Jansen’s New Village Board Will Likely Have To Address Bond Reports

By FJN StaffWhen the new Village Board of Jansen is elected in July, they will have a great deal on their plate to deal with.The Nebraska Secretary of State will be holding a special election on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 to replace the four board members that have resigned earlier this year. Deadline for candidates to file is June 13 and June 30 is the deadline for write-in affidavits.Currently only a single board member, Janene Russell, remains. The village is also without a clerk and treasurer. Until a new board is elected, the village remains without a quorum. Without a quorum, the board is no longer able to vote on business.In press release issued by village attorney Greg Kratz, is was noted, “There will be no further meetings of the Village of Jansen Board of Trustees until after the special election.” Bond ReportsOne outstanding issue the new board will need to address when it convenes is the bond report.According to Nebraska Revised Statute 17-606, a village should prepare a bond report each year, “The city treasurer or village treasurer shall keep a record of all outstanding bonds against the city or village, showing the number and amount of each bond, for and to whom the bonds were issued, and the date upon which any bond is purchased, paid, or canceled. He or she shall accompany the annual statement submitted pursuant to section 19-1101 with a description of the bonds issued and sold in that year and the terms of sale, with every item of expense thereof.”FJN reached out to Maureen Freeman-Caddy, the attorney currently handling public records requests for the village, and asked for bond reports for the last six years. She indicated there are no bond reports.A bond report would not be necessary if there was no outstanding bonds. However, a “General Obligation Water Bond” in the amount of $750,000 was signed on March 13, 2020. The purpose of the bond was to provide funds for use by the village for paying the costs of constructing improvements to the existing water systems within the village and to pay certain costs of issuing the bond.The signature on the bond was then clerk and treasurer Matthew Leatherwood. FJN reached out to Leatherwood and asked about the bond report.He said he could not remember if he had completed a report or not, “And I honestly don’t know about the bond.”FJN asked Kratz if he knew why there was no bond report. As of press time, he has not responded.EmergenciesWhile the day-to-day business is currently on hold, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners and Emergency Management will be able to step in should there be any emergencies.FJN spoke with John McKee, emergency manager for Jefferson and Saline counties, who indicated the county will take charge, whether the emergency be natural, such as a tornado or other severe weather, or a major problem with services, such as a failure of the water or sewer systems. McKee said, “In an emergency, the village won’t be left high and dry.”

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