Barnard City Council Minutes for January, February, and March of 2013

I realized I neglected to post the 2013 council minutes.  I will get them posted.  I will not post the agendas or all of the financials.  I do have them on file if there are any requests.

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Barnard Christmas House 2013

There is sound.  You may have to turn up the volume.

Barnard Christmas Lights 2013

Rumor has it that the council is considering replacing the aging downtown decorations.

William Montgomery "Monty" Fuller, the owner of the old hardware store, brought the building back to life after decades of lifelessness.

Happy Birthday Charlene Watson

Charlene Watson celebrated an undisclosed number of anniversaries of her 21st birthday on December 15th.  Happy Birthday Charlene, with best wishes and blessings for many more.

Barnard Lions Club Annual Pancake Day 2013

December 21, 2013 at the Barnard Lions Community Building.

The cost is by donation.  A drawing for hams, bacon, and pork chops will be at 7 p.m.  Drawing tickets for $1 each.  They may be purchased that day or from any member.

Santa Claus will arrive at 1:30 p.m.

The Barnard Christmas House 2013

Well, this year is the Christmas display that almost wasn't.  After an electrical problem burnt out most of my lights, timers, etc...and $400 later, the display is back on track.  The display will be on from Thanksgiving night until December 31st from 5:30 until 10:30 p.m.

Randy Longino

Barnard's Cafe...A Memory?

Previous to the November council meeting, a serious water leak developed in the café building in downtown Barnard resulting in damage to the building, fixtures and equipment, and furnishings.  The city collected approximately $6,000 from the insurance company to cover repairs. 

The building, its future, and the insurance money were the topics for discussion during the November and December council meetings.  The points of discussion were what to do with the insurance money and what to do with the building. 

Discussion points:

1.  Repairing the building for a new tenant.  Barb Rathbun had been in communication with Munchies in Lincoln to determine the interest in the Barnard café.  Their response was unknown in November.
2.  Using the insurance money to reimburse the angel donors.  This notion was dismissed because the donors had given the money to the city for the building.  It was not a loan.
3.  Repairing the building and selling it.
4.  Keeping the insurance money and selling the building as is.

During the December council meeting, it was determined that the city would keep the insurance money and put the building up for sale as is.  It was stated that there were several interested parties interested in the building.  The city will be accepting bids through the end of December.

The café had several re-starts after Betty Loy closed Betty's Place a number of years ago.  Subsequent attempts at opening the restaurant were unsuccessful for various reasons such as arbitrary hours of operation, food quality, price, and hospitality.  Several community members stated that the café had nothing to draw people in unlike Betty's Place, which received national attention.  State highway employees said that they all wanted to get the Barnard run when they had to work on the roads.  If they got the morning run, they could get cinnamon rolls and if they got the afternoon run, they could get Betty's chicken.  Could Betty be persuaded to re-open Betty's Place?