Manley trustees keep water rates, approve administrative items and temporary speed bump removal

The Village of Manley Board of Trustees met Feb. 17, 2025, and voted to leave water and sewer rates unchanged while approving several administrative and community items.

Chairman Denise Swenson presided over the meeting. Clerk Lindsy Cronk reported water deposits of $1,946.48 and sewer deposits of $2,900.36, and noted 13 delinquent water/sewer accounts. After reviewing a water profit-and-loss covering Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024 that showed net income of $2,321.36, the board voted unanimously to keep current water and sewer rates and to order new water books from FAC at $1.40 each. Trustee Denise Swenson moved the rate-and-book motion and Trustee Tim Glas seconded it.

The board addressed several administrative and community requests. The Pillage the Village committee, which the minutes describe as a distinct volunteer committee run by village residents, asked to use the Village of Manley’s Employer Identification Number for tax purposes and to set up bank accounts; the trustees approved that request. The board also accepted the resignation of Planning Commission member Trent Stott.

After discussion about street safety and farm equipment impacts, trustees considered removal of a speed bump on 160th Street. An initial motion to remove the speed bump failed for lack of a second. Trustee Tim Glas later moved — and amended — a motion to temporarily remove the 160th Street speed bump contingent on Cass County Sheriff Department radar monitoring; the board approved the amended motion with the following recorded votes: Joe Shera yes; Madison Garey abstain; Marcie Lafleur no; Tim Glas yes; Denise Swenson yes. The motion conditions the temporary removal on the county conducting radar monitoring until the board revisits the issue at its March meeting.

The board approved routine claims and added two checks to the claims list: check #1035 to Phillip Tapp for $300 for community center electrical work and check #2019 to Denise Swenson for $585.51 for plow truck carburetor repair. The claims motion passed with Denise Swenson recorded as abstaining.

Other actions included designation of the Omaha World-Herald as the village’s legal newspaper for 2025; authorization to spend up to $10 per person (maximum $50) for trustees to attend MAPA elected-official training (Trustees Shera, Glas and Swenson indicated they would attend); approval for Trustee Madison Garey to attend the League of Nebraska Municipalities Midwinter Conference; and keeping the 2025 pet license fee at $5 with a $10 late fee after March 15, while noting the state license tax of $1.25 per license required by statute.

The board also voted to amend payroll records and filings after reviewing concerns about two staffers’ tax classifications and withholdings. The trustees voted to amend Jessica Tummons’s January 2024 pay classification in village accounting records to contract labor (subject to later review by a tax professional) and to amend Jennifer Smith’s W-2 and the second-quarter 941 filing to include two previously omitted checks and related withholdings. Those amendments passed unanimously.

The trustees tabled review of the Lower Platte South NRD Hazard Mitigation Plan because the plan’s map did not reflect a recent annexation; staff will consult with JEO and the item may be placed on a future special or emergency agenda. Trustees also noted there is a 2024 update to the International Building Code; the board tabled formal action until a current copy is available.

During the public forum Trustee Tim Glas asked that the board consider 2025 meeting dates and the Master Fee Schedule at the March meeting. The board adjourned at 10:09 p.m.

Votes at a glance: - Approve agenda: Mover Tim Glas, second Joe Shera — approved 5-0. - Approve claims (with added checks #1035, #2019): Mover Joe Shera, second Marcie Lafleur — approved 4 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain (Denise Swenson). - Allow Pillage the Village to use Village EIN: Mover Denise Swenson, second Tim Glas — approved 5-0. - Accept resignation of Trent Stott (Planning Commission): approved 5-0. - Temporary removal of 160th Street speed bump contingent on county radar: Mover Tim Glas (amended), second Denise Swenson — approved (Shera yes; Garey abstain; Lafleur no; Glas yes; Swenson yes). - Keep water/sewer rates and order water books: Mover Denise Swenson, second Tim Glas — approved 5-0. - Designate Omaha World-Herald as legal newspaper for 2025: approved 5-0. - MAPA training fee (up to $50 total): approved 5-0. - Send Madison Garey to Midwinter Conference: approved 5-0. - Pet licensing fee set at $5 (late fee $10 after March 15): approved 5-0. - Amend payroll/tax filings for Jessica Tummons and Jennifer Smith: approved 5-0.

What happens next: staff will consult with JEO about the NRD Hazard Mitigation Plan map and may schedule a special meeting if an amended plan is required; the speed-bump motion requires Cass County Sheriff radar monitoring prior to reconsideration at the March meeting.