City considers welcome signs, energy conservation

New signage and saving money were the biggest concerns at last night's city council meeting.

Scott Day of Urban Development Services, a company that specializes in design management and commercial revitalization, displayed various design concepts for a "Welcome to Sidney" sign planned for the intersection of 11th Ave. and Old Post Road.

The council appeared unanimous in their appreciation of the concept of a long, low stone wall as the base for the new sign. Roger Gallaway pointed out that the design tied in with some of the historic structures in town.

"I like the stone because it is indicative of some of the old buildings," Gallaway said.

The council also discussed installing attractive landscaping at the entrance to the city. Day expressed a need to make sure there's a significant contrast from a driver's standpoint between nearby fields and ranches and the edge of town. He suggested planting trees around the sign. He also boasted the benefits of landscaping native to the prairie, using different groundcover than the more common turf grass.

Using native plants instead of groundcover was not Vice Mayor Mark Nienhueser's first choice for the sign's landscaping, however.

"This is the entrance to city," Nienhueser said. "It needs to be done right. You only get one chance and curb appeal means everything."

Nienhueser again expressed his desire that the sign be properly maintained if the city is going to spend a significant amount of money on it. Councilman Joe Arterburn countered that native plants don't necessarily have to resemble a pasture, but Nienhueser pointed out that the other "Welcome to Sidney" signs are just surrounded by prairie grass.

"What we're trying to do is design so you reduce your maintenance costs," Day said.

He estimated that the cost of the sign would be around $70-$80,000.

The next phase of Day's plans will show the positioning of the sign and possible landscaping to go around it.

Saving power

Conserving electricity was on the agenda at last night's meeting, as well.

"Our mission has been to reduce some of our electric costs in some of our well fields," said water department superintendent Bill Taylor.

Lincoln Williams of HOA Solutions in Lincoln presented the council will a possible solution to cut energy costs. Williams informed the council about the benefits of installing variable frequency drive software on the city's four north water wells.

Most pump motors are either on or off, they don't have adjustable speeds.

"A variable frequency drive adjusts the speed of that motor," Williams said.

The new technology would run the pump in way that would pump the most water for the least amount of electricity. This technology finds the most efficient pumping speed and runs the pump at that speed.

"It gives you the most gallons per kilowatt," Williams said.

The drive would add higher efficiency to the wells and he estimated that the lower use of electricity would save more than $2500 per month. That estimate is very conservative, he said.

Nienhueser did not want to install this equipment without first consulting the original engineer and making sure that the city would actually see some savings.

The original engineer did recommend VFD technology, but it wasn't used, City Manager Gary Person explained.

"As a result of this not getting incorporated into the original project, as recommended, we've spent quite a bit of money on motors," Person said.

Taylor agreed that without the VFD, equipment is more likely to wear out sooner.

"We've had to basically redo two of them out there," Taylor said.

Taylor added that his main concerns were energy costs.

"I watch those bills and they concern me immensely," said Mayor Wendall Gaston.

Saving almost $1 million over 20 years is worth looking into, he said.

"That's a pretty good deal," Gaston added.

One way west

The council then passed a resolution to designate Osage St. as a one way westbound along West Elementary School.

"This was something the school approached the city about doing," Person said.

The city worked with the police and school officials to decide on the specifics of the one way street. All involved want to get it done before the start of the school year.

The council passed the resolution, but decided to review how the one way street is working in six months.

"I think its something we can try and get feedback on," Gallaway said.

The council then passed a resolution to put a stop sign at 23rd Ave. and Newton.

"This has been an area that's been of concern for some time," Person said. "It's been studied by the street department and this is their recommendation."

The councilmen agreed that the intersection would be safer with signs.

"It seems like a good idea," Arterburn said.

The council also approved a resolution to put up stop signs at Summit Drive and El Rancho Road.

"It's a safety issue," Person said.

There's a steep decline down Summit and people who drive on that road have often reported that they've seen several near misses, Person said.

"It's a little bit of a blind corner," he added.