Neligh Mayor Rebuts Baker's Claim Of Unpaid Rebate

The City of Neligh was publicly accused of not paying an electric rebate, but Neligh mayor Joe Hartz rebutted that claim and said the check was cashed nearly a year ago.

Hartz told the city council at the start of Tuesday's meeting that at a previous public meeting "Connie Baker brought up the fact that she had not been addressed in the rebate program, so I told her we would check and see where it was at. Connie did get a rebate, and she cashed the check for the rebate."

According to the August 2014 bills published by the City of Neligh, Baker received her rebate that month. The check cleared, or was cashed, the following month. 

Council member Ted Hughes voiced frustration into the allegation.

"I guess I feel when the truth comes to light that whole discussion was made to make the City and City employees look bad, and I would like that noted," Hughes said. "I'm not going to term it what I think it was."

Superintendent Dean Bly said it took several inspections before the rebate was filed due to incomplete work, but he also confirmed the rebate occurred nearly a year ago.

"There were several times we went out to inspect Connie's property, and it wasn't completed," Bly said. "That's why it didn't get signed off on (right away)."

Hartz said electrical rebate forms are available at the City offices for water heaters, furnaces, lights, conversions and much more and encouraged residents to get a form.