Village Board Hears From Local Agencies

The Exeter Village Board called their meeting to order at 7:12 on Tuesday, August 7 after the board members assessed an situation with the water tower.  Chairman Alan Michl returned noting that the water tower was overflowing and made a call to a local well contractor in the absence of Village Maintenance Supervisor John Mueller.

The board quickly reviewed the minutes from the last regular meeting along with the emergency meeting and  approved the invoices from the last month as well.

Fillmore County Senior Services Advisor Brenda Motis gave a review of the last year’s activities at the Exeter Senior Center which included a solar eclipse party, their ongoing partnership with the Exeter-Milligan school district and celebrating 20 years in existence. 

She reported they are “constantly trying to find new and creative ways for people to come and enjoy the center.”

Motis also shared a budget report and the information she will present to the county board.  She noted that the Exeter Senior Center plans to paint the inside and outside of their building.  In addition she presented a new meal program that senior citizens can subscribe to which is delivered by Fed Ex to their home called Mom’s meals.  They are fresh packed and just need to be microwaved.

The county program pays the company then sends out a statement to the patron.  Any person over the age of 60 cannot be charged but are asked for a suggested contribution.  Motis emphasized that “No one will ever be denied a meal.  I’m not saying we can serve everybody.  People would not be denied for their inability to pay.”

Patt Lentfer executive director of the Fillmore County Development Corporation gave a presentation.  She noted the corporation has been in existence for 29 years and shared information on commercial properties for sale in the county, highlighted the business in the community and explained what the FCDC can help businesses with.

Some of the upcoming events FCDC is involved with include an electronic recycling in Geneva on Friday Sept. 21 and tire recycling on Oct. 26.

Andrew Wilshusen of JEO gave an update on the construction project.  He reported that they had poured two blocks on the north side of East Boundary which they will finish in the next couple of weeks. “It is going as planned but a few things have slowed them down a couple of days.”

He noted that they will go to River or Burlington next.

Michl added, “We looked at the contract and they are ahead on everything.  September 10^th is the deadline for downtown.”

The board approved two payouts on the construction for $259,433.51 with one to Werner Construction for $259,433.51 and the other to Van Kirk Construction for $129,806.52.

Wilshusen presented the certificate of substantial completion of Union Avenue dated July 9 which is when the one year warranty.  The board approved the certificate.

After confirming that the grass in the construction area will be replanted after August 15 Wilshusen reminded the board that the final payments for all of the projects won’t be made until next spring.

Michl had nothing for the Marshal’s report but gave the maintenance report in the absence of Mueller.  In addition to monitoring the street construction Mueller has sprayed four or five times for mosquitoes but is having issues with the fogger.

Clerk Becky Erdkamp reported that residents who were sent mowing letters have mowed or the village has mowed and billed the residents. Sales tax for May was  $9715.13 and Keno for June was $702.59.  Erdkamp reported she continues to work on the budget for next year.

Rachel Vossler, an Exeter resident, came to the meeting to voice her concern about some issues at the pool.  After passing out a letter explaining her specific issues she said, “I know there isn’t a lot you can do but I need you to be aware of it.”

Michl responded,  “I appreciate what Rachel has to say but I don’t want to discourage anyone from applying.  I want to be clear they don’t have to be in the chair.”

The Board held a lengthy discussion on several issues that Vossler raised in regards to the pool and lifeguards but made no specific decisions with the pool closing at the end of the week.

The next village board meeting was set for Wednesday, September 12^th.

Exeter-Milligan New Teachers

Exeter-Milligan welcomes three new teachers this year. Lisa Ricenbaw will be teaching Spanish in the 7-12^th grades.   She returns to the district having started as a para-educator in the 1990’s in Exeter.  She also taught in Fairmont and Friend.  Two of her five children graduated from Exeter-Milligan.  In her time away from the classroom she enjoys golfing, traveling and spending time with her grandson.

Also familiar with the area is the new kindergarten teacher Amanda Pettygrove.  Pettygrove grew up in Cordova and graduated from Friend High School.  After attending college at Midland University she taught for three years teaching second grade in Schuyler, Neb.  She and her husband enjoy traveling and being outdoors with their two dogs, Piper and Beau.

Jesse Bower (below) will be teaching the Ag Sciences at both Friend and Exeter-Milligan this year.  She will also serve as the FFA advisor for the combined FFA chapter (EMF FFA).  She graduated from California State University – Fresno and has spent the last four years teaching ag in Sutton while commuting from her home in Friend.  She and husband Chad keep busy with their daughter, Paisley, who is two and a half and newborn son, Lane.

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Exeter Senior Center Hosts Zuchinni Festival

The Exeter Senior Center celebrated National Zucchini Day this year with their own Zucchini Festival.

Exeter Senior Center board member Julia Polak had broached the idea with the Senior Center board this year and received a positive response.  

There were a variety of activities to celebrate the fruit (yes, they are a fruit and not a vegetable).  Baking was judged, there was an art contest created with zucchini and of course the ever popular zucchini race (wheels were inserted on two sides of a zucchini and they were released down a slope).

The zucchini dessert competition was won by Brenda Motis and Sharon Dyer took first in the bread and muffin category.

Participants were also able to make cars and race the cars down a slope.  Doris Hall zoomed into first place with her zucchini wagon (it was reported that her zucchini stayed on the ramp the longest) and in the zucchini decorating contest Polak took first in the favorite character division.

Zucchini Festival winners hold their trophies.  Pictured from the left are Brenda Motis, Doris Hall, Sharon Dyer and Julia Polak holding her minion zucchini.

Other photo is mine:  The Exeter Senior Center advertised their zucchini festival downtown.

Exeter-Milligan Holds Open House to Start the School Year

Exeter-Milligan held their annual open house on Monday evening, August 13.  Students, parents and community members were welcome to tour the school and enjoy a courtesy hot dog.  Students could bring in their backpacks and school supplies and put them in their desks and find their locker location.  In the first grade classroom Gracelyn Becker and her mom, JJ Becker, examine some of the special items teacher Sara Lincoln has gotten ready for the students.

Below – First grader Crosby Oldehoeft, middle, talks with his teacher Sara Lincoln with his parents, Kendra and Chad Oldehoeft and his brother Kyler at the Exeter-Milligan open house on Monday.

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The second graders in Mrs. Marla Weber’s class got right to work on some projects that were on their desks during the open house at Exeter-Milligan on Monday.

In Milligan, Cheyenne Krupicka shows off her desk in the fourth grade classroom.

New Fence At Storybook Park

A new fence was put in at Storybook Park.  The fence was purchased with funds raised for the park and the labor was provided by the Exeter Post 218 Sons of the Legion.

Applications Available for Fillmore County Foundation Grants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FILLMORE COUNTY FOUNDATION

1032 G Street

Geneva, NE  68361-2007

August 1, 2018

Applications now available

for Fillmore County Foundation Grants

FILLMORE COUNTY – Groups, organizations, or communities seeking funding for projects may find a source of assistance through the Fillmore County Foundation.

Grant applications will be accepted through Wednesday, September 5, 2018 by 4:00 p.m.  Applications must be submitted by this date to be considered at the Fillmore County Foundation Annual meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, September 11, 2018.

Grant awards are made each March and September.  Application forms are available at the Fillmore County Development Corporation office, 1032 G Street, Geneva, during regular office hours. You may also request an application by emailing lentfer.fcdc@genevamail.com, by telephone at 402-759-4910 or go to the FCDC website at www.fillmorecountydevelopment.org and download a copy.

Current application forms with the September 5, 2018 deadline date must be used.  Persons with questions about the grant program may contact the Fillmore County Development Office at 759-4910 or Scott Oliva at 629-4446.