OSMOND — The Osmond City Council met Monday, May 12, in the conference room.
Truck Show Plan B
Kris Schramm and Tucker Timmerman, Chrome and Smoke Truck Show committee members, spoke to the council about putting a Plan B together for this year’s show in case of rain. After some discussion about how many trucks showed up last year and knowing that they may need more parking area for Plan B, they asked the council to consider allowing them to use a few of the side streets for over- flow parking if needed.
Different ideas on parking were considered, but ultimately, the council agreed to allow them to close State Street from the alley by Lind-Gubbels to 4th Street and use certain side streets for overflow with the stipulation that they work with the businesses along State Street to prevent loss of business.
The committee members also mentioned they would consider changing the time they would allow trucks to move in on Friday if Plan B would have to be used, to prevent closing streets all day Friday and Saturday.
Pool Repairs Needed
Councilman Neil Wattier told the council it needed to discuss and approve emergency repairs to the swimming pool as there was a possibility of a busted pipe causing the pool to slowly lose water. After discussing the unknown cost of locating and repairing the damage, council agreed to set a repair cost, however, Councilman Wattier mentioned the lost wages of the employees if the pool is unable to open for a while.
With the discussion going back and forth about the wages, it was agreed to pay the pool employees 40 hours a week each during the downtime for necessary pool repairs. The council approved setting a repair limit at $29,900 and paying each pool employee for 40 hours each week while the repairs are being done to the pool.
Tree Board Seeks New Trees In a letter from the Osmond Tree Board, it was mentioned removing and replacing some of the older trees in Poolside Park. Tree board member Clark Wilke stated that there is a grant application opening on June 1 that would provide up to 10 free larger trees and if successful they would need a location to plant them. Councilman Haselhorst asked council to allow him to take this to the next Park Board meeting to be discussed before anything is officially decided. Clerk Timmerman stated there is a Forestry Incentive Program grant application that comes out next January through the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resource Department that if successful could possibly help with the removal cost if this project wasn't going to take place
till next year.
Other Items on Agenda
Mayor Dennis Kuhl informed council that Boyd Doyle was hired for a part-time position and asked council to consider the wage discussed at last month’s meeting, along with the new health insurance stipend for the part- time office and maintenance position.
The council approved setting Doyle’s wage at $20 per hour and paying him the $400 a month health insurance stipend.
Concerns were brought up about the part-time maintenance position and if emergency water, sewer situations arise the new part-time employee may not be able to come to assist. Kuhl explained he was contacted by the newest on-call employee, Bill Hansen, who inquired whether they would consider moving him to a parttime position instead of being on call. After more discussion, council asked Mayor Kuhl to contact Hansen and offer a part-time position with pay of $20 an hour plus $400 monthly health insurance stipend. Kuhl will report back to council next month.
After the transmission went out in one of the maintenance pickups, a transmission swap was done between the two 2008 pickups. There was discussion about budgeting for another maintenance pickup for next fiscal
year and having a local scrap company haul the nonworking pickup out this month. The budgeting topic will be on next month’s agenda.
CITY COUNCIL APPROVES TRUCK SHOW PLAN B
Councilman Wattier informed everyone that the proposed pool opening date would be May 25th and the advertisement will run in the paper. He stated that the opening date may change depending on repairs needed to the pool.
Councilman Dennis Haselhorst brought the plan and cost back to the council for a cemetery directory. After some discussion, the council approved erecting a cemetery directory at the city cemetery not to exceed $5,000.
After discussion between Police Chief Tyler Wells and Clerk Timmerman, it was discovered that there was no need to make changes to the dog at large ordinance, but rather change the newspaper yearly ad to state what ordinance code 6-106 actually reads.
Maintenance employee Bert Wattier explained that the trash pump at the pool had quit working and was replaced this month, but they were looking at purchasing a smaller 2” trash pump to utilize for water repairs if council approved. With the department being under Councilman Dan Timmerman, he and the rest of council decided to not purchase another pump this year due to the unknown costs of the pool repairs.
Mayor Kuhl gave updates on the following vacant properties: house on Maple Street was to be demolished soon as the equipment was in town; a vacant camper will be moved out of town by the end of this month; the Highway 20 property will no longer be burned down by the fire depart -ment and Mayor Kuhl will notify the owner of this change. Councilman Wattier stated he had been questioned by some members of the community about the condition of the old Wally’s shop building and if anything has been discussed about it. Mayor Kuhl will talk to the owners of the building and report back at next month’s meeting.
Clerk Timmerman reviewed some changes that were made to the Lane Mile report by Maintenance Supervisor Caleb Eckstrom and herself after meeting with the new street superintendent from JEO. She explained they found some paved streets that were missing and some streets that were just missing altogether, which helps the city receive more state funds. No additional changes were needed so the report will be signed and submitted to the State by the end of this month.
Treasurer Timmerman requested to receive her required treasurer’s continuing education hours by recordings from this coming June conference instead of attending in person which would only cost the City $395.00. The council approved her request.
Included in their council packets were the general checking statement and reconciliation for April 2025, for review. Treasurer Timmerman stated she would follow up on some of the outstanding checks from the past few months. No further questions were asked.
In reviewing total claims, some of council questioned a claim that was made out to Brittney Timmerman that was for $10.00 and stated the memo line read fake reimbursement for ink. Treasurer Timmerman stated that was their quarterly test on finding a fraudulent claim on the bill list and thanked council for catching it.
Two correspondences were re- ported by Mayor Kuhl. The first one was from NENEDD thanking the City for continuing to pay their annual dues and provided their annual report of what funds have been spent within the city. Second one was from a visitor staying at the camper pads.
Police Chief Wells presented a report on recent activity within the city, including one parking complaint, one VIN run for a stolen vehicle, one report of a dog bite (deemed potentially dangerous dog) and one open door report, to name a few. Chief Wells also informed council that he attended the required implicit bias/ office wellness training in Norfolk as well as a meeting with the attorney general.
In other business, the council: — approved Amanda Schieffer’s request to sell fireworks in Osmond at the east edge of the Mini Mart lot adjacent to Highway 20.
— approved hiring Alexa Aschoff as a summer intern for the library’s summer reading program and set her contract labor wage at $200 for the program period.
— reviewed a building permit from Bryan Manzer, for constructing the rest of a fence on his property.
— heard Mayor Kuhl state city sales tax for February 2025 was a total of $16,002.88 (of that amount $2,634.25 is from motor vehicle tax).
