City of Neoga City Council met March 14.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Hartke. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Those present were Commissioners Helm, Hakman, Edwards, and Mayor Hartke. Others present were City Administrator / Clerk Evans, City Treasurer Diana Foor, Superintendent Shawn Durbin, Police Chief Andy Schabbing, Neoga News Editor Billie Chambers, and Randy Mendenhall, Votaw-Swank American Legion.
MINUTES
After reviewing the regular session minutes from February 28, 2022, Commissioner Edwards made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hakman. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Helm, and Hakman. Mayor Hartke abstained. Nays, none. Motion carried. 3-0.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS, MAYOR HARTKE
AMERICAN LEGION UPDATE
Legion Commander Randy Mendenhall informed the Council that they Neoga American Legion is in a terrible financial situation. Mendenhall explained that they have no savings left and less than $20,000 in their checking account. According to Mendenhall, the Legion lost $25,049 in 2021 and $20,000 in 2020. Mendenhall said that they did not qualify for or receive PPP money because they were a non for-profit organization. He also stated that their electric bill runs over $900 per month, and at the pace they are on, they will have to close their doors May 1st. In addition to the money crisis that they are in, the range hood in the kitchen needs replacing. Mr. Mendenhall said that the insurance company has been wanting them to update or replace their current hood. Mendenhall said that he has priced the hoods, and they are coming back around $25,000. Mendenhall said that he will be applying for TIF funds for that.
REDUCTION OF LIQUOR LICENSE FEE
Mr. Mendenhall asked the city council to waive the Legion’s liquor license fee for 2022-2023. He understands that it isn’t much, but it would help the Legion out. After a brief discussion, Commissioner Hakman made a motion to waive the liquor license application fee for one year for the Neoga American Legion. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Edwards. Ayes, Commissioner Hakman, Edwards, Helm, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.
REVIEW OF THE GAMING LICENSE FEE
City Clerk Evans informed the Council that the state has passed legislation allowing municipalities to increase gaming license fees. City Administrator / Clerk Evans said the max a non-home rule community could charge was $25. Now it has been increased to $250 per machine. After a very brief discussion, Commissioner Edwards made a motion to keep the gaming license fee at $25. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hakman. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Helm, Hakman, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.
CUMBERLAND CEO PROGRAM
Mayor Hartke told the council that the Cumberland CEO program is asking for another 3-year donation of $1,000 / year. Commissioner Edwards made the motion to donate to Cumberland CEO. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hakman. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Helm, Hakman, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.
TEXTMYGOV
City Treasurer Foor explained to the Council that TextMyGov was a way to communicate with Neoga citizens. Foor said that she discussed the program with Altamont, and they were being trained on the program the next week. Neoga News Editor Billie Chambers said that Greenup also purchased the program. After a brief discussion, it was the consensus of the Council to get additional information.
FINANCE, COMMISSIONER GROVES
TREASURER’S REPORT
After reviewing the treasurer’s report, Mayor Hartke ordered that the treasurer’s report be filed in the City Clerk’s records.
PUBLIC PROPERTY, COMMISSIONER HAKMAN
CHANGE ORDER #5 FOR WWTP – DATE EXTENSION
After reviewing the change order, it was the consensus of the Council to table.
CHANGE ORDER #5B FOR SANITARY SEWER & FORCE MAIN REPLACEMENT
After reviewing the change order, it was the consensus of the Council to table.
6A NEOGA WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS (RLF)
After reviewing the change order, it was the consensus of the Council to table
CHANGE ORDER 6 FOR WWTP – NEW MANHOLE
After reviewing the change order, Commissioner Hakman made a motion to pay the change order in the amount of $7,300. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Edwards. Ayes, Commissioner Hakman, Edwards, Helm, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.
Commissioner Hakman mentioned that the Walk Subdivision, First Addition still needs to be dressed up and presentable so the lots can be marketed.
STREETS AND ALLEYS, COMMISSIONER EDWARDS
STREET SWEEPER
Superintendent Durbin told the council that he is still investigating someone to bring a street sweeper into town and clean up all the loose gravel on the oiled roads from last year. Durbin said he would like to stockpile the gravel to use on the alleys.
957 CHESTNUT AVENUE DRAINAGE
Superintendent Durbin said that 957 Chestnut has had some flooding issues since the water and wastewater project started. According to Durbin, the back yard is holding tons of water and doesn’t have anywhere to flow. Durbin said that he will be working on this problem in the coming days.
HEALTH AND SAFETY, COMMISSIONER HELM
Commissioner Helm said that he didn’t have anything to report at this time.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS
• City Administrator handed out the department goal list and asked if there were any questions.
• Superintendent Durbin said that the department will be renting a jackhammer to remove old concrete in the 800 block of Chestnut Avenue.
• Chief Schabbing told the Council they have been working on the following: o quotes to remodel the police department
o squad car grant
o old tasers have been sent back to the company to destroy
o working on ordinance violations
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There was no public comment.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Edwards made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:12 p.m. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hakman. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Helm, Hakman, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.
https://neoga.org/sites/default/files/meetingminutes/March%2014%2C%202022.pdf
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