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Lyons council adopts fee-and-tax ordinance, approves police policies and planning contracts
Summary
At its Jan. 14 meeting the Lyons City Council adopted Ordinance No. 777 updating the city fee and tax schedule, authorized a $1,350 CDBG drawdown, adopted four police policies, approved GIS consulting and a $5,000 campground master-plan contract, and approved personnel actions following an executive session.
LYONS, Neb. — The Lyons City Council met Jan. 14 at Lyons City Hall and took a series of administrative and budget actions, including passage of a new fee-and-tax ordinance, approval of police policies, and authorization of planning and mapping contracts.
Ordinance No. 777, described by Mayor Kyle Brink as an update to the city’s fee and tax schedule, was read by title, the council suspended the statutory rule requiring three readings, and the ordinance passed on a unanimous roll-call vote. The ordinance will be published in pamphlet form.
The council approved Drawdown #3 of Community Development Block Grant funds (CDBG 23PWF003) in the amount of $1,350 to NENEDD for general administration fees. The motion to authorize the drawdown passed unanimously.
Chief Svendsen presented the police report for December, noting 20 calls for service, two arrests and six traffic citations or warnings. The council adopted Resolution No. 2025-01, which implements four policies: Police Policy 010 (Officer Involved Death or Incident Investigation), Policy 011 (Post Shooting), Policy 012 (Vehicle Inventories) and Policy 013 (Ride-Along).
Library Director Mike Heavrin reported on November revenue and expenses for the library, described an upcoming book-weeding effort tied to the library ‘refresh’ project, and flagged the Community Catalyst and Community Facility Fund (CCCFF) grant cycle: Letter of Intent due Jan. 15 and full application due Feb. 15. Councilmembers discussed potential future projects that could be submitted for grant funding.
Utility Supervisor Terry Ueding reported that the Nebraska Department of Transportation will resurface only a 58-foot radius at the Highway 77 intersection; Ueding estimated approximately 300 feet of additional resurfacing would be needed to tie into existing blacktop. Ueding and Clerk Whitney Anderson also presented a proposed agreement with the Midwest Assistance Program (MAP) to migrate the city’s maps into a GIS and provide north-side mapping at no cost to the city, with modest annual software and consulting fees thereafter. The council approved the GIS consulting agreement.
Council also approved JEO Consulting Group’s agreement for campground master-planning services in the amount of $5,000.
During the clerk’s report, Whitney Anderson presented the December treasurer report, which the council accepted. Anderson reported write-offs for city utilities totaling $90,388.31 for fiscal years 2022–23 and 2023–24 and noted various month-to-date and year-to-date fund balances and percentages for General, Utility and Debt Service funds.
The council discussed two proposed blight-study maps from JEO and Hanna Keelan; JEO recommended studying the entire east side of the railroad tracks to support future revitalization grants and potential use of tax-increment financing. The council tabled approval of a blight study pending clarification of the study area.
The council entered executive session to discuss a six-month personnel review for Nicole Frahm and, after returning to open session, approved ending her probation and granted a $2.00 hourly raise. The council also approved payment of $1,597.23 to KB’s Mini Mart and $571.00 to Megan Vavra for janitor services; Councilmember Brantley Vavra abstained from the vote on the payment to Megan Vavra.
Mayor Kyle Brink adjourned the meeting at 7:06 p.m. The minutes were certified by Mayor Brink and City Clerk Whitney Anderson.
Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda (minutes and claims): Motion by Kyle Phillips, second by Matthew Carr. Roll call: Vacha, Vavra, Carr, Phillips — AYE; motion carried. - Appointment: Karen Vlach to Housing Authority, 5-year term. Motion by Kyle Phillips, second by Tyler Vacha — AYE: Carr, Vavra, Vacha, Phillips; motion carried. - Ordinance No. 777 (fee and tax schedule): Motion to suspend three readings (Phillips/Carr) and motion for passage (Carr/Vacha). Roll call recorded unanimous passage. - CDBG Drawdown #3 (23PWF003) $1,350 to NENEDD: Motion by Phillips, second by Vacha — unanimous. - Resolution No. 2025-01 (adopt police policies 010–013): Motion to adopt (Vacha/Carr) — unanimous. - Approve GIS consulting agreement with MAP: Motion by Vacha, second by Vavra — unanimous. - JEO Master Planning Services (campground) $5,000: Motion by Vacha, second by Phillips — unanimous. - Executive session to review Nicole Frahm: Motion to enter/exit (Vacha/Vavra) — unanimous. After session: Motion to end Frahm’s probation (Vavra/Carr) — unanimous; Motion to approve $2.00 raise (Vacha/Carr) — unanimous. - Payments: $1,597.23 to KB’s Mini Mart; $571.00 to Megan Vavra (Vavra abstained on the latter).
