SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL

MARCH 22, 2011

A Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Ogallala, Nebraska, was held at City Hall Council Chambers in said City on the 22^nd day of March 2011 at 6:00 o’clock P.M.  Present were:  President of the Council:  Darrell Bassett; Council Members:  Stacey Bauer, Kevin Block, and Harold Peterson.  Absent:  Mark Knudsen; City Manager:  Harold Stewart; City Clerk:  Jane Skinner; City Attorney:  Michael McQuillan.

Notice of the meeting was given in advance thereof by publishing one time in the Keith County News and posting at the City Hall Administration Building as shown by the Certificate of Publication and Posting Notice attached to these Minutes.  Notice of this meeting was simultaneously given to the President and to all members of the Council on March 18, 2011 and a copy of their Acknowledgement of Receipt of Notice and the Agenda is attached to these minutes.  Availability of the agenda was communicated in the advance notice and in the Notice to the President and Council of this meeting.  All proceedings hereafter shown were taken while the convened meeting was open to the attendance of the public.  The President of the Council stated this meeting is being convened in accordance with the Open Meetings Act and acknowledged a copy of the Open Meetings Act being duly posted in the southeast Corner of Council Chambers.

The budget process for the City of Ogallala for fiscal year 2011-12 was discussed.  The council desires to start the process sooner this year and have more time for analysis before the final budget is approved.  The City of Grand Island used a process of prioritization of city functions that will be researched for our budget process.

The use of funds from the sale of city property was discussed.  The council desires to have the funds set aside from the sale of property to be used for the purchase of property or debt payments for that city fund

Fire Chief Greg Stofer addressed the council regarding a meeting of the Keith County fire chiefs discussing a paramedic response team.  The consensus of the group was that the county needs to have Advanced Life Support services more readily available in the county.  The group would hire 2 paramedics to service the county.  Chief Stofer believes that the paramedic coverage needs to be increased in the area.    The council would like Chief Stofer to research the topic further and bring back proposals to the council at a later date.

Fire Chief Stofer addressed the council regarding an application for a FEMA grant application for a ladder truck.  The council would like to see Chief Stofer move ahead in the grant application process for a FEMA grant.

City Manager Stewart addressed the council regarding the Life Safety Code.  Fire Chief Stofer addressed the council recommending the adoption of life safety code 2009 edition.

John Sauer, Water Superintendent, addressed the council regarding the water main break at East G and Highway 30.  The main break occurred on February 12, 2011 and affected three local businesses.  Myers construction was contacted to aid in repairing the main under highway 30.  The total cost of the repair was $27,333.56. 

There being no further business to come before the council, Councilman Block moved to adjourn at 7:15 P.M.  Councilman Peterson seconded the motion.  The following council members voted Yes:  Darrell Bassett, Stacey Bauer, Kevin Block, and Harold Peterson. No:  None.  Absent:  Mark Knudsen.  Motion declared carried.

                                                                                    _____________________________

            Jane M. Skinner

            City Clerk                                     

Approved:

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Darrell G. Bassett

Council President

STATE OF NEBRASKA  )

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COUNTY OF KEITH       ) SS.

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CITY OF OGALLALA     )

I, the undersigned, City Clerk for the City of Ogallala, Nebraska, hereby certify that all of the subjects included in the attached proceedings were contained in the Agenda for the meeting of March 22, 2011 kept continuously current and available for public inspection at the office of the City Clerk; that such subjects were contained in said Agenda for at least twenty-four hours prior to said meeting; that at least one copy of all reproducible material discussed at the meeting was available at the meeting for examination and copying by members of the public; that the Minutes of the President and Council of the City of Ogallala, Nebraska, were in written form and available for public inspection within ten working days and prior to the next convened meeting of said body; that all news media requesting notification concerning meeting of said body were provided advance notification of the time and place of said meeting and the subjects to be discussed at said meeting.                                                                                            

                                                                        ______________________________

                                                                        Jane M. Skinner

                                                                        City Clerk

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