[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.