Uh Shay is going to be your new representative on the chamber board

[42:55] to kind of be that liaison as Bruce sends his time as mayor, but um we

[43:01] appreciate all you do to support economic development. It's great to have

[43:04] more than one tool in your toolbox when it comes to economic development. And I

[43:08] know you guys do things down here at the city office. David's obviously very

[43:13] busy. Um, and I hope that just seeing our town [clears throat] continue to

[43:17] grow, annexing areas in needing more housing, seeing our storefronts, except

[43:22] for those up next to scooters. So, yeah, there's some movement up there. Um,

[43:27] continue to be full, I hope, is just a testament to how economic development

[43:32] work is working in town. you continue to have utility customers valuations keep

[43:36] going up and so that continues to help fund your budget. So, um if you have any

[43:42] questions or any requests or changes that you'd like to see in our agreement,

[43:46] I'm happy to do that. Obviously, now we're kind of focused on downtown

[43:50] revitalization, getting those that LBA40 um tax approved at the on the general

[43:57] election and the plan that's tied to that uh to make sure that those funds

[44:02] keep coming in, which I think our businesses understand [cough]

[44:05] [clears throat] what an asset that has been to um our community and and being

[44:10] able to start and grow their own businesses. So, any questions for me?

[44:18] » [clears throat] >> I love to be great.

[44:21] » Thanks for what you do for us, Tim.

[44:26] » Thanks, Tina. >> Okay. And I just need a motion to

[44:29] approve. >> Second.

[44:31] » Motion made by Rusty, seconded by Shay.

[44:37] » Item six, real estate matters. Approve and authorize appraisals for possible

[44:41] real estate. Yeah, >> on the real estate. Um, couple things.

[44:48] First one I have is a correest from Pat Hutchinson with MCS Construction. You

[44:55] kind of got the drawings diagram on in front of you

[45:00] for consideration. they would like to acquire.

[45:04] Uh if we work from left to right, there's kind of that green area as a

[45:08] potential 78 vacate Bridge Street. They own one and two. They would like to

[45:16] acquire that piece of Dean Street and lot seven, and they own the lot below

[45:22] it, lot eight. um because there is so much property involved here along with

[45:29] this one and the other request to um potentially sell the old fire bar.

[45:36] [cough and clears throat] I think we need to get an appraisal on

[45:41] that property on all those properties and then make those determinations at

[45:45] that time. So what I'm looking for is authorization to get with Louis

[45:51] authorization

[45:55] on

[45:59] » motion made by Jerry seconded by Rusty. Catch your votes.

[46:06] Okay. Five. Des special designated liquor

[46:10] license. Russ Russia's liquor store for an event at West Point Community Theater

[46:15] on September 20th, 26, 2026. Firearm Enterprising

[46:21] LLC doing business as Roadhouse Lounge for an event at the Neielson Community

[46:26] Center on September 20th, 26. Buzzaw Incorporated for an event at the

[46:32] Neielson Center on September 26, 2026. Need a motion to approve these. So move

[46:38] second. Motion made by Tom, seconded by Larry. Cast your votes.

[46:45] Item six, approval of the council affiliated claim of Hugo Plumbing and

[46:49] heating for services and supplies. Need a motion to approve.

[46:56] Motion made by resties. Second, Tom. Cast your votes.

[47:05] approval of and authorized the signing of city administrator, city clerk

[47:09] contract. Okay. What we're looking at doing there

[47:14] is appointing Debbie um city administrators and city clerk combining

[47:21] those two positions with her contract actually starting

[47:25] January 1st. But what we would like to do is start

[47:29] her October 1st. So, you know, three months of on on the

[47:35] ground training um and help during that time frame. Um I think it's a good

[47:42] combination. I I think um it's going to go very well. We're obviously going to

[47:48] bring in a deputy clerk in house to work with Debbie and I I think that'll be a

[47:55] good fit also. So

[48:01] we fill that vacancy. We're still advertising for utility superintendent.

[48:06] We're still looking for qualified candidates. And I think you've seen that

[48:10] because we really don't have anybody at this point that fits that bill. So,

[48:16] we'll leave it out there for a while and see where it goes.

[48:20] I think agree with this also.

[48:24] [clears throat] >> Okay. Thank you. Excellent choice.

[48:28] » I don't have any. >> Okay. Okay, I just need a motion to

[48:32] approve this. >> Make a motion.

[48:33] » Second. >> Motion made by Rusty, seconded by Larry.

[48:36] Cast your votes.

[48:40] » Okay. Item eight, approve and authorize signing of a consulting contract. What

[48:45] we're proposing there, and I talked to the committee and a couple of the other

[48:49] council members about me putting together a consulting contract

[48:53] um for at least the next six months after I

[48:57] leave. That contract will be for $2,500 a month, $20 or 20 hours a month for six

[49:04] months and we'll see how it goes from there.

[49:10] We still have some logistics to work through to get all that in place, but

[49:13] that seems

[49:16] » Yeah, no problem.

[49:28] I personally would like to see them all under

[49:34] interest. >> You don't have to

[49:36] » Well,

[49:40] yeah, >> we'll keep talking. We'll keep talking.

[49:45] » We technically accepted his resation. Yeah, that's

[49:50] » I said much more make a motion to resend that. How's that work?

[49:56] » I make a motion to resend. [laughter] >> Sorry.

[50:02] » It fails for lack of a second. Sorry.

[50:07] » I need a motion to approve this consulting. Motion made by Rusty.

[50:11] Second, seconded by Tom. Cash votes.

[50:18] Okay, we got uh what do we want to do with the uh

[50:26] » El the board of adjustments. I've done some research on on this

[50:34] topic. I I went out and looked at LB289 that reflected on this and I guess

[50:41] there's three three points that that bill talked about. Number one, it

[50:45] focused on villages, allowing the village to go from five to three

[50:50] members. It really focused heavily on a qualifying business that allowed larger

[50:56] retail businesses to be eligible for LBA40 funds. And then the third thing

[51:01] was it allowed city councils to take over the board of

[51:06] adjustment. I'm not convinced myself that this council is ready for that move

[51:12] tonight. Uh I'm not saying forever, but I you know, first off, we've got a great

[51:18] board of adjustment. Those people are very talented. Uh they've been on on it

[51:24] for a number of years. I've worked with a number of committees

[51:29] in my 40 years of working and I would have never turned a whole board over at

[51:34] one time. And I think that's what we would be doing is taking a talented

[51:39] group and turning it over to in my case. >> Well, I'm a I'd be a rookie because I

[51:45] don't know the history of what they've done and I think we need to really think

[51:49] through the process before we do that. That's just my thought and

[51:52] » I I agree with you. you talked about this and I think it's

[51:56] » and I think it's great to have multiple people in our communities involved

[52:00] u

[52:04] because the more people you have involved the more buy in and

[52:08] I think it's just good >> yeah exactly

[52:12] » and to that point Russ that that's exactly why this legislature to begin

[52:17] with >> yeah people just weren't wanting to do

[52:20] it anymore >> there will be a time where I think it

[52:22] does come back Right. >> Well, and and the other thing this

[52:26] council, we've got a lot in the next 12- 18 months. We've got a lot coming forth

[52:30] in the administration that we need to make sure that we

[52:34] » get on the on the right path moving forward.

[52:37] » We've got a potential new mayor if we don't have writing. It might be somebody

[52:40] from this council, which means we'll have a new council member.

[52:44] » So, I think there's a lot a lot of moving parts personally in the next 12

[52:49] to 18 months that I'm not convinced that >> we're ready to did this step myself. Uh

[52:56] it it LB 289 allows us to do it if we choose to do it.

[53:01] » So that's just my thought and

[53:04] » and this goes back to some of the >> expressed interest when you know some of

[53:10] those things that were approved as to why they were approved and that type of

[53:14] thing. So that's why it was brought [clears throat] out because like I said

[53:17] legislatively just went through it's 100% your decision

[53:21] » and to choose to sit on it and and just wait a little bit.

[53:25] » So, I don't think we need necessarily a motion to table it, but I think we need

[53:29] to lay it back, push it back, and if we need to revisit it,

[53:34] » it's there to do that. >> Just my two,

[53:42] » no action taken. Yeah, no action taken. >> Okay, that's fine.

[53:47] » No, no action taken. We're not going to bring up next month, right?

[53:51] » No. Oh yeah. No, >> they can come back and say I change my

[53:55] » every month. >> I mean, sure. Well, I I I think we have

[53:58] to be the ones to bring it forth. It's not going to be automatic.

[54:01] » Yeah. >> Well, and like I said, if you if you

[54:04] start running into challenges where you don't have enough people for the board

[54:07] adjustment or things, you know, >> then then that comes to the forefront.

[54:13] You've got an option.

[54:17] » Go. Okay. So, I didn't read an ordinance. Ordinance amending section

[54:22] 1-2076 of the municipal code book relating to

[54:26] the duties of the city administrator. So, ordinance number 1474, an ordinance

[54:31] of the city of West Point, Nebraska, amending section 1-207

[54:37] 6 of article 2 of chapter one of the municipal municipal code of the city of

[54:43] West Point, Nebraska relating to the duties of the city administrative

[54:46] repealing said section 1-207 six of article 20 of chapter 1 and all

[54:53] ordinances in conflict with this ordinance and prescribing the time when

[54:56] this ordinance shall >> [clears throat]

[54:58] » force and take effect in providing for the publication of this ordinance in

[55:02] pamphlet form. >> Okay. I need a motion to suspend the

[55:05] three readings. >> Motion made by Tom, seconded by Rusty.

[55:12] Now I need a motion for final passage. >> Second.

[55:16] » Motion made by Tom, seconded by Larry. Motion.

[55:21] » Okay, that's reports. I don't have anything.

[55:25] » Do we have one more? resolution that was added.

[55:28] » The pay request. >> Yeah.

[55:29] » Oh, the pay request.

[55:34] » That should be right. It would I would have gave it to you when you

[55:38] » Oh, that one. Yeah. >> Here it is. Right here. You want to

[55:43] » Okay. They got a resolution 2026-43 approve applicant payment number four in

[55:49] the amount of $125,511.94

[55:53] cents to H&R Construction for the West Point EMS project job number 262400.

[56:01] » Make a motion. >> Second.

[56:03] » Motion made by Rusty, seconded by uh Larry. Cast your votes.

[56:08] Okay.

[56:13] » For reports. >> Yeah,

[56:15] » we've been sending out a lot of not uh le notices, cleanup notices just in

[56:20] general with overgrowth and that we need to be a pretty good on some of those.

[56:25] One of them is JNR's up on the highway. You know, the way that looks, there's

[56:30] been a lot of comments as it, you know, relates to the condition of that. We're

[56:35] looking at what some of our options are with that property and see what we can

[56:40] do to get that looking better than what it does.

[56:43] So other than that's been

[56:49] rain construction

[56:54] things coming together quite quickly in the river subdivision.

[56:58] » I think I've issued I don't know if I said this like between 14 15 building

[57:01] permits up there already. >> Good. So for the duplexes and town

[57:07] houses and I think we got three individual homes going out there.

[57:12] So that's it's all popping up fast. >> What are all the qualifications?

[57:20] » Cheaper material, cheaper labor. >> It's a lot of it's a buying purchase of

[57:28] material

[57:33] » this This is

[57:38] » the housing. >> Yeah, this affordable.

[57:46] » But you're you're you're not referring to income based housing.

[57:51] » No, just affordable housing. You hear that all over the country?

[57:57] » Well,

[58:01] obviously there's amenities

[58:05] houses would have

[58:12] just a question,

[58:16] you know, a lot of that's got to do with them buying materials and buy in volumes

[58:23] » and and doing that and then >> I don't want to say the quality, it's

[58:28] not your top end stuff. It's not your bottom end stuff. It's more of the

[58:31] middle of the road. like cookie cutter options,

[58:35] » right? >> You'll see a lot of the same repeat

[58:42] does look different.

[58:48] » Hey, even still you're talking what 300 350,000ish

[58:52] » 380 I think for the top end.

[59:00] » But I think he's hoping to complete a lot of like four months. So, I mean,

[59:05] it's Yeah, they're quick. >> They do.

[59:10] » And you got to remember too the the town houses that are going in don't have

[59:15] basement. So, it's just all slower.

[59:20] So, that usually goes up pretty quick.

[59:33] That's it. Yeah, I'm good. >> Oh, that was Jerry's report. I wasn't

[59:36] sure that was like

[59:41] we tag team that one tag team that one.

[59:48] » You got anything, Jerry? >> Somebody asked me why I didn't

[59:52] build

[59:56] it.

[1:00:06] Hey, I want to explain why I just absolutely

[1:00:10] uh pizza

[1:00:14] water

[1:00:17] yesterday. I called emergency locates and then 10

[1:00:22] minutes later I called in emergency locates. I needed them now. through this

[1:00:27] whole thing. I just lost all everything else. I was getting ready because I

[1:00:32] don't want to run out of water and the other guys are all tied up. So, I just

[1:00:37] lost about my wife today. I took her down for her last

[1:00:42] taus.

[1:00:55] And and I I I just want to I want to thank some people here. I went through

[1:01:01] my radiation treat. Uh there's some people thought maybe I

[1:01:07] was getting tired, you know, so they thought maybe they should help help me

[1:01:10] out. So I want to thank Larry Howard, the mayor. It's time that the last week

[1:01:18] they drove me to my camp and that was I'll never forget trips and

[1:01:24] and how we ended up in and I had so much fun that I told the team there that was

[1:01:30] giving me the radiation. I said well I said I had a special person bring down

[1:01:38] Wow must be pretty come tomorrow

[1:01:44] administrator. Wow. And then I said, "Wait till you see

[1:01:50] comes tomorrow." Well, brought you today. And I don't know how I worded it

[1:01:56] exactly as my my grandkid's other grandpa.

[1:02:01] [laughter] He happened to be the mayor of West

[1:02:05] Point. They just But this was during CO and stuff.

[1:02:11] It was I had so much fun taking my radiation treatments and my cancer

[1:02:15] treatments because I interacted with the people and when the fire truck came from

[1:02:20] department 56 down there that brought tears to my life because

[1:02:26] that was the last day of that and it was my second cousins were on that truck

[1:02:32] » and the lights going and everything. So I

[1:02:38] love this town. Never let this town

[1:02:43] die as my fault or anything but this is awesome. So anyway, I'm a very apt man.

[1:02:51] » And I even had to haul back. [laughter] >> I did too.

[1:02:57] » I did too. >> We went downtown got parts of the

[1:03:00] theater. >> Probably fit my vehicle, but Can't wait

[1:03:04] trip. >> Yeah, waste

[1:03:14] » get it ready.

[1:03:17] [snorts] >> Mine following that up.

[1:03:20] » Okay, >> Tom.

[1:03:22] » Larry, >> I'll make a motion for a journ.

[1:03:27] » Motion made by Shay, seconded by Tom. Cast your votes. Okay.

2026-09-01 City Council Meeting

Transcript