CITY OF BENKELMAN CITY COUNCIL MEETING REGULAR MEETING JULY 21, 2025
CITY OF BENKELMAN CITY COUNCIL MEETING REGULAR MEETING JULY 21, 2025
The City Council met in the Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m. for the Regular Meeting. Present: Mayor Tammy Buffington; Council Members JoAnn Decker, Deb Stamm, Nicholas Baney; City Clerk/Treasurer Robyn Mathews; City Superintendent Tim Smith; City Attorney Tawna Holmstedt; Dundy County Sheriff Bang, Deputy Swartz. Absent: Council Member Trever Borchard; Others Present: Elya McEvoy, Kathy Swanson, Jenny Kostka, Dennis Vandike, Harry Whittington, Laurie Cooper, Shane Sis and Trevor Horner. Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, Mayor Buffington called the meeting to order and stated that we follow the open meetings law, which is posted on the south wall by the main entrance. Mayor Tammy Buffington thanked all for coming to the meeting and wanted to thank the city guys for all their hard work this summer. Motions made in paraphrased form and passed were: •Shane Sis of Edgewater Insurance visited the city council concerning the renewal of Health Insurance. Council member Nick Baney made a motion to renew the city’s Health Insurance with Blue Cross Blue Shield, from 9-01-2025 through 8-31-2026 with a 2% increase, seconded by Deb Stamm. Ayes: Baney, Decker, Stamm; nays: none. Absent: Borchard; Motion passed. •Council member Nick Baney made a motion to approve RESOLUTION 7-21-2025 #1 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF COMPLAINTS FOR FORECLOSURE OF LIENS FOR UNPAID VACANT PROPERTY REGISTRATION FEES, seconded by JoAnn Decker. Ayes: Decker, Stamm, Baney; nays: none. Absent: Borchard. Motion passed. •Council member Nick Baney made a motion to approve RESOLUTION 7-21-2025 #2 RESOLUTION TO FILE NOTICE OF SPECIAL ASSESSMENT AND LIENS AGAINST PROPERTIES FOR VIOLATION OF VACANT PROPERTY REGISTRATION ORDINANCE WITH ALSO REMOVING 704 A STREET, seconded by Deb Stamm. Ayes: Stamm, Baney, Decker; nays: none. Absent: Borchard. Motion passed. •Council member Nick Baney made a motion to approve RESOLUTION 7-21-2025 #3 A RESOLUTION TO CORRECT TEXTUAL ERRORS IN RESOLUTION 6-16-2025 #1, seconded by Deb Stamm. Ayes: Stamm, Baney, Decker, nays: none; Absent: Borchard. Motion passed. •Council member Nick Baney made a motion to approve the second reading of ordinance 2025-858. AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES WITHIN THE CITY OF BENKELMAN; TO PROHIBIT TINY HOMES; TO COMPLY WITH NEBRASKA STATUES REGARDING MANUFACTURED HOMES; TO DEFINE TERMS; TO ESTABLISH ZONING AND USE STANDARDS; TO PROVIDE FOR ENFORCEMENT; AND TO PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE DATE, seconded by JoAnn Decker. Ayes: Baney, Decker, Stamm; nays: none. Absent: Borchard. Motion carried. •Council member Nick Baney made a motion to approve the Interlocal Agreement with the Village of Trenton, seconded by Deb Stamm. Ayes: Stamm, Baney, Decker; nays: none. Absent: Borchard. Motion passed. Council member JoAnn Decker made a motion to approve the consent agenda and transfer $17,872.52 from sales tax to roads, seconded by Nick Baney. Ayes: Decker, Stamm, Baney; nays: none. Absent: Borchard. Motion passed. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS: •Approve Minutes of June 16, 2025, Regular Meeting. •Approve Treasurers Report. •Approve Bills. •Approve and have City Council president sign June 2025 Program Income Report Pertaining to CDBG Program. •Discuss/Approve RMA Engineering Invoice #00002 in the amount of $14,341.25 and 00003 for $2,770.01. •Approve Renewal Resolution #7-21-2025 #4 LARM 2025-2026. •Approve Resignation Letter from Trever Borchard as City Council East Member. •Approve Resignation Letter from Andrea Newville for Planning Commission. •Nebraska Recreation and Park Association Conference September 29, 2025. (Monday Only) •Dundy County Hospital Employee Appreciation Fundraiser (Would like to have a jar at the Swimming Pool during night swim 6-8 p.m.) •FYI: Budget Workshop will be held on August 12th at 5:00 p.m. •Planning Commission: Tabled Paul Castillo’s Building Permit for Building at 604 A Street since didn’t specifically state anything in the zoning book referencing this commercially zoned area which is a residential living quarter; Approved Lincoln Federal Savings Bank Sign Permit. The Council heard reports from: •Shane Sis regarding Renewal of Health Insurance. •Dundy County Sheriff Report given by Sheriff Bang. •Trevor Horner presented the CRA Report. •Laurie Cooper Nuisance Update. •City Clerk/ Treasurer Robyn Mathews Playground Equipment Proposal. •City Superintendent Safe Sidewalk Grant Proposal •City Clerk/Treasurer Robyn Mathews monthly report. •City Superintendent Tim Smith monthly report. The Council discussed: •Jenny Kostka and her property at 704 A Street as well as the Vacant Property Registry. •Elya McEvoy retention pond update at 1103 A Street. •Properties at 1213 D Street and 1318 C Street Foreclosure. •Jeremiah Unger’s Water Report. •Paul Castillo’s Electric Report. Meeting adjourned at 8:28 p.m. A full set of minutes may be found on our website at www.benkelmanusa.com or at the City Office. Tammy Buffington, Mayor ATTESTED: Robyn Mathews, City Clerk/Treasurer
City of Benkelman Disbursements, June 25, 2025 to July 21, 2025
State of Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Withholding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,881.13
Neb Child Support Payment Center . . . . . .C11810 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164.50
American Family Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aflac Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156.74
City of Benkelman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .295.00
City of Benkelman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,208.79
City of Benkelman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sewer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78.15
City of Benkelman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,362.55
Colonial Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Life/Accident Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . .544.26
Dundy County Treasurer . . . . . . .Interlocal Law Agreement . . . . . . . . .10,944.36
Principal Life Insurance . . . . . . . . . . .Vision, Life & STD . . . . . . . . . . . . . .820.85
GSB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fireman’s Life Ins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .187.00
RP Division of Ameritas . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Retirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,849.12
NE Dept of Revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Levy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160.00
Electronic Deposit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Withholding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5,842.61
BCBS of Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . .Employee Health Insurance . . . . . . . .10,860.17
Hometown Leasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Copier Lease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181.35
Dundy County Clerk . . . . . . .1/2 June 2025 C&D Site Receipts . . . . . . . .239.25
Electronic Deposit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sales & Use Tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8,348.60
Neb Child Support Payment Center . . . . . .C11810 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164.50
American Agricultural Laboratory . . . .Water Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27.56
Arnold Pool Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .694.15
Electronic Deposit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Withholding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,828.47
Electronic Deposit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Withholding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131.58
Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Salaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62,252.29
B & K Pumping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Toilet Main. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185.00
Bwtelcom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Telephone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .934.00
Black Hills Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Natural Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .725.56
CarQuest of McCook . . . . . . . . . . . . Repair/ Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . .152.91
City of McCook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Transfer Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,668.76
Corrpro Companies . . . . . . . . . . . .Water Tower Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . .945.00
Dan’s R Us Sanitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .927.64
Department of Treasurery . . . . . . . . . . . . .Form 720 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55.55
Dutton- Lainson, Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144.60
Eakes Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Office Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128.28
Figgins Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Road Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9,995.00
Five Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Professional Services . . . . . . . . . . . .1,800.00
Frenchman Valley Coop . . . . . . . .Fuel & Diesel/Tire Repair . . . . . . . . . .2,183.32
Grace Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89.29
Hawkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chemicals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,178.49
Helena Agri-Enterprises LLC . . . . . . . . . .Chemicals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .268.00
Holmstedt Law Office . . . . . . . . . . . . .Professional Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,017.50
League Assocn of Risk Management . . .Crime Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,344.00
Laynee Lutz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29.40
Nebraska Municipal Power Pool . . . .Power Purchased . . . . . . . . . . .167,626.86
Municipal Pipe Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11,735.00
Municipal Supply Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7,930.97
NE Health & Human Services . . . . . . .Water Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38.00
Nebraska Power Review Board . . . . . . . . . . .Dues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179.28
One Call Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Locates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43.49
Owens’s Implement . . . . . . . . .Supplies/ Repair/ Maintenance . . . . . . . . .631.57
Pinnacle Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Credit Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,371.26
Pioneer Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .266.94
RMA Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Professional Services . . . . . . . . . . . .17,111.26
Red Willow County Household HazardousDisposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .500.00
Schorzman Heating & Air . . . . . . . .Repair/ Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . .233.28
Tim Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Repair/ Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65.27
SWPPD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Power Purchased . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,175.49
Wesco Receivables Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14,067.83
Way Trucking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Road Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7,877.52
West Central NE Development District . . . .Dues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,050.00
Western Resources Group . . . . . . . . . . . . .Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .587.98
Wiese Carpentry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Repair/ Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . .14,727.30
Robyn Mathews . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Meals-Finance Conference . . . . . . . . . . .118.81
PUBLISHED: July 31, 2025; SMN:ZNEZ