12/04/2007 MinutesCITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
December 4, 2007
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of
Grand Island, Nebraska was conducted in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 100 East First
Street, on December 4, 2007. Notice of the meeting was given in The Grand Island Independent
on November 28, 2007.
Mayor Margaret Hornady called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following City Council
members were present: Councilmember's Brown, Haase, Zapata, Nickerson, Gericke, Gilbert,
Ramsey, Niemann, and Meyer. Councilmember Carney was absent. The following City Officials
were present: City Administrator Jeff Pederson, City Clerk RaNae Edwards, Finance Director
David Springer, City Attorney Dale Shotkoski, and Public Works Director Steve Riehle.
INVOCATION was given by Pastor Sheri Lodel, Calvary Lutheran Church, 1304 North Custer
Avenue followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
MAYOR COMMUNICATION: Mayor Hornady acknowledged Community Youth Council
members Emily Michael and Karen Buettner. Mayor Hornady and Gloria Wolbach representing
the Acts of Kindness ladies recognized and thanked David Lemburg for his help in fixing a
sewer break at the Wastewater Treatment Plant this past week. Mr. Lemburg was present for the
recognition and mentioned the other workers who helped fix the break and thanked them for the
teamwork they provided.
SPECIAL ITEMS:
ELECTION OF CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT: City Clerk RaNae Edwards reported that the City
Council was required to elect one Councilmember to the office of Council President for a term of one
year and that the Council President automatically assumed the duties of the Mayor in the event that
the Mayor was absent or otherwise unable to fulfill her duties. Councilmember Gericke nominated
Councilmember Bob Meyer. Councilmember Haase nominated Councilmember Mitch Nickerson.
City Clerk RaNae Edwards called for the first ballot. It was reported that Councilmember Mitch
Nickerson had received 6 votes and Councilmember Meyer had received 3 votes. Mayor Hornady
declared Councilmember Nickerson the new Council President for 2008.
Motion by Gilbert, second by Meyer, carried unanimously to make the vote a unanimous one for
Councilmember Nickerson as City Council President. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion
adopted.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Public Hearing on Request from Alltel Communications of Nebraska, Inc., for a Conditional Use
Permit for a Wireless. Communication Tower Facility Located at 3429 Airport Road. Craig
Lewis, Building Department Director reported that Faulk & Foster, representing Alltel
Communications of Nebraska, Inc. had submitted an application for a conditional use permit to
allow for the construction of a 180 foot monopole telecommunication tower located at 3429
Page 2, City Council Regular Meeting, December 4, 2007
Airport Road. Mr. Lewis recommended approval based on the findings that the application was
submitted as prescribed in the City Code and that the proposal would not adversely impact
neighboring properties and land uses. No public testimony was heard.
CONSENT AGENDA: Motion by Gilbert, second by Gericke to approve the Consent Agenda.
Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
Approving Minutes of November 27, 2007 City Council Regular Meeting.
#2007-308 - Approving Coal Freight Transportation Contract between Union Pacific Railroad
and Grand Island Utilities.
#2007-309 - A~nroving Change Order #1 for Turbine Generator Inspection & Repair at the
Platte Generating Station with NAES Turbine Services of Seattle, Washington for an Increase of
$56 738.00 and a Revised Contract Amount of $499,810.00.
#2007-310 -Approving Change Order #1 for Outage Cleaning Service at the Platte Generating
Station with WS Industrial Service Inc. of Papillion, Nebraska for an Increase of $70,983.81 and
a Revised Contract Amount of $151,770.81.
#2007-311 -Approving Change Order #1 for Horizontal Superheater Repar_ with Moorhead
Machinery & Boiler Company of Minne~olis. Minnesota for an Increase of $128,333.66 and a
Revised Contract Amount of $1,160,362.66.
#2007-312 -Approving Confidentiality Agreement between the City, other participants, and the
Nebraska Public Power District for Electric System Reliability Data for the Elkhorn Rid eg Wind
Project.
#2007-313 -Approving Purchase of Furniture for Law Enforcement Center with Allsteel in an
Amount of $22,453.68.
#2007-314 - APproving_Application to the Nebraska Department of Roads for the Safe Routes to
School Program. Funds for Independence Trail.
#2007-315 -Approving Authorization for Emergency Sanitary Sewer Repair East of the Wet
Well at the Wastewater Treatment Plant with the Diamond Engineering Company of Grand
island, Nebraska.
#2007-316 -Approving Changes to Speed Limits on Bismark Road and Shady Bend Road.
l~ UESTS AND REFERRALS:
Consideration of Request from Alltel Communications of Nebraska, Inc., for a Conditional Use
Permit for a Wireless Communication Tower Facility Located at 3429 Airport Road. Craig
Lewis, Building Department Director reported this item related to the aforementioned Public
Hearing.
Page 3, City Council Regular Meeting, December 4, 2007
Motion by Gericke, second by Meyer to approve the request from Alltel Communications of
Nebraska, Inc. for a conditional use permit for a wireless communications tower facility located
at 3429 Airport Road. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
Mayor Hornady acknowledged and thanked Roger Lindly for donating the Christmas tree in
front of City Hall in memory of his wife Jeanette who died of cancer last year.
PAYMENT OF CLAIMS:
Motion by Brown, second by Haase to approve the Claims for the period of November 28, 2007
through December 4, 2007, for a total. amount of $2,561,873.27. Motion. adopted. unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
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RaNae Edwards
City Clerk
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