City council moves forward with development initiatives

With spring and the construction season nearing, the Sidney City Council on Tuesday night passed motions advancing numerous development initiatives.

Jack Baker from Baker & Associates was present to provide an update on the 11th Avenue trail project.

“It’s moving along pretty well,” he told the council. “Really, no major problems.”

But the 11th Avenue and Old Post Road beautification project has hit a snag, he said.

After initially receiving no bids for that project, a quote submitted a few weeks was higher than expected, Baker explained.

That project entails three components: landscaping, plantings and seeding; irrigation system; and signage, retaining wall and lighting.

Baker suggested dividing the work into three separate bids to attract contractors specializing in each area.

“Given the opportunity, we could really bring the cost down,” he said. “That’d be our suggestion. Go back, reissue plans and see what we get.”

The council agreed with Baker, and he will bring the revised plans back to council at the next meeting for approval.

Through a unanimous vote, Saunders Construction was selected as the construction manager for the swimming pool project.

While Saunders was the only company interviewed for the role, Gary Person, Sidney city manager, said it is a well-qualified company to lead the project.

“Everybody tried to get more people interested,” he said. “We’re just fortunate that somebody with the experience factor was able to step forward.”

Mayor Mark Nienhueser said he was disappointed more companies didn’t respond to the project.

“But I think we have a good candidate to serve this role for us,” he added.

Chuck Musgrave, CFO and principal of Barker, Rinker and Seacat Architecture, also attended the meeting to provide an update on the pool project. He presented a finished schematic design that had been developed in conjunction with city staff.

“It’s what we really think the project may look like,” he said.

The design included an increased bathhouse so that any future water features could be added without having to first increase the size of the bathhouse.

“Now that we have a construction manager on board, we can price this and come to a really good number,” Musgrave said. “My job is to make this work within your budget.”

Council member Chris Gay said he was concerned the new pool would have less water than the current facility.

Tom Von Seggern, park superintendent, warned if the water park opened without a slide, there’d likely be criticism.

Nienhueser said it will be difficult to provide all the amenities everyone wants due to funding constraints.

“This is going to be a challenge,” he said. “Our last pool lasted 40 years. We’re trying to finance this one in 10 years.”

Also at the meeting:

• Public Alliance for Community Energy Director John Hehnke – who is also the city’s public services director – presented the council with a check for $10,565.89. The money was Sidney’s share of $150,000 of excess revenue being returned to the 72 Nebraska communities of the nonprofit community-owned natural gas supplier.

Hehnke said he was happy to be able to return funds to help benefit projects in the community.

“We thank ACE, and we’ll put it to good use,” Nienhueser said.

• The city council unanimously approved the purchase of a new slope mower for the parks department. With credit for the trade-in of the existing mower, the total price was $41,700 – below the budgeted allocation of $45,000.

Von Seggern said the mower is an important piece of equipment for the department.

• Sidney Director of Golf Chuck Christensen asked the council to increase the annual cart rental storage and trail fees by $25 due to rising costs.

“I did some checking with courses that are open,” Christensen said. “The Gerring trail fee is $260 with gas. Kimball, without gas, is $227. We’re asking for $165 with gas – well under anybody else.”

He added, it had been at least seven years since the last increase.

The motion was approved 4-1, with Joe Arterburn casting the only nay.

• The next Sidney City Council meeting is scheduled for March 24 at 7:15 p.m. at City Hall.