After debating three possible scenarios, Wayne City Council members gave approval to decrease the tax levy for city of Wayne residents for the coming fiscal year.
City Fiance Director Beth Porter spoke to the council and said she had received valuation numbers for the city. These numbers showed a 10.5% increase in valuation.
She then told the council there were several options that could be used in preparing the budget for fiscal year 2024-2025, which begins Oct. 1, 2024.
The first of these would be to set the levy at .399532 cents per $100 of valuation. This would generate the same amount of revenue that was proposed for fiscal year 2024-2025 during a recent budget workshop.
The second option would be to keep the levy at its current rate of .415465 cents and the amount of tax money collected would go up $53,028.
The third option, which ultimately received council approval, was to lower the tax asking (levy) to .393959 cents per $100 of valuation. This would result in a decrease of $20,336.00 to the city's cash reserves in the budget.
The council will hold two public during September before the budget is adopted. These will be part of the regular September meetings on Sept. 3 and Sept. 17.
Several items related to events at Wayne State College were among those in the agenda when the Wayne City Council met in regular session on Tuesday.
A request of a fireworks display following a Wayne State football game on Sept. 14 was approved. Alternate dates of Oct. 5 and Oct. 26 were noted should the weather be unfavorable on the original date.
Also on Tuesday's agenda was a request to close a small portion of West Fifth Street on Friday, Sept. 20 for the final Cruise Main in Wayne Event.
Luke Virgil, Economic Development Director, spoke on behalf of the Cruise Main Committee and said plans call for a band to be located in the southeast corner of Tint Specialties from 8-10 p.m. that evening. The closure of the street would allow for spectators to be in the street area.
Council members unanimously approved the request.
Council members passed a resolution acknowledging the requirements for the temporary use of the State Highway System for the WSC Homecoming Parade and Band Day on Saturday, Oct. 5. They also took action on the contract for services between the City of Wayne and Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State College for this parade.
In other action, Council members approved a request to close westbound traffic between Lincoln and Pearl Streets from 7 a.m. to noon for the annual Electronic Recycling event.
This will allow two lanes of one-way traffic heading eastbound on Third Street for the drop-off of electronics. In addition, there will be no parking on Third Street between Lincoln and Pearl Streets beginning on Friday, Sept. 13 for the event.
A bid of $1,383,845.00 from Niagara Power Transform Corporation was approved. The bid is for an electric power transformer for the Northeast Substation Project.
Paul Davis with DNR explained to the council the reasons for the recommendation of this bid.
Following discussion of a number of options, the council approved Resolution 2024-44 for the purchase of a CXT precast concrete restroom/shower building (Navajo model) to be installed at Prairie Park.
The council listened to options available. Several of these are added at no cost, while others, such as stone walls on a portion of the building, would add to the base price.
Approval was given for the purchase at a cost not to exceed $315,000.
Council members approved Resolution 2024-46 which approves the proposal of Reeder Creatives, LLC, doing business as Reeder Airworks for the re-creation of the Carlos Frey Mural, which is located on the outside wall of the building located at 313 Main Street. The mural was originally painted on the building to coincide with the city's centennial celebration in 1984.
Discussion on this item included the fact that the building is not owned by the city and concerns were shared with spending money on the project that is not on city property.
In addition, it was noted that the wall of the building is not able to be re-painted on. Instead, the artist will paint the mural on panels which will then be attached to the side of the building.
Approval for the project was given contingent on getting a hold harmless agreement from the building owner for damage to the building, a structural waiver and acknowledgment that the city owns the panels.
Work is to be completed by the end of September.
The Wayne City Council will next meet in regular session on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers.
