City council holds open house to discuss development plan

OSMOND – The Osmond City Council met Monday, Nov. 8, at the city auditorium with a large number of items on the agenda, including water tower bids, city development plan and street improvements.

Two Bids Given for Water Tower

Jake Dugger from Maguire Iron, Inc. presented a maintenance bid for the city water tower. He assessed the condition of the water tower and said, structurally, the tower is fine but the railing needs to be updated to OSHA standards with a railing of 42 inches tall and the toe plate needs to be four inches in height. He also suggested the tower should be sand blasted inside and out and the interior relined. His bid was $215,076 which includes the railing and toe plate cost. With the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds in the amount of $132,000 being paid the same year the maintenance is done and has the option of a twoor three-year payment plan with no interest.

Rick Penner from Viking Industrial Painting presented the second bid. He assessed the water tower and also said that, structurally, the tower is fine. He also suggested the tower to be sandblasted inside and out and relined. Penner presented a bid of $239,700 which does not include the cost of railing and toe plate. The ARPA funds of $132,000 will be paid the same year the maintenance is done and will have a payment plan of three years with no interest. Council asked to table the issue giving them time to review all the information provided with the bids.

Development Plan for City Explained

Lowell Schroeder with 5 Rule Planning and Susan Norris of Pierce County Economic Development held an open house for the community to explain steps being taken to create a comprehensive development plan for the City of Osmond. This plan will guide the City’s land use decisions during the next 10 years.

In the summer of 2021, 5 Rule completed an Existing Land Use Inventory (ELUI) map, which is available for viewing online at riseourregion.com, along with other important project information and updates. The planning process behind creating this plan consists of identifying features within the ELUI map that the community would like to preserve and change in the next decade. The identification of those features is then represented on a second map, named the Future Land Use (FLU) Map.

The FLU map is the most important decision-making page within the Comprehensive Development Plan and reflects the city’s current land use and future growth priorities. The Comprehensive Plan is the baseline for all land use decisions within the City of Osmond, while the Zoning Regulations are local laws regulating property development within the City of Osmond and its zoning jurisdiction. Schroeder and Norris informed the council that they will meet again once more chapters of the Comprehensive Plan have been completed.

Street Improvement Plans Shared

Brent Ciecior of JEO presented to council the plans, specification and cost opinion of $875,466 for the three proposed street improvements. After a brief discussion, council members approved the plans, specifications, cost opinion and bidding process for the street improvements. Documents for the plans, specifications and cost opinions can be viewed at the city office.

Since council approved JEO to advertise for bids, Ciercior informed council he would advertise for bids in the newspaper the next three Wednesdays starting Nov. 17. He proposed opening bids on Dec. 8, allowing council five additional days to review bids before awarding the bid on Dec. 13.

Street Closing Tabled

Jim Schmit addressed the council regarding the closing of 6th Street. He proposed closing 6th Street providing property owners with a 16-ft. easement giving them utility access. This 16-ft. easement would be taken off of Schmit’s portion of property to the north of 6th Street. After a brief discussion, the Mayor requested tabling the item until next month so the city attorney can look over the documents provided by Mr. Schmit.

Jim Schmit’s lot split has been tabled till next month because of the property being adjacent to 6th Street and, at this time, it’s unknown if it will be closed or remain open.

Many Issues Addressed

Susan Tews addressed the council about a dog at large. She stated that the neighbor’s dog has been defecating on her lawn and inquired about stricter leash laws. Police Chief Tyler Wells stated that a dog must be leashed, confined or kenneled on the owner’s property and if these measures are not followed, the City will double the citation amount. Wells stated that he has been in contact with the owner of the dog and owner is aware of the complaint.

Treasurer Brittney Timmerman addressed the council about hail insurance checks received for damage to city property. Council agreed that a claim received for minimal hail damage to a city pickup would not be used to repair it because of the year of the vehicle. Councilman Doug Schmit suggested the city hire someone local to do the shingling repairs.

Councilman Dan Timmerman addressed the council about snow removal this winter. He stated that the city truck is getting worn out and asked the council and the Mayor their thoughts on hiring locals and their equipment to clean up snow. Council members were in agreement that hiring outside help is an option they will look into.

Treasurer Timmerman reported that, after reviewing the city’s budget from fiscal year 2020-21 in August, the city auditor suggested to council they may want to consider an increase to some of the utility rates. It then became necessary to update the information. Ordinance No. 2021-5, Ordinance No. 2021-6 and Ordinance 2021-7 have been brought current and have been reviewed by city Attorney Dennis Collins. The three Ordinances are printed on Page 4 of this issue.

FEMA Report Given

Treasurer Timmerman reported for Cindy Hoffman on the FEMA update, stating that the street project has been transferred to NEMA from FEMA, so any submissions done will now go through NEMA. She also reported that during Hoffman’s call with the FEMA representative, she was informed that the engineering costs will not be able to be submitted with administration costs, but rather with the street project itself, which would require a Scope of Work Change.

Timmerman informed council that Hoffman feels confident she would be able to submit the first engineering cost that the city incurred right after the flood, but wasn’t sure about the bidding portion of the first street project. FEMA informed Hoffman that they don’t believe that repairs to a street would require engineering, and Hoffman had informed them the city does not have anyone working for the City of Osmond who would be able to write the specs needed to fix the flooded streets. Council informed Timmerman if Hoffman is confident in being able to recoup some of the engineering costs, to allow her to move forward with the Scope of Work Change.

Treasurer Timmerman asked council for permission to pay Husker

Engineering for the work done on the Storm Sewer Outfall project so that Hoffman can submit all required documents before the Dec. 21 deadline with FEMA for flood repairs. Council agreed to allow her to pay the invoice once received, with the Mayor overseeing the invoice and payment amount.

Police Chief Gives Report

Police Chief Wells reported on the following: one gun permit being issued, unlicensed immobile vehicle, and vehicle rollover incident, to name a few. Chief Wells is working on accreditation for LB51 by Jan. 1, 2023. This bill seeks to improve the standards of policing statewide, regarding the use of force, thereby improving public safety and the effectiveness of law enforcement.

Wells informed council he will be taking an E-citation class in Pierce, given by the Nebraska State Patrol. He also informed council that the security cameras recently purchased are here and in the process of being installed.

Wells also informed council that he has received six quotes from different vendors on radar speed signs. He listed the following companies and quotes: ElanCity, $4,999; Monitor Systems, $6,800; MPH Industries, $7,816; Radarsign, $7,270; Traffic Logix, $6,788, and All Traffic Solutions, $6,130. After a brief discussion, council approved purchase of the radar speed signs and will have Wells use his discretion on which company to choose.

In other business, the council: adopted RESOLUTION 2021-10 Pierce County Local Emergency Operations Plan, which is printed on Page 4 of this issue.

approve Main Street Alley’s request for an SDL Liquor License for the Sons of the American Legion’s Christmas Wishes event on Sunday, December 12th, 2021 at the Osmond City Auditorium.

heard Treasurer Timmerman state that she has been called for federal jury duty starting in December and ask that if she is called that the city office days be changed from five days to three days a week.

reviewed the following building permits: Paul Heaton: garden shed; Hospital Daycare: chain link fence.

heard Mayor Dennis Kuhl state city sales tax for August 2021 was a total of $17,322.89 (of that amount $5,455.24 is from motor vehicle tax).

In other business, the council: