The Broken Bow City Council met in regular session at 6:00 PM on Tuesday evening, November 25. All members were present at the Broken Bow Municipal Building for the meeting.
Vehicle for City Use Approved with Consent Agenda
In approval of the Consent Agenda, City Administrator David Schmidt noted the inclusion of a bid from Ranchland Ford of Broken Bow for a 2024 Ford Explorer. The vehicle will be purchased by the city for administration use.
Janssen Chevrolet in North Platte provided provided competing bids with various options, but the Explorer proved to be the least expensive vehicle. Schmidt noted that although the SUV is a year old, it has only 3,000 miles currently on it.
The Council approved the bid for the vehicle along with the rest of the Consent Agenda items.
Electrical Agreements Updated to Reduce Burden
City Electric Superintendent Blake Waldow presented two updated documents for the Council’s consideration.
The first document was an updated Master Services Agreement between the City and the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN). The Agreement is designed to simplify the agreement and processes allowing MEAN to provide compliance and reporting services required by the Department of Energy.
The second set of documents was included in an ordinance for the City to execute an updated Total Power Requirements Purchase Agreement, or Service Schedule M with MEAN. MEAN provides services to the City for the purchase of electricity through the agreement. The prior agreement dated to 1982, and required updating to conform to current modes of power purchasing, planning for transmission of power, and long-term growth and retention.
One item of note in the agreement is an added provision allowing municipalities to withdraw from the agreement. Such a provision was not previously included, and has caused issues with some groups in the past.
Schmidt noted there was no intention for Broken Bow to leave the agreement, and in further discussion, it was indicated that outside options were extremely limited, at best for the purchase of electricity. However, MEAN has proven to be a good partner to the City, especially through last February’s power plant crisis, according to Schmidt.
Schmidt noted there were no changes to rates due to the updated agreement, calling it “invisible to customers”, and “legal housekeeping”.
Both of the above agreements were recommended by the City Board of Public Works. Mayor Rod Sonnichsen recommended waiving the three readings of the ordinance approving the updated Purchase Agreement.
Both the Master Services Agreement and Service Schedule M were unanimously approved by the Council.
Other Council Activities
The Council approved an updated bid for snow removal services from Myers Construction of Broken Bow. The bid provided for snow removal at a rate of $125/hr weekdays from 7:00AM to 7:00 PM, and $145/hr at night, and on weekends and holidays. The latter is a $5.00 increase over last year’s rate.
The Council also approved an update to water main reconstruction on Highway 2, for installation of an additional “EZ Insertion Valve” by Myers Construction for $13,522. Schmidt noted that the use of these valves should greatly reduce the amount of time water needs to be shut off during the construction, and other arrangements to do the work at night on or weekends were financially the same.
Both measures were approved; Councilman Joe Wamsley abstained from both.
In Public Comments, Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce Director Stephanie Grafel reminded the Council that the Festival of Lights Parade is Monday, December 1. Santa will arrive at the Square at 4:00 PM, with the parade itself starting at 6:00. Grafel noted it will be cold, and that the Chamber is still seeking patio heaters to use on the square during the event.
Grafel also discussed the Christmas Lane decorations being installed on the medians of North 10th Ave. Twelve businesses or organizations will be showing their festive spirit by placing holiday displays along the medians, starting around December 1, and going through the end of the month. Grafel thanked Waldow and Gibbons Electric of Anselmo for helping ensure power would be available for the displays.
Schmidt thanked the Council and Mayor for hosting the annual city employee appreciation dinner on Friday, November 21. Sonnichsen added his thanks to that of Schmidt, noting there was a great turnout.
Recognized during the dinner were employees meeting the following longevity milestones:
- Capt Chris Henderson – 5 Years
- Julie Tolene – 10 Years
- Tom Eberle – 20 Years
- Jeff Bergorst – 35 Years
- Darren Martin – 35 years
With no further business, the Broken Bow City Council Adjourned at 6:30. The next meeting of the Council will be December 9 at 6:00 PM at the Broken Bow Municipal Building.
