City Council Dispatches Short Agenda

Sidney’s Aquatic Center will make some scheduling changes next summer as it works to become more efficient with employee time and associated costs.

In November, council heard from Parks Superintendent Tom Von Seggern, who said after its second year of operation, the department would look at ways to cut expenses. Von Seggern wasn’t present at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, but Dawn Graves, assistant city manager, presented a plan that shifts or cuts hours of operation.

Night lap swimming will be shifted to early morning. Graves said the change should meet the needs of swimmers better. She said at times there have been more life guards than swimmers.

Attendance at the pool rose last year and Graves said reviews will continue to make sure the facility continues to meet the public’s needs.

A Sidney Lego Robotics class is preparing to attend a tournament next weekend, and practiced its presentation on Council members.

The six-student team, coached by Tammy Sherman, outlined a project that originated with the intent to do a presentation on water. As team members outlined the changing project, they told council members how the idea ground water recharging of an aquifer came and went as they spoke with various officials.

The group said after talking to Shelly Gerk at the South Platte Natural Resources District, they came to better understand more about aquifers and how they recharge, then settled on a rain garden project.

After explaining rain garden basics, the group said they hope to approach a landowner, hopefully Bass Pro, for use of land where they could do a project.

Council members then asked a number of questions, from size, to cost, to time involved. Sherman said some of the questions were ones the group had not heard, and would give them a good idea what to expect in competition.

In other business:

• Two Sidney residents, John Glenn and Caleb Sweetser, were appointed to the Planning Commission.

• Members approved the purchase of a new dump truck for the sewer plant.

• Heard an update from Finance Director David Scott on financial revenue.

• During public comments, heard concerns from two citizens on various topics, from bonuses and longevity pay to the new Christmas lights not matching the color hue of existing decorations.