Minutes

The following minutes are from the March 10, 2026 business meeting. As of this upload the minutes have not been approved by council. Upon approval the approved minutes will be posted below.

MINUTES

AMERICUS CITY COUNCIL

BUSINESS MEETING

TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2026- 7:00 PM

CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor WRIGHT. Council members present were NUESSEN, HARMON, HINRICHS, BURTON, and GERLEMAN. Also present, City Attorney Steve Atherton and City Clerk Dodie Doudna.

VISITORS/PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: Nick Kurth, Bob Blair, Taegan Trahoon, Stephen & Kayloni Davidson

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Moved by BURTON to approve February 10, 2026, Business Meeting minutes. Motion seconded by HARMON.  4-0-1 Vote 

BILLS TO PAY: Moved by NUESSEN to approve the March bills to pay in the amount of $24002.48. Motion seconded by HINRICHS. 5-0 Vote

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES:

PROJECT PLAYSCAPE- Getting Match Day application ready. Looking at other grants.

MAINTENANCE: Quite a few repairs, tack truck, recycling trailer issues, chip spreader- still working on it. Maintenance will work on getting dead trees removed from park.

CLERK: New computers are installed. Internet at the community has been disconnected since it was tied to the phone line that has been disconnected. Lyon County is looking to hold elections in the community center in the future, discussed restrictions during that time. An ADA compliance check will be scheduled. Final request for council members to sign up for leader’s conference in April. Black Hills Energy will begin work replacing gas lines in April, project projected to take 1 ½ years to complete fully. Evergy will have surveyors in the area regarding an upcoming line replacement project as well. Trash contract has been signed by all parties, first pick up will be Wednesday, April 29th.

ADOPT THE AGENDA. Moved by HARMON to amend agenda item number 7, removing current item and replacing it with Maintenance hourly rate charges. Motion seconded by NUESSEN. 5-0 Vote 

  1. DUMPSTER PROS: Staging for the switch out, discussion on where to store polycarts and dumpsters in the interim. Get with maintenance to discuss.
  2. USD 251 INQUIRY: Nick with Tessere and Bob Blair discussed if council would approve closing Broadway between gym and playground if decided that a high school will be built to connect to NLC. Atherton states it would just take vacating the street. Council is in favor of this if that is the decision.
  3. PROJECT PLAYSCAPE: Sat April 4th, 10am is the Easter Egg Hunt. Avoiding conflicts with other area activities. Flyers to have both easter egg hunt, and North Lyon Fish Fry. HINRICHS has asked council to donate $500 for supplies. Moved by HARMON to donate $500. Motion seconded by NUESSEN. 4-0-1 Vote
  4. MAINTENANCE CELL PHONE: Maintenance phones need to be replaced. HARMON presented plans and promotions currently available through NEXTEC. Not to exceed $2400 annually. Moved by HINRICHS to upgrade plan/phones that would include hotspot service to not exceed $2400 annually. Motion seconded by BURTON. 5-0 Vote
  5. POLICE DEPARTMENT: Inventory/files and evidence will be handled by Jody Meyers. He will be contracted to complete the work needed. NUESSEN will work with him during the process. ATHERTON stated that destruction orders can be run through municipal court. DOUDNA will post Code Enforcement Officer position. Vehicle and equipment will be tabled until inventory is complete.
  6. PAYROLL: Moved by HINRICHS to enroll city employees for automatic deposit and changing payday date from bi-weekly Monday to bi-weekly Thursday to accommodate the change. Motion seconded by BURTON. 5-0 Vote
  7. MAINTENANCE HOURLY RATE: HARMON discussed that the current rate has not increased to meet pay, equipment, and fuel costs. Moved by BURTON to increase the charge to $90 per hour for labor cost chargeable to citizens. Motion seconded by NUESSEN. 5-0 Vote
  8. OVERTIME: Review language in handbook. No action taken.
  9. CONDEMNATION LIST: 507 Elm- clerk will reach out to a few more companies regarding cleaning of this property.

Motion to adjourn at 7:58 pm by BURTON. Seconded by HINRICHS. 5-0 Vote

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