Village of Brainard Board of Trustees
- Joel Vrbka, Chairman of the Board
- Jeff Karber, Board of Trustee
- Randy Robeson, Board of Trustee
- Tom Pesek, Board of Trustee
- Steve Hummel, Board of Trustee
The Village Board of Trustees meet on the third Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall located at 111 East Washington Street Brainard, NE. If you have a specific topic item you would like the Village of Brainard Board of Trustees to discuss, submit a Request for Future Agenda Items.
Village of Brainard Staff
Mitchell Janak, Utilities Superintendent, 402-803-9218
Carla Sander, Village Treasurer, 402-545-2701
Yolanda Bailey, Village Clerk, 402-545-2701
The Village of Brainard
Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
December 15, 2025
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Brainard held a regular meeting on December 15, 2025 at 7:00 P.M. at City Hall. The meeting notice and agenda were posted at three public places: City Hall, the Community Bulletin Board, and the Brainard Post Office. The agenda is kept current at the City Clerk’s Office and available for public inspection. This method is designated by the public body.
Pledge of allegiance. Chair Vrbka directed attendee to the posting of the Open Meeting Act and called the meeting to order.
Roll Call: present: Joel Vrbka, Steve Hummel, Jeff Karber, Tom Pesek, and Randy Robeson.
Staff Present: Treasurer Sander, and Maintenance Supervisor Janak arrived later to the meeting.
Guests included: Brian Foral, Elaine Fortik, Kris Ryan, & Scott Deilinger.
Business:
- Business:
- Discuss Kinetic plans for putting fiber on Village poles: Rex Roberts spoke to both MS Janak and Vrbka. Vrbka said currently there is no permit to put “fiber on”. Currently the village has a layout of the poles. Promotions will be given to residents who want an upgrade to fiber. Robeson added that Kirk Rasmussen wishes to put a fiber optic tower on the hill east of the anhydrous plant. A suggestion was made to have both individuals attend a meeting.
- Consider Ordinance #324 limiting # of cats and dogs in Village. Motion made by Pesek to introduce Ordinance 324, seconded by Hummel.
Voting aye: Karber, Hummel, Robeson, Pesek, and Vrbka.
Voting nay: none
The motion carried.
Vrbka read Ordinance out loud. Motion made by Robeson to accept Ordinance 324, and waive the second and third reading, seconded by Karber.
Voting aye: Karber, Hummel, Robeson, Pesek, and Vrbka.
Voting nay: none
The motion carried.
Motion made by Hummel to adopt Ordinance 324, seconded by Karber.
Voting aye: Karber, Hummel, Robeson, Pesek, and Vrbka.
Voting nay: none
The motion carried.
- Keno education and questions – Brainard Bar & Grille: Kris Ryan clarified that the name changed from Brainard Bar to Onyx Social. The liquor license will be changed soon. Scott Deilinger is the Keno operator. Deilinger is suggesting adding this to the May ballot. Keno funds can be used for community benefits; this information will be provided. In the future, skilled games are also slated for community benefits. Karber asked how much revenue does Keno bring in. Deilinger said in a similar sized town it averages $5,000-$10,000 sales, of which the Village would receive $350-$750 a month. The village incurs a licensing fee every two years for $100. The commission sends a monthly report to the Clerks, and Deilinger sends out a quarterly summery indicating money due to the state. The village receives 9%, however 2% is paid quarterly as a state tax.
Motion made by Trustee Robeson to put Keno on the May election ballot, seconded by Trustee Hummel.
Voting aye: Robeson, Hummel, Vrbka, Pesek, and Karber.
Voting nay: none
The motion carried.
- Ordinance 326 to vacate south Garfield Street due to the school gym addition project.
ORDINANCE NO. 326
AN ORDINANCE OF THE VILLAGE OF BRAINARD, BUTLER COUNTY, NEBRASKA, TO VACATE SOUTH GARFIELD STREET BEWTEEN WEST ADAMS STREET AND WEST LOWELL STREET; TO PROVIDE THAT THE VILLAGE OF BRAINARD, NEBRASKA, SHALL RESERVE NO EASEMENT THEREIN FOR FUTURE UTILITIES OF THE VILLAGE OF BRAINARD, NEBRASKA, OR ITS FRANCHISEES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE VILLAGE OF BRAINARD, NEBRASKA, TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHAIR AND THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT, WHETHER ONE OR MORE, OF THE VILLAGE OF BRAINARD, NEBRASKA, SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO IMPLEMENT THIS ORDINANCE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE SEVERABILITY OF ANY SECTION, CLAUSE, PROVISION OR PORTION HEREOF FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL OR INVALID; TO REPEAL ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; TO PROVIDE THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE PUBLISHED WITHIN THE FIRST FIFTEEN DAYS AFTER ITS PASSAGE AND APPROVAL EITHER IN PAMPHLET FORM OR BY POSTING IN THREE PUBLIC PLACES IN THE VILLAGE OF BRAINARD, NEBRASKA, AND SHALL BE IN FULL FORCE AND TAKE EFFECT FROM AND AFTER ITS PASSAGE AND APPROVAL, AS PROVIDED BY LAW AND AS PROVIDED HEREIN; AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL NOT BECOME A PART OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF BRAINARD, NEBRASKA. WHEREAS, it has been determined by the Chair and Board of Trustees of the Village of Brainard, Nebraska, that it is expedient for the public good or in the best interest of the Village of Brainard, Nebraska, to vacate South Garfield Street between West Adams Street and West Lowell Street; and WHEREAS, the owners of property abutting the aforenoted street is East Butler Public School District a/k/a Butler County School District 12-0502; and WHEREAS, the abutting property owner is desirous of the vacation of the street so that ownership will pass to the abutting property owner; and WHEREAS, the abutting property owner has no damages as a result of the vacation of the street, and, WHEREAS, the Village of Brainard, Nebraska, does not desire to retain the right to maintain an easement for utilities to be located in the future within the street, and further, believes there are no utilities to reserve an easement for currently, and, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CHAIR AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF BRAINARD, NEBRASKA, as follows: Section 1. That the findings hereinabove made should be, and are hereby made a part of this Ordinance as fully as if set out at length herein. Section 2. That South Garfield Street between West Adams Street and West Lowell Street be vacated. 1 Section 3. That the Village of Brainard, Nebraska, shall not retain the right to maintain, operate and repair, by itself or by a licensee or holder of any franchise from the Village of Brainard, Nebraska, any existing or future utility facility and/or facilities now located on, under, or above South Garfield Street vacated by this Ordinance. Section 4. That the Village of Brainard, Nebraska, shall pay no damages to the abutting owners of Garfield Street; and Section 5. That the Clerk of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Brainard, Nebraska, be instructed to file a certified copy of this Ordinance with the Butler County Register of Deeds within thirty (30) days after the effective date of this Ordinance. Section 6. That the Chair and Board of Trustees of the Village Brainard, Nebraska, its Clerk, and any other department, whether one or more, of the Village of Brainard, Nebraska, are hereby authorized and directed to implement this Ordinance. Section 7. That should any section, paragraph, sentence or word of this Ordinance hereby adopted be declared for any reason to be invalid, it is the intent of the Chair and Board of Trustees of the Village of Brainard, Nebraska, that it would have passed all other portions of this Ordinance independent of the elimination herefrom of any such portion as may be declared invalid. Section 8. That all Ordinances and parts of Ordinances passed and approved prior to the passage, approval, and publication of this Ordinance, in conflict herewith, are hereby repealed. Section 9. That this Ordinance shall be published within the first fifteen (15) days after its passage and approval either in pamphlet form or by posting in three (3) public places within the Village of Brainard, Nebraska, and shall be effective the 15th day from and after it is passage, approval, and publication as provided herein. Section 10. That it is the intention of the Chair and Board of Trustees of the Village of Brainard, Nebraska, and it is hereby ordained that the provisions of this Ordinance shall not become a part of the Municipal Code of the Village of Brainard, Nebraska. PASSED AND APPROVED this 15th day of December, 2026. VILLAGE OF BRAINARD, NEBRASKA
Motion made by Robeson to introduce Ordinance 326, seconded by Pesek.
Voting aye: Robeson, Pesek, Karber, Hummel, and Vrbka.
Voting nay: none
The motion carried.
Vrbka read Ordnance out loud. Motion made by Karber to accept the first reading of Ordinance 326, seconded by Vrbka.
Voting aye: Karber, Vrbka, Hummel, Robeson, and Pesek,
Voting nay: none
The motion carried.
( Note: Just the first Reading of Ord. #326 was completed. So should not be posted yet.)
- Approve minutes for November 17, 2025.
Motion made by Trustee Pesek to Approve November Minutes, seconded by Trustee Hummel.
Voting aye: Pesek, Hummel, Karber, Vrbka, and Robeson.
Voting nay: none
The motion carried.
- Consider December claims.
Motion made by Trustee Vrbka to Accept December claims minus Spark Electric, seconded by Trustee Robeson.
Voting aye: Vrbka, Robeson, Karber, Hummel, and Pesek.
Voting nay: none
The motion carried.
Motion made by Trustee Robeson to Accept Spark Electric claim, seconded by Trustee Karber.
Voting aye: Robeson, Karber, Vrbka, and Pesek.
Voting nay: none
Abstain: Hummel
The motion carried.
- Committee Reports.
Sewer, Electric, and Water: Trustee Vrbka reports he and Trustee Hummel have been attending the JEO design meetings for the water projects. He presents the plans from JEO that have been provided. It is 70% completed. Dane Simonsen plans to attend the Village March meeting, at which time the plans will be 90% completed. The bids will potentially be going out in May, and then we can decide what part of the project we want to complete. We are looking at starting construction in June/July.
Trustee Hummel reports on a fire that happened last Saturday. The meter was pulled and the power cut to deal with the fire. The meter has since been replaced.
Pool, Parks, streets, trees: Trustee Pesek reports he was approached by a donor to the Pool Renovation project, and she was concerned because she had not received any acknowledgement or a thank-you card for her donation. The information is not being made available by the Village to the public to protect donors privacy, but the Board thinks the information could be available to the Pool committee, so they can send thank-you cards out.
Trustee Pesek reports the Brainard sign by the SW corner of the town is in bad shape, and needs repainting. He thinks we should approach Russel Fortik about repainting it. The Spur into Brainard is in bad shape, and Pesek thinks we should ask the Dept of Transportation to put a shoulder on it for safety. Tom will contact them. This would help with bike traffic.
Trees have been topped and trimmed
- Employee Reports
December 2025 Clerk Report: Yolanda Bailey
I received a document from the Butler County Clerk about the 2026 election. I have mailed the Certification form to them. It appears the Board members up for re-election are: Jeff Karber, Joel Vrbka, and Tom Pesek. There is a copy of the information provided in your packet; with filing deadlines noted.
I have touched base with SENDD – but wanted to bring up the fact about the grants we are considering: CDBG grants – we can only apply for one each year. Both the SENDD sidewalk project and the Pool Renovation projects are considering this grant. We will have to coordinate these grants into years that we apply.
Follow up on adding W Logan to the 1 & 6 year road plan. (Eli Green.)
I have emailed Eli and asked him how to proceed on this.
Follow up on the Tower: Kirk Rasmussen let me know he has an interested party for a tower on the east side of town. I told him to keep us posted.
Follow up on the Mesothelioma website resource: It looks like it’s a commercial site, and I think we should not have the link on the website.
I will be out for the month of December, and plan to be back at work January 6th, 2026.
December Treasurer Report:
- A six-month profit and loss is provided. Positive projections in electric, fire, garbage, park & recreation & sewer. Negative projections in general (due to new pick up & engineering fees), street and water (due to engineering fees), with an overall negative balance of ($80,150.95).
- The bank account balance report is provided. A decrease of ($28,216.83) in the bank deposits since November is reported.
- A November employee pay report is provided. A decrease in pay of ($1,111.34) since October.
- Collection report: 21 overdue utility bills. Shut offs went out 12/15/25, due on 12/26/25. Shut offs will be on 12/29/25. One lien was added & one released this month.
- Updated pool renovation donation totals from June 1, 2024-December 8, 2025. New deposits from the Christmas house tour.
- The 2006 Ford was sold through Kobza Auctions for $6,100. The villages profit was $5,551.
Maintenance Report:
Mitchell reports there is still trash being dumped at the tree dump. The inspector is likely coming soon, so he is working on clearing it out. Trees were cut around town.
- Adjourn Board Sine Die.
Motion made by Trustee Robeson to adjourn Sine Die, seconded by Trustee Karber.
Voting aye: Robeson, Karber, Pesek, Hummel, and Vrbka.
Voting nay: none
The motion carried.
—————————————————————————-
- Elect Chair Pro Tempore – by vote of the Board.
Motion made by Trustee Vrbka to elect Treasurer Sander Chair Pro Tempore, seconded by Trustee Pesek.
Voting aye: Vrbka, Pesek, Hummel, Karber, and Robeson.
Voting nay: none
The motion carried.
- Roll Call
Chair Pro Temp Sander called the meeting to order.
Roll Call: present: Joel Vrbka, Steve Hummel, Jeff Karber, Tom Pesek, and Randy Robeson.
Staff Present: Treasurer Sander, and Maintenance Supervisor Janak.
Guests included: Brian Foral, and Elaine Fortik
- Elect Chair of the Village Board for 2026.
Chair Pro Tempore Sander asks for nominations for the Chairman of the Board for 2026.
The Board agrees Joel Vrbka does an outstanding job as Chairman, and would like him to serve another year.
Motion made by Trustee Hummel to nominate Joel Vrbka for Chairman of the Board for 2026, seconded by Trustee Karber.
Voting aye: Hummel, Karber, Robeson, and Pesek.
Trustee Vrbka abstains.
Voting nay: none
The motion carried.
- Chair makes recommendations for appointive offices for 2026: Clerk, Treasurer, and Utilities Superintendent.
Chairman Vrbka appoints Yolanda Bailey as Clerk, and Carla Sander as Treasurer, and Mitchell Janak as Maintenance Superintendent.
- Consider appointment of Building Inspector and Animal Control Officer, and Nuisance Hearing Officer.
Chairman Vrbka appoints Mitchell Janak as Animal Control Officer.
Chairman Vrbka appoints Randy Robeson as Nuisance Hearing Officer.
- Consider appointments of Board of Health, Tree Board and Planning Commission.
Chairman Vrbka reports the current members of the above groups were sent a letter asking them if they want to continue serving. The three members of the Planning Commission that are up in terms – Nancy Steager, Dorean Kastl, and Dale Nielsen have all agreed to continue to serve. Bill Perk, Greg Havlovic, and Kevin Behne have agreed to continue to be the Tree Board. Joel Vrbka will check with Dave Streubing and Marcia Bohslavsky on the Board of Health.
- Chair appoints the standing committees. Parks & Pools, Electric Sewer & Water, Personnel Committee:
Pools, Parks, Streets, and Trees: Jeff Karber
Tom Pesek
Electric, Sewer, and Water: Steve Hummel
Randy Robeson
Personnel Committee: Jeff Karber
Randy Robeson
Business:
- Adopt Board Meeting and Posting Resolution.
Motion made by Trustee Hummel to accept the Resolution setting the time and place for Village Board meetings and postings, seconded by Trustee Pesek.
Voting aye: Hummel, Pesek, Vrbka, Karber, and Robeson.
Voting nay: none
The motion carried.
- Consider Retainer Agreement for Loren Lindahl as Village Attorney
The Retainer Fee remains the same as last year at $850.
Motion made by Trustee Robeson to accept the Retainer Agreement with Loren Lindahl, seconded by Trustee Karber.
Voting aye: Pesek, Hummel, Karber, Robeson, and Vrbka.
Voting nay: none
The motion carried.
- Board reviews and sets wages, salaries and compensations for the 2026 year. Consider Wage Ordinance #325.
The Board members expressed their appreciation and satisfaction with the Village staff.
ORDINANCE NO. #325
AN ORDINANCE OF THE VILLAGE OF BRAINARD, BUTLER COUNTY, NEBRASKA, TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMPENSATION OF THE VILLAGE CLERK; VILLAGE TREASURER, MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEES, AND UTILITY SUPERINTENDENT AND ESTABLISH EFFECTIVE DATES FOR ALL POSITIONS; TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE SEVERABILITY OF ANY SECTION, CLAUSE, PROVISION OR PORTION FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL OR INVALID; TO REPEAL ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; TO PROVIDE THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE PUBLISHED EITHER IN PAMPHLET FORM OR BY POSTING; AND TO PROVIDE THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL NOT BE MADE A PART OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF BRAINARD, NEBRASKA.
WHEREAS, the Village Board of Trustees is to set compensation of all employees and appointees by Ordinance, and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend said rate of pay for the various positions of the Village of Brainard, Nebraska,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF BRAINARD, NEBRASKA, as follows:
Section 1. That the findings here and above should be, and they are hereby made a part of this Ordinance, as fully as if set out at length herein.
Section 2. That the following shall be the wages and salaries for the specified officers, appointees, and employees of the Village of Brainard, Nebraska, to wit:
|
POSITION |
WAGES OR SALARY |
|
|
|
|
Utilities Superintendent
Treasurer |
$32.00 per hour.
$24.00 per hour
|
|
Clerk
General Maintenance 1
Effective Date: January 1 |
$21.00 per hour.
$14.00 per hour
2026 |
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS December 15, 2025. VILLAGE OF BRAINARD, NEBRASKA
Motion made by Trustee Pesek to accept the first reading, waive the 2nd and 3rd readings, and adopt Wage Ordinance #325, seconded by Trustee Pesek.
Voting aye: Hummel, Pesek, Vrbka, Karber, and Robeson.
Voting nay: none
The motion carried.
- Petitions, Communications, Correspondence
- Additional Business/Items for next meeting.
Rex Roberts with Kinetic
Kirk Rasmussen from GSS Midwest
Check into the School water main construction and detail of who is financially responsible.
- Adjournment
Motion made by Trustee Robeson to adjourn at 8:22 pm, seconded by Trustee Hummel.
Voting aye: Robeson, Karber, Hummel, Pesek, and Vrbka.
Voting nay: none
The motion carried