By Leesa K. Bartu
The Exeter Village board approved two sets of prior meeting
minutes, the September monthly meeting along with the special budget meeting,
before approving the bills to open their October meeting on Wednesday, October
4th.
The board quickly dove right into the main topic of
discussion, the proposed construction projects, including paving and a downtown
renovation. They first held a downtown improvement district hearing which
required any objections to be written. As there were no objections
presented to the board, the hearing was closed.
There were some questions during the last village board
meeting as to costs on the changes the board wanted to make on the construction
bids. The downtown project showed no additional costs so the board
reviewed the figures and then moved onto the street improvement project
discussion.
The board took some time to review the change orders issued
on the street improvement project. The change orders removed Liberty from
the new paving and the southernmost block of Union Avenue, adding a half block
of Seneca and all of Missouri Avenue from the repaving. The changes also
included a bid for the costs of concrete crushing.
Exeter resident Gary Dumpert attended the meeting and had
several questions about the street project. As a resident on South
Missouri Avenue, Dumpert questioned the board on removing the street from the
project and wondered about the implications for the Black Hills Energy natural
gas line project.
Michl confirmed that Missouri Avenue had been removed from
the project and assured Dumpert that they hoped to repave Missouri Avenue in a
few years.
JEO representative Nathan Boone assured Dumpert and the
board that he had been in contact with Black Hills Energy. “The gas line
is deteriorating but they know that our project on Missouri is up in the air.”
The board discussed the possibility that Black Hills will be
able to replace the natural gas line even if the Missouri project is not
completed.
Dumpert asked why Missouri had been removed and Michl
responded it was because of funding.
Board Member Mitch Schlegelmilch added, “What we are worried
about is when they use Missouri Avenue while East Boundary is closed (for
repaving).”
Michl responded, “In a couple of years I feel we should be
able to do four or five blocks financially because we will have some things
paid off.”
The board continued to discuss the street project while
veering off to discuss assessments. Michl noted that residents have “a
lot of options. They can pay (the assessment) all at once, they can go to
the county and work out payments, go to the bank and get a loan or visit with
their home finance company and add it to their mortgage. The County will
add it to the property tax bill but will charge you interest.”
The board moved back to discussing the Werner Contract, “The
change order reflects all the things we talked about in the last meeting.
Adjustment to the schedule is not included. This has been a wet fall and
so they (Werner) prefer to start in the spring and have everything completed
before the start of school. This is for the street project but I’m not
sure on the downtown project,” explained Boone.
Michl consented, “I think maybe that would be better because
nobody wants to deal with a mess in the winter.”
The board approved the change orders, which deducted
$402,490.02 from the contract, in a motion. Michl signed both the
original contract with Werner and the change order to alter the project.
Dumpert asked for some details on the downtown project and
the board explained the project will include new water hook ups and new
services to the businesses if they are needed. The project also will
install new lightpoles with power underground.
Boone noted that for next month’s meeting he will have the
change order on the schedule for street improvement, a change order for the
schedule for downtown and some other paperwork to complete.
He added, “We will schedule pre-construction meetings in the
spring but I will coordinate with Black Hills now and with Perennial to let
them know they have some time to move the poles (that are currently too close
to the street).”
Ameritas Representative Brad Slaughter moved to the board
table to answer questions about the bonding for the projects. He
explained that the information on the paperwork he distributed “was the same
including yearly payments on the new projects just shy of $150,000 per
year.”
“We can kick the can down the road until you need the money.
. .We will fund the full construction costs once the construction is
completed. We can bond the amount then because you will know your cash
situation better. No hard core decisions have to be made right now.”
Waiting until Spring may give the village an advantage
because this will delay creating the bonds until later which will allow the
village to pay off the current street bonds before issuing the new bonds.
Slaughter noted that he would return to the board in January
or February to lock in the interest rate, “There are not a lot of bond issues
marketed in January so it will be a good time. We will fund the two
different projects, but the bond will be together with the first payment in the
first quarter of 2019. The project is the perfect size. It’s
affordable for you.”
After concluding the street and downtown project discussion
the Board invited Brenda Motis, director of Fillmore County Senior Services, to
report on the senior center. Motis gave a rundown on the current Senior
Center advisory board along with highlighting some of their activities for the
year.
The Senior Center received a grant from the Exeter Community
Foundation and they had a new reception desk built by Cornhusker State
Industries. The Senior Center used the grant to pay for the materials for
the desk since there was no labor charge. They also recently received an
Emmanuel Vision Foundation Grant for $1500 which they may to use to place an
awning on the front of the building. The village board advised Motis to
make sure to coordinate any exterior changes with the downtown renovation
project.
The Senior Center board made some changes to their
corporation, changing the name from the Exeter Golden Agers to the Exeter
Senior Center. They also had to change the agent and chose Exeter Village
Clerk Becky Erdkamp to fill the position.
Motis distributed a copy of the budget to board members and
noted that, “I am pleased to say the senior center is still a self-supporting
entity. Our budget was just under $10,000 and we were under on expenses
and revenue looks good.”
The Board voted to pay both the South East Nebraska
Development District and Fillmore County Development Corporation dues requests.
Vice-Chairman Tim Wilbeck voted against the requested funds,
noting, “I think it’s a great thing but what does Exeter see? We see very
little.”
Next on the agenda was the change in membership on the
library board. Board member Laura Pulliam is moving out of town and
Kathleen Wilbeck offered to fill the position. The board approved the change
with Wilbeck abstaining.
The board discussed a request from Dale Erdkamp who wanted
to sell a portion of the property adjacent to the water tower for $1500.
Board discussed the property location and value and decided to offer $1000.
John Mueller, Village Maintenance Supervisor, opened his
report by asking if the board wanted to tar any of the streets this year.
Michl and Schlegelmilch both voiced the opinion that the village should wait a
year with all of the other street projects.
Mueller reported that a freeze kit to work on the water
lines costs $600.00. Wilbeck immediately voiced his interest.
“When we have a water break we can freeze the line. Get it, it’s well
worth the money.”
Mueller and Michl noted that the storm sewer work on Kiowa
was done with the help of Tom Husa who also helped with a recent water line
issue.
Clerk Beck Erdkamp reported that she is working with the new
Keno operator to finalize the paperwork. For August Keno funds were $1629.51
and sales tax for July was $9017.08.
The board set the next meeting for Election day, November 7th
at 7 p.m.
