Manley trustees approve Colbert property rezoning, allow A&F Welding to finish refuse contract

The Village of Manley Board of Trustees unanimously approved a rezoning for the Colbert property and a set of associated permits during its Oct. 10 regular meeting.

Chair Denise Swenson said trustees received zoning diagrams and the Planning Commission recommendation before the board voted to reclassify the site from agriculture to agricultural-residential and waive the three readings normally required for ordinance changes. Trustee Tim Glas moved to accept the Planning Commission recommendation; Trustee Phillip Tapp seconded the motion, which passed 5-0.

The board also approved a building permit for construction of a home on the Colbert parcel. The motions approving the zoning change and the permit were recorded as unanimous.

In other formal action, trustees voted unanimously to suspend the terms of the Cass County Refuse contract as applied to A&F Welding so that the company can complete an existing commercial contract it holds with Papillion Sanitation; the contract was entered into before the municipal switch to Cass County refuse and has about six months remaining. Chair Denise Swenson made the motion, which passed without dissent.

Trustees revisited a prior administrative vote after questioning whether it had been properly noticed on the agenda. The board held and passed a re-vote authorizing Village Clerk Lindsy Cronk to sign her own August payroll check due to a family emergency involving a check signer. The re-vote passed 5-0.

The board accepted the monthly claims list, covering routine vendors and utility bills, by unanimous vote.

Why it matters: The rezoning and permit approvals clear the path for residential development on the Colbert parcel and reflect the Planning Commission's recommendation; the suspended-refuse-contract action is a narrow, temporary accommodation allowing a local business to finish a preexisting commercial agreement.

Votes at a glance • Colbert rezoning (agriculture → agricultural-residential) — Motion to accept Planning Commission recommendation; waived three readings; outcome: approved, 5-0. • Colbert building permit (new home) — Approved, 5-0. • Suspend Cass County Refuse contract terms for A&F Welding (to complete existing Papillion Sanitation contract) — Approved, 5-0. • Re-authorize Clerk Lindsy Cronk to sign her August payroll check (re-vote) — Approved, 5-0. • Claims list (monthly vendor payments) — Approved, 5-0.

Other business and community items Trustees directed the clerk to prepare nuisance-notice letters where violations are identified and discussed community center small projects, including bids to repaint decorative trim and renovate the upstairs women's bathroom. The board also discussed potential updates to zoning regulations to preserve commercial properties and noted a separate proposed ordinance on vacant buildings will return on a future agenda.

Administrative and operational notes: The clerk reported $1,733.61 deposited to the water fund and $2,462.28 to sewer; she also noted 13 delinquent water/sewer accounts and two overpayments. Trustees reviewed a detailed claims list of vendors and payments. The village is seeking local contractors for snow removal at $30 per hour and expects Keep Cass County Beautiful to provide cleanup supplies for an Oct. 26 event starting at 10 a.m. The village audit is scheduled Oct. 15.

Public comment and next steps During public forum a $1,000 donation to the village for community improvements was acknowledged and resident Mickey Dalton raised concerns and possible solutions to remove duckweed from the wastewater lagoons. Trustees discussed Halloween options and clarified that minutes must be approved at the next meeting before posting.

The meeting adjourned at 9:41 p.m.