Sadler introduces building inspector, assistant search over

The introduction of a new city chief building inspector, along with the announcement its new assistant city manager, was made during Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Sidney City Council.

At the start of the meeting, City Manager Ed Sadler introduced Kevin Kubo to the council as the city’s new chief building inspector.

“He was the building inspector previously in Alliance,” Sadler said. “He’s joined us, moved down here and is fitting right in very nicely.”

Kubo told council that he grew up in Chadron and graduate from Chadron State College in 1986 before moving to upstate New York. He said he returned Nebraska to start a family and lived in Alliance for 20 years, working as both a contractor and building inspector.

“Not at the same time,” he said.

Kubo said Sidney has welcomed him with open arms and he has been really happy with the move. As far as work, he said there is “a lot to do.”

Also during Tuesday’s meeting, Sadler announced to council that interviews for the assistant city manager position have concluded.

In an interview last month, Sadler described the assistant city manager as “an updated version of the public services director.”

According to the job description previously available on the City of Sidney website, the assistant city manager “will provide leadership support and assistance to the City Manager, including analyzing and implementing policies and procedures, assisting in the preparation of the budget.”

They will also oversee environmental and and construction projects, as well as the city public works departments, which include electric, parks, solid waste, street, water and wastewater.

Sadler said the position was offered and accepted by Dawn Martin, who worked as an environmental assistance coordinator with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) in Lincoln.

“So we will gain some expertise for the state revolving fund,” Sadler said.

The NDEQ’s state revolving fund, or SRF, are loans intended to provide support in financing construction in clean water and drinking water projects.

Sadler also said Martin’s associate’s degree is in construction management and she has performed construction estimating in the past.

“And I think it’s her construction background that tipped it for me,” he said. “Plus the fact that I’m sure that’s part of why she’s so heavily involved in the SRF, is being able to evaluate it not only from the financial, but a construction perspective.”

Martin will begin her duties with the City of Sidney on July 5.