Village of Avoca
PO Box 694, 609 House Street
Avoca, NE 68307
SUMMARY OF MINUTES OF REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING
VILLAGE OF AVOCA BOARD OF TRUSTEES – AVOCA, NE 68307
Date: Monday, December 13, 2021
Present: Ehmke, Kirchhoff, Moses, Clark and Clerk, Kirchhoff
Absent: Lehn Guest: McKenzie, Cruz, Nielsen
Four board members, three guests and Clerk were present and one member absent. Attendance was noted by the Clerk and the Board recited the Pledge of Allegiance to begin the meeting. The meeting was brought to order at 6:00 pm by the Chairman and reminded all in attendance of the Open Meetings Act posted on the wall.
The Minutes of the November 8, 2021, were submitted for approval. A motion was made to approve the minutes followed by a second. Upon roll call of Trustees: Clark – yea; Ehmke – yea; Kirchhoff – yea; Lehn – absent; Moses – yea
The Treasurer’s Report for approval. A motion was made and seconded to approve the report. Upon roll call of Trustees: Clark – yea; Ehmke – yea; Kirchhoff – yea; Lehn – absent; Moses – yea
Guest/Reports:
Fire department report from Nielsen: Reminder to put Fire Department on top of snow removal list; pipe at the fire reservoir is in need of repair; permission to paint fire lane to eliminate parking in front of building; water meter to be installed; pothole in front of the tanker barn; permission to fill drop tanks from water hydrants (needs to be discussed with Rural Water and Keene).
Library Board has agreed to a meeting and possibility of reopening the library after the first of the year, but no meeting date has been set.
Keene did not submit a report.
Old Business:
Properties: The Clerk reminded the attorney of property problem and the new problem has been solved as the property was sold and the house has been removed. Letters were sent out to residents and business owners regarding the parking on House Street and property owner asked to remove tires.
Utility Bills – There were 11 shut off notices mailed, 4 1/2 remains unpaid. There were three leaks noted on reading meters and letters were included with their bills. The programs have been transferred to the new computer with some issues that should all be clear by the next billing.
Pending work to be done:
Tractor Shed still to be done.
Parking lines – still to be corrected.
New Business:
A letter of resignation was received by Trustee Clark, effective after the December 13, 2021, meeting. Vacancy will be posted.
Clerk Questions or Correspondence:
USDA Audit has been submitted.
Clerk will be taking paperwork to accountant for the Audit Waiver.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in Avoca on Saturday, December 18. The Trustees will bring goodies to serve and also be serving soup, prepared by McKenzie and Kirchhoff as well as packing goodie sacks for Santa to pass out to the kids. Set up at 10:30.
The furnace was replaced in the Village Office.
Annual Conference video available for the Clerk through end of year, office closed during these sessions.
A 2022 meeting schedule was handed out and will be posted.
Trustee Reports:
Water/Clark: Submitted letter of resignation. Nothing to report.
Sewer/Kirchhoff: Nothing to report.
Finance/Lehn: Absent.
Parks/Moses: Nothing to report.
Street/Ehmke: Nothing to report. Christmas lights were hung.
Discussion of bills to be paid for December: A motion was made and seconded to approve payment for Ehmke. Upon a roll call vote of Trustees: Clark – yea; Ehmke- abstain; Kirchhoff – yea; Lehn – absent; Moses – yea. A motion was made and seconded to approve payment for Moses. Upon a roll call vote of Trustees: Clark – yea; Ehmke- yea; Kirchhoff – yea; Lehn – absent; Moses – abstain. A motion was made and seconded to approve payment for Lehn. Upon a roll call vote of Trustees: Clark – yea; Ehmke – yea; Kirchhoff – yea; Lehn – absent/abstain; Moses – yea. A motion was made and seconded to approve payment for Kirchhoff. Upon a roll call vote of Trustees: Clark – yea; Ehmke- yea; Kirchhoff – abstain; Lehn – absent; Moses – yea. A motion was made and seconded to approve payment for Clark. Upon a roll call vote of Trustees: Clark – abstain; Ehmke- yea; Kirchhoff – yea; Lehn – absent; Moses – yea. A motion was made and seconded to approve payment for the automatic bills. Upon a roll call vote of Trustees: Clark – yea; Ehmke- yea; Kirchhoff – yea; Lehn – absent; Moses – yea. A motion was made and seconded to approve the payment of the remaining bills for December. Upon a roll call vote of Trustees: Clark – yea; Ehmke- yea; Kirchhoff – yea; Lehn – absent; Moses – yea.
The following bills were approved for payment:
General: Ehmke - $135; Clark - $60; Kirchhoff - $90; Lehn - $60; Moses - $90; Kirchhoff - $1282.86; Windstream Nebraska - $124.18; Lincoln Journal Star - $115.90; Intuit - $8.44; Office Depot - $73.83; Ball insurance - $9217.00; US Treasury - $1843.62; Southeast Area Clerks’ Association - $10; League of NE Municipalities - $395.00; J Clark Heating & Cooling - $2884.00
Sewer: Keene - $1394.24; Kirchhoff - $129.29; Tri-State Pumping LLC - $795.00; USABlue Book - $39.22; MARC - $1050.70; Meeske Hardware - $113.90; Badger Meter - $130.00; Sewer Reserve - $100
Water Account: Keene - $566.31; Kirchhoff - $129.29; Sewer Account - $2288.72; Rural Water Dist #3 - $1532.50; Water Loan Repay - $1500.00; NE Department of Revenue - $168.97; NE Public Health Environmental Lab - $66.00; Postmaster - $58; Water Reserve - $780.00
Street Account: Ehmke - $336.16; Meeske Auto Parts - $12.58; JEO Consulting Group - $600.00; Meeske Hardware - $1554.86; Moses - $64.64
Automatic Payments: Black Hills Energy - $31.50
OPPD – General - $272.31; Water - $41.48; Sewer - $426.66; Street - $678.27
USDA Water Loan Payment - $23,097.00
A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting. Upon a roll call vote of Trustees: Clark – yea; Ehmke- yea; Kirchhoff – yea; Lehn – absent; Moses – yea. The meeting was adjourned by Chairman at 6:43 pm. The next meeting of the Avoca Village Board will be held on Monday, January 10, 2022, at 6:00 pm at the Village office at 609 House Street. Minutes are submitted by Marilyn K01irchhoff, Village Clerk/Treasurer.