The Sutton City Council convened for it’s regular monthly meeting Monday, April 13 with numerous agenda items set to be discussed and take action on. The top item proved to be additional talks about the city’s vacant property registry (VPR), which grew to five properties in the city limits with the addition of two new properties added to the list, located at 504 N. Main, and 503 E. Terrace Estates #7. The two new properties have no fees or liens set against them, as they were added to the list in mid to late January. One property, located at 305 S. Saunders, has been removed from the VPR because it has been occupied, and will have no added fees or liens set against it, however, the property owners, Felipe Jr., and Marlen Flores are still liable for the $6,250 worth of liens and fees assessed against the property. San Juanita and Arturo Bautista, the property owners at 203 S. Maltby, remain on the VPR, but have reached and signed an agreement with the City of Sutton to pay off the $6,250 worth of liens and fees, and have paid $2,900 of that total to date. City leaders, however, remain firm that as long as the property continues to make improvements and pays off the liens and fees, the property won’t go into foreclosure. One property, located at 105 N. Way, owned by Juan M. Lopes-Hernandez and Carol Garcia, has had foreclosure paper work filed against it, as the property owners have made no effort to work with the City of Sutton.
BUILDING CODES UPDATED
Council members adopted a new standard of building codes for the City of Sutton, and will now be following standards that line-up with the State of Nebraska building codes. According to City Administrator Warren Myers, “basically what we’re doing is lining ourselves up with Nebraska’s Code Book to have more consistency and guidelines for all of our building codes and regulations.”
GRASS CLIPPING ABATEMENT
Council members approved an update to the city’s efforts to rid streets, alleys and other publicly owned properties from having grass clippings end up in storm sewer systems in the community. The new ordinance passed Monday night, ordinance 445, updates the code of the city’s code book to address the discharge of grass clippings from lawns and lots onto city right of ways. If property owners, or occupants of any property in the city limits fails or refuses to remove all grass clippings from city right of way properties, the city can, and will charge for the removal of the clippings at a rate of $100 for the first hour that the city spends removing the clippings, and additionally, another $50 per hour thereafter, with no proration, according to documentation.
CLARK’S POND
City leaders discussed the future of Clark’s Pond, and its failing support walls on the south and east side of the pond, with council members asking Myers to obtain bids to replace, or repair the current retaining walls, as well as, receive bids on replacing the current support system with rocks and stones.
The retaining wall was last repaired some 10 years ago, so city leaders asked for bids and made no decision as to what the next steps will be until cost factors are made to the council.
IN OTHER BUSINESS
Council leaders approved a new lease agreement with MacQueen for the use of a 2019 Elgin Pelican Street Sweeper, making five annual lease payments in the amount of of $40,500, with an annual interest rate of 6.14 percent, beginning this October 2026, through October of 2030.
• An item up for discussion was the installation of four camper pads at the DLD Park ball complex, but council members tabled any action, requesting additional information before action may be taken.
• Council members approved the city move forward with the purchase of a home to the east of the Sutton Volunteer Fire Departments’ fire barn for future expansion of the fire department’s facilities. Closing on the property was to take place sometime this week, following the council’s approval to move forward with the purchase.
• The application for five new members to the fire department’s roster was tabled until additional information was obtained by the department and presented to the city, as all five applicants live outside of Sutton’s fire district.
• Martin DeWitt, the pastor the Emmanuel Reformed Church has applied to join the Sutton Rescue squad. His application was approved, pending him earning his Nebraska certification. He is currently certified in Kansas. Council members approved his application, and once he earns his Nebraska certificate, he will become an official member of the EMT squad in Sutton.
• Council leaders approved Bobby Itzen to be retained as the supervisor of the caretaking of Sutton’s city cemetery at a rate of $14,500 for the seasonal position. Council members also approved the hiring of Carter Myers, the son of Sutton’s administrator to be employed by the city to work in the concession stand this summer at the Sutton Aquatic Park.
