Village Board of Decatur
Regular Meeting
Sept. 11, 2014
4:30 P.M.
The Board of the Village of Decatur met in regular session at 4:30 P.M. at the City Hall on Sept. 11, 2014.
Guests signing in were Jim Maryott, Alta Wolf, Patti Taylor, and Adele Phillips.
1) The meeting was called to order by Vice Chairman Robert Richards.
Roll Call: Walt Bolln-here, Jim Nicola-absent, Robert Richards-here, Margaret Tolby-here, Stephanie Warren-here
2) Agenda and minutes of the previous month’s meeting were received:
Roll Call: Walt Bolln-yes, Jim Nicola-absent, Robert Richards-yes, Margaret Tolby-yes, Stephanie Warren-yes
3) Approval and/or corrections and suspended reading of the previous month’s minutes.
Roll Call: Walt Bolln-yes, Jim Nicola-absent, Robert Richards-yes, Margaret Tolby-yes, Stephanie Warren-yes
4) EXCUSE BOARD MEMBERS NOT ATTENDING MEETING:
Accept Jim Nicola’s resignation from the Board. Warren made a motion to accept Jim Nicola’s resignation from the Board. Bolln seconded the motion.
Roll Call: Tolby-yes, Richards-yes, Warren–yes, Bolln-yes.
1. Nomination for Chairman: Richards turned the meeting over to the clerk. The clerk asked for a nomination for a temporary chairman. Bolln nominated Warren as temporary Chairman. Warren declined the nomination. Warren made a motion to nominate Bob Richards as temporary Chairman. Bolln seconded the motion. Roll Call: Tolby-yes, Warren-yes, Richards-yes, Bolln-yes. Richards asked for a nomination for a permanent Chairman. Warren nominated Bob Richards for a permanent Chairman. Bolln seconded the motion. Roll Call: Tolby-yes, Warren-yes, Bolln-yes, Richards-yes.
2. Chairman’s nomination for filling vacancy on the Board: The Board reviewed the letters of interest that they had received. Richards made a motion to table this until next meeting. Bolln seconded the motion. Roll Call: Tolby-yes, Warren–yes, Richards-yes, Bolln-yes.
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Motion for Bank Authorization (signing of checks and other bank business). Richards made a motion to nominate Walt Bolln. Warren seconded the motion. Roll Call: Tolby-yes, Richards-yes, Bolln-yes, Warren-yes.
5) REPORTS OF OFFICERS, BOARDS, AND OR COMMITTEES
1) Police- Chief McFarland gave the police report for the month of August. He stated that roughly a quarter of the calls last month were dog related. The biggest item that he had was the Beck Park thefts. Five were arrested and given citations. Most of the property has been recovered. He informed the Board that this was probably going to be his last Board meeting since he has an interview on the date of the next meeting. Chief McFarland still plans on staying through November 1st. He also told the Board that the Villages part time officer Tim Anderson is applying for a job elsewhere and the Village could possibly be without a staff altogether. McFarland’s final piece of information for the Board was he wanted to make them aware of the rumors he has been hearing around town. These rumors are related to the Board contract with Tekamah. He has heard from about five different sources that people didn’t want Tekamah up here because they have a black police officer that might be patrolling. Chief McFarland though it was very important that the Board be aware that this rumor is going around town, and hopefully they can stamp it out as quickly as possible.
2) Lights – Bolln had nothing to report at this time.
3) Water & Sewer- Richards reported everything seems to be running smooth.
4) Parks- Tolby reported an income of $6,958.97 for the month of August.
5) Streets- Warren had nothing to report.
6) Recycling-No income
6) NEW BUSINESS
1. Budget Hearing- Set for September 15, 2014 at 4:30 PM
- Annual Rises – Bolln made a motion to raise all of the steady employees $.50 an hour. He stated they have not had a raise for three years and it is time to give them something. Warren seconded the motion. Roll Call: Richards-yes, Tolby-yes, Bolln-yes, Warren-yes.
Warren had a question about a rumor she had heard. She asked if Donnie Greve was still employed with the Village because she had heard his position was eliminated. She stated that if a position was to be eliminated she would appreciate it if it was brought before the whole Board to be discussed. It was explained to Warren that no part time was needed right now and he would be asked to work when needed.
- Approve Two & Ten Year Water Plan. The plan was reviewed by the Board. Richards told the Board that the water meters were going to have to start being replaced a few at a time. The meters were installed in 1995. Bolln made a motion to approve the Two & Ten Year Water Plan. Warren seconded the motion. Roll Call: Richards-yes, Warren-yes, Bolln-yes, Tolby-yes
- Discussion on whether to move the toll booth – Adele Phillips from the Center of Rural Affairs came to the table and discussed the moving of the toll booth. Word got to Adele that the State was looking at removing the toll booth. She thought this sounded interesting and wanted to see what could be done to maybe keep the booth a part of Decatur. She then contacted Walt Bolln because he had been interested in the discussion of salvaging the structure before. Adele stated the idea of the art project needs to be connected to the culture of the community and informed by the community. The center for Rural Affairs is not interested in long term ownership of any structure or property. They are willing to fund the salvaging and removal of the bridge but are not interested in being responsible for its maintenance in the future. It would be the City’s decision and responsibility to manage it in the future. The feasibility of salvaging the structure and having it moved to a new location is being looked into. A decision on whether to salvage the bridge or not will be made at the October Board meeting. The other item Adele discussed with the Board was the idea of setting up what is called an outdoor living room. At the end of September each of the communites she is involved with are setting up a conversation space between 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM. They are called outdoor living rooms. The idea is to create a space where the community can talk about what it is to be Decatur and what are issues on people’s lives. They would like to host one in Decatur. It would take place on Sept. 24, 2014 at the intersection of East 8th Street and Broadway or if it rains it would be moved into the Sears Center. Amy Piere-Soll will be following up on this with the Village.
5. Siren details for disaster/tornado notifications – Jim Maryott Civil Defense Director told the Board that there is a tower about five miles Southwest of Decatur on the hill. The plan is to install some equipment on it to improve the radio traffic for the Fire and Police Depts. which would eliminate some dead spots in that part of the county. The cost of this equipment would be about $15,000.00. Matt Connealy the County Supervisor representative from the Decatur area, with the help from Bill Pook who is with the emergency management from Blair helped obtain this equipment. Jim stated that it is also going to improve the radio traffic between them and the Fire Dept., between them and Lyons and Tekamah, and also between the Police Dept. in Tekamah, Lyons, and Decatur. It will be installed sometime soon.
The second thing regarding the Civil Defense that Jim informed the Board about was that the Fire Dept. has always sent a person or persons to cemetery hill during inclement weather to look for tornados or rotations in the clouds. This involved someone on the hill who would have to call the toll house where a switch was located to sound the sirens, or it could be sounded from one of the other two places with a switch, the Fire Hall or the City Office. It took two or more people to coordinate this. Some of the other towns have a set up in the Police Depts. console of their cars where they can flip a switch and sound a siren in each individual town. With this procedure anyone with a cell phone that sees a tornado can notify the 911 system. The cost would be around $1,300.00 for Decatur to do this. Bill Pook from the Emergency Management informed Jim Maryott that he could find the funds to pay 100% of the cost. It should be installed by the 1st of November of this year.
7) CORRESPONDENCE
1. Letter from the Future of Decatur Foundation. The Village received a letter stating that the Decatur Foundation Fund would pledge a $1,000.00 grant to be paid to the Village upon the completion of a storm shelter at Beck Park. Margaret Tolby informed the Board that Post 215 intends on making a donation to the Village towards the building of a shelter also. The clerk informed the Board that the Stated Flood Plain Administrator came to the City Office and explained some of their rules and regulations. It was found out that an in ground storm shelter could not be built down below at Beck Park because it would be in the flood plain. A shelter would have to be built closer to the upper level of the park.
8) APPROPRIATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS OF THE CLAIMS:
1) Claims preapproved by Bolln, Richards, and Tolby.
2) Motion to Approve the Claims as Submitted
Warren 2nd Bolln
Roll Call: Richards-yes, Tolby-yes, Warren-yes, Bolln-yes
Any questions from the audience? Alta Wolf stated that it was published by the City that they would be appointing someone at this meeting and she wanted to know on what grounds it was tabled. Richards told her that all three of the names are on the election ballot. Alta asked, “What’s the problem with that?” Quote please! Richards stated he feels that’s as good an opportunity to get on the Board for anyone. Alta Wolf wanted to know if this was personal or if he was speaking for the whole Board. Richards answered that he didn’t think that was part of it.
9) MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING
Warren 2nd Bolln
ADJOURNMENT TIME: 5:36 P.M.
Chairman
Robert Richards
Joyce McCullock
Village Clerk
Kat Country Hub 
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