Council approves Frei settlement

COLUMBUS - A settlement agreement between the City of Columbus and City Administrator Joe Frei received final approval Monday from the Columbus City Council.

The agreement was one of three items approved pertaining to the city administrator's position. Also approved was a letter from Frei submitting his resignation as city administrator, effective July 19, and the appointment of William Gumm as acting city administrator. Gumm also will continue to serve as police chief.

Under the terms of the agreement, Frei will receive $88,500, which is compensation arising from a letter of understanding he signed when he was hired in 1999. He also will be entitled to his accumulated vested vacation pay and continue to receive health and dental coverage until he obtains coverage from a future employer or until Aug. 15, 2006.

Additionally, the city will contribute 6 percent of salary items into Frei's vested retirement plan. He will serve as a consultant until Oct. 15. During that time, he will receive his current salary.

Under the agreement, all claims, demands, rights and possible causes of action that either party would have against the other with respect to the employment of Frei are satisfied.

The motions to approve the agreement and to accept Frei's resignation passed on a 6-1 vote. Councilman Chuck Whitney voted no. He did not say why. Councilman Ron Schilling was absent.

Moser said after the meeting he was satisfied with the package and ready to move on.

In other business, the council:

n Referred a recommendation that the city accept a donation of land from Columbus Community Hospital to be developed into a park and lake by the Lower Loup Natural Resources District to the Committee of the Whole, which will hear a presentation from the NRD at its Aug. 15 meeting.

The board of directors for the natural resources district voted last week to support the project, which is estimated to cost about $750,000.

n Approved the application of El Jimador Mexican Grill and More for a liquor license and the manager application of Gerardo Rodrigez Leon in conjunction with the liquor license.

n Reappointed Chuck Whitney as representative to the annual meeting of the Nebraska Cooperative Government Commission for a one-year term.

n Appointed Andrea Coleman as a firefighter.

n Approved application of Margaret E. Stine as manager of Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar in conjunction with Class I liquor license.

n Approved application of Oasis Palss, for a special designated license to serve beer from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sept. 22 in an outdoor beer garden at 2010 23rd St.

n Approved interlocal cooperation agreement for library services between the city and Platte County. In the first year, the contract of $152,147 allows for $86,450 to operate the bookmobile and around $66,000 to fund walk-in service at the main library to county residents. The following three years of the contract reduces the cost of operating the bookmobile by more than $30,000 and raises the amount to fund the walk-in service to around $70,000 each year.