Two new members were sworn in and two out-going members recognized for their service during Tuesday's meeting of the Wayne City Council.
Parker Bolte will represent Ward 1 and Dwaine Spieker will represent Ward 4. The two replace Terri Buck and Nick Muir in the respective wards.
In addition to the two new members, Brittany Webber and Austyn Houser were re-elected to represent their respective wards.
Buck and Muir were recognized and thanked for their years of service on the council.
Jill Brodersen was selected to serve as President of the Council.
Also on Tuesday's agenda was an application for revolving loan funds from the LB840 Revolving Loan Fund.
Peppers & Print, LLC owners Jason and Heidi Claussen and Ransen and Elizabeth Broders requested $112,500 in loan funds.
The funds will be used to assist with the purchase of the building at 110 Main Street.
Terms of the loan are 2% interest on a 10 year loan based on a 20-year amortization. The funds will be matched with a $112,500 bank loan and $25,000 in personal equity.
The Claussens and Broders were at Tuesday's meeting to talk about some of the general plans for the building in the future.
Elizabeth Broders said her home-based business, Sweet Pepper, LLC. has grown more than she anticipated and would like to move it into the building and employ college students to assist with the business. She stressed that she not leaving her current position at Providence Medical Center.
Jason Claussen told the council, "we have some ideas to generate revenue and bring businesses to downtown Wayne. We want this to be a vibrant spot on Main Street."
Pay application and certificate of Payment No. 13 in the amount of $326,369 to Otte Construction Company, LLC was approved. It is for work on the Wayne City Hall & Police Relocation Project.
City Administrator Wes Blecke gave an update on the renovation and said the firm is working to have the project completed by the end of January 2025.
Payment No. 3 in the amount of $149,368 to Otte Construction Company, LLC for the Wayne Parks & Rec. Maintenance Building Project was approved. The heated floors have been installed and concrete poured before cold weather set in.
Several resolutions received approval during Tuesday's meeting.
These included Resolution 2024-69 which authorizes the signing of the year-end certificate of the City Street Superintendent for 2024; Resolution 2024-70, which appoints JEO Consulting Group, Inc. as the special engineer to be used on various city of Wayne projects for 2025 and a resolution regarding certifying mowing costs on pieces of property in the city.
Council members also approved a resolution for the purchase of a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD Flatbed Truck and related equipment for the Parks & Recreation Department.
The truck will be purchased from Sid Dillon Fleet & Commercial Dealership in Wahoo through the state bid process.
Parks & Rec Superintendent Lowell Heggemeyer told the council the new vehicle would replace a 1991 truck in the department's fleet.
Appointments during the meeting included the following:
Betty McGuire, City Clerk;
Beth Porter, Finance Director;
Joel Hansen, Street and Planning Director;
Marlen Chinn, Police Chief;
Lowell Heggemeyer, Park and Recreation Director;
Diane Bertrand, Senior Citizens Coordinator;
Heather Headley, Library Director;
Jeff Triggs, Electric Production Superintendent;
Clayton Dredge, Electric Distribution Superintendent;
Casey Junck, Water/Wastewater Superintendent and
Luke Virgil, Economic Development Director.
Trish Peters was appointed to the Planning Commission and Council member Clayton Bratcher was appointed to the "Stool to Cool Task Force." Outgoing council members Terri Buck and Nick Muir, who have been a part of the task force, will be asked to remain part of the committee.
Following information shared by City Attorney Amy Miller on her job duties, council members went into executive session for an annual evaluation.
The Wayne City Council will hold the last meeting of 2024 on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers.
