Exeter Public Hosts Patriotic Story Hour

The Exeter Public Library is having a special story hour to celebrate the 4^th of July. Kids grades K-3 are invited to the library to hear a story, do some crafting and check out the library’s selection of patriotic books. This story hour is to be held at the library on Thursday, July 2 at 2 p.m. Patriotic attire is encouraged!

Timberwolves 14 and Under team SLS League Champs

Congratulations to the Timberwolf 14 and under team on their win in the High School Silver Bracket.
Back row (left to right):  Coach Mark Beethe, Alexis Uldrich, Haidley Weimer, Katherine White, Tori Stoldorf, Janey Erdkamp, Hannah Horne, and Coach Allen Vavra.
Front row (left to right): Josie Kresak, Anna Sluka, Hannah Beethe, Jaiden Kleinschmidt, Kaitlyn Vavra and Kalisha Gergen.

Exeter-Milligan Student Chosen as Big Red Star

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln honored seven local eighth graders for their academic excellence, leadership and perseverance on April 28 at the Leid Center for Performing Artrs in Lincoln.  James Becker of Exeter-Milligan was among those honored for their strong leadership skills and excellent grades.
The Big Red Stars program is designed to recognize outstanding eighth-grade students in Nebraska.  The students were nominated by school prinicpals for showcasing strong leadership skills and academic promise and was awarded at a ceremony sponsored by UNL and EducationQuest.
Highlights of the event included individual recognition and awards and special remarks from Dr. Helen Abdali Soosan Fagan, a leadership scholar from UNL.

Exeter-Milligan Coach Honored by Lincoln Journal Star

Exeter-Milligan's Football and Basketball Coach Dean Filipi was honored by the Lincoln Journal Star as the Boy's Coach of the Year in the Sunday, June 21 Stars of the Show insert in the LJS.  Congratulations to Coach Filipi.

Area Students on UNL Dean's List

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has announced its Deans' List and Honor Roll for the spring semester of the 2014-15 academic year.

Qualification for the Deans' List varies among the eight undergraduate colleges and the Honor Roll for undeclared students. Listed below are the minimum requirements for each entity and the name of its respective dean or director. All qualifying grade-point averages are based on a four-point scale and a minimum of 12 or more graded semester hours. Students can be on the Deans' List for more than one college.



College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, 3.75; Dean Steven F. Waller.
College of Architecture, top 10 percent of the students in the college; Interim Dean Kim Wilson.
College of Arts and Sciences, 3.7; Dean Joseph Francisco.
College of Business Administration, 3.6; Dean Donde Plowman.
College of Education and Human Sciences, 3.75; Dean Marjorie Kostelnik.
College of Engineering, 3.5; Dean Tim Wei.
College of Journalism and Mass Communications, 3.7; Dean Maria Marron.
Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, 3.7; Dean Charles O'Connor.
Honor Roll for undeclared students, 3.6; Director of Undergraduate Education Nancy Mitchell.




Exeter: Kelsey Marie Moore , senior, Dean's List, College of Business Administration, management (human resource management).
Exeter: Erica Christine Yound , freshman, Dean's List, College of Business Administration, business administration.


Milligan: Jennifer Kay Pribyl , junior, Dean's List, College of Business Administration, actuarial science.
 
 

Co-op Construction Nearing Completion

 Construction is nearing completion on a new building just north of Exeter at the Fertilizer plan for the Farmers Cooperative.

Exeter-Milligan Gets a New Roof

 Roofers have been busy at the Exeter site of the Exeter-Milligan school.  After the June 3, 2014 hail storm the roof was in need of replacement.

 Below:  the grass is freshly mowed were in the next few months construction will begin on the addition to the school.

Exeter Village Board Meets With Full Agenda

By Leesa K. Bartu

Exeter Village Board chairman Alan Michl called the regular monthly meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9 with an unusually large audience. 

The board approved last month’s minutes before hearing about the new ordinance code book from Joe McNally representing Municipal Code Services, Inc.

McNally presented the final updated version of the code book, “After you pass the book you have a three year buffer to change things. If you make additions or tweak some things there is no charge for a year.”

“I send out a newsletter after each legislative session is concluded with any pertinent bills to a town of your size,” McNally explained, “It’s best to continue updating the book so you don’t have to go through this process again.”

The board waived the three readings of the book and passed Ordinance 580 to accept the new ordinance book.   Then the board passed resolution 15-05 to publish the books.

Fillmore County Zoning Administrator Jennifer Slezak presented the board with a conditional use  permit  that was filed for by Craig and Kelly True.  The zoning board passed the permit and sent it back to the village board for approval as the True’s are planning to construct a building on a lot with no house on it.  The True’s plan to build a home on the property later.

Along with the permit, the True’s had approached the board about closing several roads surrounding their property. The board initially discussed closing part of East Osage Street.  Clerk Becky Erdkamp noted that “you are actually just vacating a platted street that has never been opened"

The board passed Ordinace 581 to close one block of East Osage.

Next for discussion was the closing of one block of North Empire Avenue listed in Ordinance 582.  Adjoining property owner, Mike Hopkins, voiced his desire to have the road left open.  Chairman Michl agreed,“I am not in favor of closing this road until I see what is going on out there.” 

The True’s own the property on either side of the block of North Empire Avenue under discussion which is currently an unmaintained dirt road. “If you aren’t going to close the road then I want the road to be a real road.  It will have to be rocked and graveled,” explained Craig True.

The board agreed to table this ordinance to a later date.

The board moved on to a discussion on closing a block of West Boundary. Adjoining property owner Hopkins again protested the road closing, “I want that road open because I don’t know what they are digging over there and with the noise late at night I can’t sleep.  I want a buffer zone between us.”

The board decided to table that ordinance as well.

Michl explained their hesitancy in making decisions surrounding the True’s property, “There are concerns from area residents about what you are planning to do with the property including  breaching the wellhead protection area with the hole you are digging.”

Michl continued, “What we are calling this is a manmade water structure.  When you called digger’s hotline you stated to them that you were digging a pond.  At the last [village board] meeting you talked about building a pond and a building and a house.” 

“I needed fill dirt for a building. If I am in violation of something I want to know what it is,” explained True.

“It would be much simpler for us if we had a plan,” Michl

“In the business I am in when you call diggers hotline you tell them everything you are going to do.  What other permits do I need?  I’ll do whatever it takes,” noted True. “I’m really not trying to be in violation but I don’t understand all the permit process.”

The board explained to True that they were researching the requirements and directed him to visit with Clerk Erdkamp after research has been completed.

The board moved on to the next agenda item from Bob Mueller who was representing the Exeter Community Foundation.  “At our last foundation meeting we discussed the possibility of improving the downtown area in Exeter.  The foundation decided they would give $5,000.00 to the village to start the process of some of the things they want to be done to find the funds for downtown revitalization.”

He explained that the foundation would like the board to use the funds to get the training and momentum going to find grant monies using Southeast Nebraska Development District (SENDD).  “There is a possibility that there could be a federal grant with a matching portion to tear down the tag factory.” 

Patt Lentfer, the Fillmore County Development Corporation director, noted that “For a lot of these [grants]you have to be a certified community.  All the training provided with SENDD gets you ready for other opportunities.”

Mueller recommended that the board contact SENDD and have someone come speak to the board.  The board unanimously voiced wanting to have someone come to speak.  

“To redo main street and tear the tag factory down without any help is just not feasible,” explained  Michl

Clerk Becky Erdkamp updated the board on the current status of the tag factory, “We  did get a  response from the certified letter that was sent to Seth Jones where we declared the building a nuisance.  He indicated he would still like to complete the donation process to the city.  He also emailed  village attorney Charlie Campbell.”

The board held a discussion on the liability of the building and Michl summed up the discussion, “Let’s go ahead and make sure they own it and go through the process of accepting the donation from them.”

The Board approved a motion to proceed with accepting the donation of the tag factory.

Lentfer approached the board about participating in another county wide housing survey.  “Before we can find grants to help pay for a study  we have to first see if communities are interested in doing this.

Wilbeck noted, “We discuss the lack of suitable housing here quite frequently.  I think it is something we need to do.”

The board passed a motion to show their interest in participating in a housing study in the county.

The board reviewed the audit from the accountant before inviting resident Amy Skinner to address the board.

The board mailed Skinner a letter about abandoned vehicles on her property.  Clerk Erdkamp explained that Amy was present to inform the board that the cars were in limbo in her late father’s estate.

Wilbeck noted that the board did not know the estate wasn’t settled.

Skinner asked exactly what the complaint was.  The board read her the ordinance about abandon vehicles. 

Schlegelmilch commented, “So you are here to find out why you are being contacted about your abandoned vehicles?  We read the ordinance and it is illegal to have unlicensed on your property.”

The board heard an update on village maintenance from Supervisor John Mueller.  He reported that he is continuing to work on the insurance issues from last summer’s hail storm.  “We are getting all new air conditioning units at the fire hall, the senior center and new coils on the heat pump at the pool.  The roofs will be replaced as well. All of the bids are within the insurance estimates.”

Clerk Erdkamp reported that Boy Scout from Troop 359, Jack  Dinneen, will be replacing the roofs on the ball shed and the park picnic shelter in metal for his Eagle Scout project and wanted some guidance on color choices. The board asked that it be something that matches the area.  The board also discussed the cement that another Boy Scout, Elliot Erdkamp, is going to place around the sign in Gilbert’s park for his Eagle Scout project.

Erdkamp reported that March tax revenue was $11,077.71 and keno funds for April were $805.73.

She also reported that she has been in contact with the person who physically owns the care center building and received a check from them for the delinquent water bill.  The owner has asked the village to mow the property and send them a bill.

Exeter-Milligan Superintendent Paul Sheffield reported on the progress of the JPA project.  “We amended the budget, as needed.  The bonds have been issued and the first bond payment has been made.  Bids for the project are due Thursday, June 11 by 2 p.m.  We expect to have the two new entries to the gym completed by November 23 for basketball season and the entire project has a July 1, 2016 completion date.”

The board set the next meeting or July 7 at 7 p.m.