OSMOND — The Osmond City Council met Monday, April 14, in the conference room. Among those in attendance was Matt Sorensen with Northeast Public Power, who provided an update for the solar farm.
He stated that it will be located on the David Johnson, MD property one mile east and one mile north of town. They hope to start construction mid-November or December and add additional battery storage for backup.
Also discussed was moving the substation and generator which will start mid-summer and be located east of its current location at the northwest corner of the intersection. Sorensen said the plan is to replace the manual generator with an automatic which will help power both the rural and town.
Softball, Baseball Numbers Given Summer Youth Coach Alli Aschoff informed council that there are a total of 86 kids out for softball and baseball. Softball teams are 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U and 18s with 54 girls out, and 32 boys will make up the baseball 6U, 8U and 10U teams. Start dates for games will be May 14 and 27, and two tourna- ments will be held on the fields. Discussion on field maintenance costs were brought up, since more top dressing will be needed. Treasurer Brittney Timmerman provided them with cost information on the top-dressing options and, after some discussion, it was decided to split the cost 50/50 and consider purchasing two ton of the red top dressing for $220/ton and one pallet of the tan top dressing for $13/50# bag with 40 bags on a pallet.
Delivery was not in the pricing; however, it would be looked into to see what the smallest load of bulk product would be for delivery and the cost before purchasing.
Aschoff brought up again the need to repair/improve the baseball concession stand and bathrooms and asked if any grants were looked into so that, if they needed to help funding anything, they would have time to raise money.
Mayor Dennis Kuhl informed her things were being looked into but they wouldn’t need to worry about funding it; however, nothing will be done this year.
Treasurer Timmerman reported on the following coaches’ wages for the Summer Youth season: Alli Aschoff, $525.00/team; Sydney Brunssen, $400.00/team; Joel Kumm, $550.00/ team; Tiffany Friedrich, $400.00/ team; Tyler Gansebom, $425.00/team; Adam Rice, $400.00/team.
Pool Employee Wages Set Swimming pool applications were reviewed. Councilman Neil Wattier stated wages were suggested at the following rates: Ella Gansebom (Co-Manager) $18.25, Molly Beacom Timmerman (Co-Manager) $18.25, Sophia Gansebom (Assistant Manager) $16.50, lifeguards: ErinAschoff, $15.50; Jade Halsey, $14.50; Alexa Aschoff, $13.50; Abigail Brown, $13.50 and Klaire Johnson, $13.50. Wages and positions were set as stated.
New Trailer Purchased
Purchasing a new trailer was on the agenda after the theft of the previous trailer, which was turned into insurance and for which the city received money back. Councilman Doug Schmit mentioned he had spoken with the maintenance crew and found a trailer at Northeast Nebraska Tire and Trailer for around $5,400.
The trailer is 20 ft. with side and rear mount for the two mowers which is similar to the previous one. After some discussion, the council approved the purchase of the trailer from Northeast Nebraska Tire and Trailer for around $5,400.
Other Matters Discussed
Currently, with peddler permit fees being $5 per visit, council decided to discuss the need to increase the fee with food trucks becoming so popular. After some discussion, the council approved having a separate peddlers fee for food trucks for $25/visit and leave the remaining peddlers fee at $5/visit.
Clerk Timmerman and Assistant Treasurer Cindy Hoffman gave council members a few additions for them to consider including on the new deputy clerk ad. After some discussion, the council agreed to add a starting wage and a half-time position health insurance stipend. The ad will start running once a month in the Osmond Republican, beginning Wednesday, April 23.
Vacant property updates were discussed again and Mayor Kuhl provided the following information on each property: The state fire marshal was up and gave approval to burn the structure at Highway 20; the Fulton Street house was on the schedule to burn on Saturday, April 12, but due to winds it was postponed.
Council decided, on the Maple Street house, to give the property owner three months, with a deadline of July 14 to get the house demolished. Mayor Kuhl will follow up with all the properties and give an update next month.
After some discussion on the recent cemetery plot reclaiming and the costs of doing so, it was decided that CITY COUNCIL HEARS UPDATE ON SOLAR FARM purchasing prices would no longer be $300 for a lot and $150 for three plots. The council approved changing cemetery plot pricing to a flat $100 per plot.
Discussion on the current condition of the city pickups brought up the need for possibly purchasing a new one in the future. With a motor going out in one and a transmission in another, council decided to add it to the budget for the coming fiscal year.
Condition of streets and the need to consider adding street projects to the schedule was brought up by maintenance worker Bert Wattier.
With the remaining asphalt streets deteriorating and the newest asphalt streets eventually needing cracks repaired, the council will consider adding it to next fiscal year budget since money is being set aside into a street account now.
Treasurer Timmerman presented the annual TIF report. The TIF report was completed before the May 1st deadline and mailed to all necessary entities with a copy on file. The valu ation increased by $577,465.00 from the previous year.
Included in their council packets were the General Checking statement and reconciliation for March 2025, for review. Treasurer Timmerman asked if there were any questions or comments on them and there was no response.
The discussion of getting a city credit card was brought up because of the need of ordering parts in emergency situations. Treasurer Timmerman spoke against the idea, voicing her concerns, but said ultimately, it’s up to council and will do what they approve.
After a lengthy discussion, the council approved getting a city credit card with the card staying in the city office, having a spending limit of $2,000, and having signature holders of Caleb Eckstrom or Brittney Timmerman.
Treasurer Timmerman asked council if KENO funds were being used to cover an invoice from Beacon Athletics for a new steel mat drag for $744.00 and Winsupply for grandstand rain gutter drainage supplies for $473.27. Council approved using KENO funds to cover the Beacon bill and the Winsupply amount.
After receiving a copy of the fiscal year Profit & Loss/Budget vs. actual report in their packets and reviewing, council had no questions for Treasurer Timmerman on their department expenses. Treasurer Timmerman reminded council that the rest of the fiscal year highway allocation funds would be going into the new street account for future street repairs or replacements.
Police Chief Tyler Wells presented a report on recent activity within the city, including one juvenile delinquency case, one parking complaint, three dogs at large, one question reference to fingerprinting and one disturbance at a bar, to name a few. Chief Wells also informed council that he has a 911 meeting in Pierce coming up.
In other business, the council: — set backup water operator Bill Hansen's wage at $25.00/hr.
— approved the quote from Nebraska Power Sweeping for $2700.
— approved Keystone Bar special designated liquor license application for a wedding at the city auditorium on June 21, 2025.
— approved Main Street Alley’s special designated liquor license application for a wedding at the city auditorium on June 7, 2025.
— approved Reiman Coffee Company special designated liquor license application for a truck show on June 27 and 28, 2025.
— with no information received yet for the Finance Conference, postponed discussion on this to next month’s agenda.
— heard Mayor Kuhl report that the library received $986 in state aid.
— heard that one building permit was submitted by Michael Koehler for an addition on his house.
— heard Mayor Kuhl state that city sales tax for January 2025 was a total of $12,455.56 (of that amount $1,290.76 is from motor vehicle tax).
— went into closed session to discuss personnel matters.
— had a brief discussion about where current employee’s wages were at and what to start a new maintenance employee’s wage at, and agreed that $20.00 an hour was a good starting point.
