Weed complaints and concerns discussed at council meeting

Weeds were a focus of discussion at the Sept. 14 meeting of the Basin Town Council. Mayor CJ Duncan said the town has received several complaints — “very specific complaints.”
One of the complaints was on Wyoming Avenue. Duncan asked if the town crew had looked at this location.  Town Foreman Mike Dellos said they had. The crew got the weeds it could along the edge of the street, but because of the drain, there is no way to bring in large equipment.
Councilman Chuck Hopkin said he received complaints about a lot on C Street across from the courthouse. He said some of weeds had been pulled.
Chief of Police Kyle McClure said he'd seen that lot earlier in the day. He would follow up. Hopkin said another complaint was the weeds that are growing up in the cracks of the sidewalks.
Duncan stated “Weeds are considered just like snow. The adjacent property owner takes care of the sidewalk. The town ordinance says you will maintain everything on the sidewalk.”
McClure asked Hopkin, “Why aren’t you forwarding that to me? I usually get these — Deaun or somebody puts them in my box. There is no reason these need to come to a council meeting or that I am waiting weeks to hear about weeds that are bad. If they come to you with a complaint on weeds, they should be sent to me.”
Duncan replied that residents hear about the weeds during a council meeting, so they feel validated to bring them up to a council member.
McClure said he gets that. “But we talk about chain of command all the time. If somebody comes to you to complain about me, where do you send them? Back to me. It’s the same with these calls. If they would call dispatch, put a call in that they are complaining about weeds. It’s a citizen’s compliant They can call dispatch. It will get to the officer that is on duty. They can get taken care of right away.
"When you guys get the complaint, you do nothing with it for weeks at a time or whatever. Then it becomes an issue. These don’t have to come to a council meeting.”
He continued that the complaints should come to him. If nothing gets done, then councilman Brent Godfrey should be notified. When McClure gets complaints, he gives them to Officer Scott Drewry. McClure said he verifies that the complaint has been taken care of.
Duncan told McClure that he wasn’t getting after him.
McClure said he understands that, but he still believes it is a chain of command issue and that the police department should be allowed to take care of the problem before it comes to the council. He added, “If I’m not doing my job and they are still not being taken care of, by all means. This complaint was filed months ago. Why hasn’t it been taken care of? Then we can discuss it.” He continued that it about respect to him.
Duncan said 99% of complaints do come to the town hall.

OPEN BURN
The town has set the dates for open burning as Sept. 25—Oct. 13. Residents may burn from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

OTHER BUSINESS
• The council approved the shooting of fireworks/shells for touchdowns at home football games.
• Dellos gave a department report for Public Works. The report included the crew got all the chip seal off the roads that were chip sealed, cut up trees that have fallen, and he continues to get bids for a new culvert at the boat ramp.
• Bill Dahlke presented the Electric Department report. This included a meeting with Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN), upgrading the electrical circuit map, and replacing street light circuits and installing transformers.
• The admin report was given by Town Clerk Deaun Tiger. She reported the annual audit was complete, the annual salary publication ran, and she is working on grants as well as many other projects/reports.
• Tigner also gave the municipal court report.
• Hopkin volunteered to be the council’s liaison on building projects.
• A building permit for a garage was approved for Gladys Perry.
• Town Attorney Kent Richins discussed an underground facilities marking agreement. The discussion moved to executive session as contract negotiations.
 • McClure presented the police report. He noted that because the volume of traffic is getting less, there will be more time to work on other projects like department policies and cleaning up evidence locker.
McClure gave high praise to officer TJ VanderPloeg regarding an arrest he made earlier in the year. The case went to trial. VanderPloeg “did a standup job on the investigation and prosecution,” said McClure.
• Town resident Roger Brewer told the council he has moved a fence, in front of his home, that he requested a variance for.  He expressed his concern about a non-refundable fee he was charged. He would like it refunded. Duncan stated that had town ordinance regarding permits were followed there would not have been an issue. Olson noted that the south fence is still in the town’s right of way but because there was a tree there the fence could not have been built on the property line.  A question was asked about the variance fee being used for the south fence. Brewer was not in favor as this as he felt the way the south fence location was discussed with him through Planning and Zoning.
Brewer requested the request of the variance for the fence in front of his house be rescinded, therefore leaving no need for a fee.
• Duncan gave the Rec Department report. A trunk-and-treat is planned for Oct. 31 on the football field.  
• An activities committee meeting was set for Oct. 4 at 6:30 p.m. at town hall. Duncan said anyone who wants to help may attend.
• A liquor permit was approved for Misty Wollan for an event at the Basin City Arts Center.
• A preliminary proposal for a lease for the old town hall was reviewed. The council decided to send a letter to the potential lessee asking them to come to a council meeting.
• Lee Allen talked to the council about the service he offers to map the town’s curb stops, curb boxes, hydrants, etc. The council voted to explore the opportunity.