Cambridge City Council swear in new elected members, Vernita Saylor, Kevin Banzhaf and Mike Harris

The Cambridge City Council met in regular session on Monday, December 7, 2020. All members were present for the meeting. The first order of business was to adjourn the old city council and reconvene as the new city council. Elected members, Vernita Saylor, Kevin Banzhaf and Mike Harris took the oath of office and the Council appointed Vernita Saylor as its President.

Lisa Shifflet was appointed City Attorney, Kandra Kinne was appointed City Clerk and Treasurer and Luke Dutcher from Miller & Associates was named Flood Plain Administrator. The Council also appointed Chris Miller from Miller & Associates as Street Superintendent and Miller & Associates as the City Engineer. Waypoint Bank and First Central Bank were names as Financial Institutions. The Valley Voice was named as the city Newspaper.

Council members Derek Raburn and Tony Groshong will be members of the BIC Board. The Board of Health will be Mayor David Gunderson, President Vernita Saylor, Dr. Michael Powell and Sherif Doug Brown. Mayor Gunderson, Jeff Ommert and Vernita Saylor will be members f the Joint Committee. Council passed Resolution 2020-12-02 to appoint West Central Nebraska Development District as Nuisance Officer.

The Public Hearing for Alan Koerperich’s Conditional Use Permit for a seed store in Harvest Meadows Third Subdivision: Lot 1, Block 3 Harvest Meadows Third, 41503 Harvest Drive began at 6:44 pm. Approximately 32 people were present for the hearing. Koerperich began the hearing asking the council to approve the Condition Use Permit. Harvest Meadows Residents Morgan and Sally Farquhar, Kristi Shoemaker, Dow Newcomb and Anne McCarville all spoke in opposition to the Condition Use Permit citing safety, aesthetics, and procedural concerns. Economic Development (ED) Board President Tom Shoemaker spoke saying he understood and has connections to both sides of the issue, but believes the addition will be positive for the community. Business owners Jo Lee Ebbers and Shelly Johnson spoke about the positive addition Koeperich and the business will be to the community. Melissa Jackson, ED Director shared information about other lots at Harvest Meadows as well as information on truck traffic at the local business and how that would compare to Koerperich’s truck traffic. The Public Hearing closed at 7:47 pm. After discussion, the Council approved the Conditional Use Permit in a 5 to 1 vote.

In the Economic Development Board Report, Melissa Jackson reported the ED Board has been working with the Chamber of Commerce to possibly expand the Cambridgeoploy game through the holiday season as the game has been very popular. ED Board has also had 3 downpayment assistance requests this week and have been working on the sale of a house and a lot in the Harvest Meadows addition. Jackson also said the ED Board approved advertising the Colorado Life magazine along with the Nebraska Life magazine to help attract people who are interested in moving to Cambridge. The ED Board will have a strategic planning meeting in January.

Jeff Jackson was present for the Ambulance/Fire Report. He said the department is buying 10 new radios and that elections for new officers will be coming up in the next month. The Department is still looking for a rescue truck and are working with a retired firefighter to help find one that will work for their needs. He also reported 2 new members had joined.

In the Library Board Meeting Minutes, it was agreed to purchase new shirts for employees at a maximum of $5o per staff member. Librarian Maria Downer also recommended proving a Christmas longevity bonus to library staff equal to the amount provided to the city employees for 2020, board members passed the motion. Downer also reported the short application for the Kruetz grant had been approved and the long application will be due in January. Another grant, Libraries Transforming Communities is new grant for up to $3,000. Downer is looking to update the non-fiction section of books to help the homeschooling students. No matching funds are required for the grant. If awarded the grant, the plan would be to have Abbie Benson do a workshop once the books are available to make the homeschool students aware of the new materials and the Dewey Decimal System.

Dave Houghtelling, Utility Supervisor, reported the City has received the bill for the street sweeping and that is was higher than usual because it had been so long since they had been here. Discussion was held about truck parking in the street across from Anew and the Hotel. Houghtelling also reported that someone would be down to take a look at what was causing the problems with the Christmas lights.

In the City Clerk/Treasurer report, Kandra Kinne reported the lien on a residence on Park Avenue needed to be removed. A motion was made and seconded and the motion passed. She also reported the Fire Department was interested in using the abandoned car for training. City Attorney Lisa Shifflet said she would look into any existing liens on the car before giving it to the Fire Department. Kinne also reported they have finished the Hazard Mitigation Plan and that the ADA projects are nearly complete. She had also submitted a grant to FEMA for reimbursement for EMT calls from March to May of 2020.

In unfinished business, the Council discussed the employee handbook update and discussed the Twin Valleys Public Power District Proposed contract. Mayor David Gunderson recognized the conflict of interest of Council Member Kevin Banzhaf as he is an employee of Twin Valleys Public Power. Mayor Gunderson asked Kinne to make a comparison before discussion goes any further.

In new business, Council approved Resolution 2020-12-01 which states No Parking signs will be placed on the east and west side of Harvest Drive from Highway 6 & 34 to Prairie View for the purpose of providing improved access.

Council also approved a $5 rebate for everyone and an extra $5 rebate for customers who have Holiday lighting outside their homes.

Council also approved the Banner Permit renewal for the State of Nebraska for 2021. They also amended the minutes of the 12/02/2019 meeting to specify Chris Miller from Miller & Associates as the Street Superintendent.

During the Citizen Comments section of the meeting, Morgan and Sally Farquhar both voiced their disapproval of the Council’s vote to approve the Conditional Use Permit. The meeting was adjourned at 8:53 pm. The next Regular City Council Meeting will be Monday, December 21, 2020 at 6:3o pm. A BIC meeting will be held on Monday, December 14, 2020 at Bartley at 6:3o pm. The Planning Commission will meet on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 5:00 pm.