The city of Seward has adopted a policy statement to govern city purchases going forward, making greater use of written quotations rather than formal bids for purchases of less than $90,000 and aligning with state standards.
The move, which was adopted at the Aug. 4 council meeting, also rescinds other purchasing policies the city was using, and includes guidelines for the use of credit cards, petty cash and the review and authorization of agreements.
While city staff may use informal quotations to purchase “standard supplies” or items costing less than $2,500, the new policy requires written quotations for purchases costing $2,500 to $90,000.
Formal bidding will now be required for purchases of $90,000 or more – a significant increase from the previous $30,000 level.
“We felt it was appropriate to meet those state statutes,” City Engineer Michael Oneby told the council.
He said there are several purchase categories, such as fleet vehicles, for which the state establishes specifications and bids that other entities like the city can utilize to obtain those items at the same price.
Many of those would have triggered the city’s formal bidding process with the previous $30,000 maximum, he said.
Mayor Josh Eickmeier said the city took advantage of several of the standard bid items during the construction of the Seward Wellness Center.
The purchasing rules apply to all city departments, boards and commissioners, except the Langworthy Trust, when purchasing items and services that benefit the Seward Civic Center.
Fireworks rules change
Also on Aug. 4, the council voted to bring the city’s fireworks ordinance in line with the state’s, which now allows the use of bottle rockets, which had been banned under the city’s former policy.
The changes also involve definitions of firework stands and the safety precautions they must take to sell fireworks.
The Nebraska Legislature in 2021 approved a bill that amended statues for fireworks classifications and the sale and possession of fireworks. It also adopted provisions of federal laws and standards and the United Nations’ shipping classifications for items categorized as 1.3G explosives by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Seward City Clerk and Human Resources Director Derek Bargmann said the city became aware of the discrepancy between its policy and the state legislation affecting bottle rocket sales just before the 4th of July holiday, but did not want to make a last-minute change to city codes.
He worked with Police Chief Brian Peters and Building/Zoning and Code Enforcement Director Tim Dworak to update city statutes.
He said while bottle rockets have long been banned in the area, at the state level, legislators may have decided the array of fireworks now available presented “bigger things happening” for state rules.
Eickmeier said it is nice when city regulations match the state standards, but he noted they have not always done so. For example, state law allowed sky lanterns which the city banned several years ago.
In other business, the council:
• Approved a $183,358 contract with The Schemmer Associates for improvement designs for pavement of Walker Road between Pine Street and the city limits, which is to be bid in December for construction next spring.
• Reappointed Don Ellis, Ron Jackson and Ron Niemoth to the city planning commission for three-year terms.
• Reappointed Lynn Brumm and Jeff Volzke to the cemetery board for three-year terms.
• Reappointed Kregg Einspahr to the tree board for a three-year term.
• Reappointed Mark Suhr and Sandy Wright to the civic center commission for a three-year term.
• Approved a house-moving permit for a new home to be moved to the 800 block of South Columbia Avenue following a public hearing at which no one from the public spoke.
• Approved a special designated liquor license for The Wandering Well of Hastings for an Oct. 17 event at the Seward County Fairgrounds.
• Tabled consideration of the revised interlocal agreement with the Seward County Rural Fire Protection District while changes in the document are reviewed by village boards and fire departments around the county.
