City Approves Dispatch Agreement

The Sidney City Council Tuesday approved its part of the Cheyenne County Emergency Communications agreement for Deuel County services to be dispatched by the Cheyenne County dispatch center.

“What you see tonight is revisions basically reflecting an inclusion of Deuel County,” said City Manager Ed Sadler.

The agreement calls for Deuel County to pay 5 percent of the Emergency Communications Center costs, and Cheyenne County and the City of Sidney’s costs will be scaled back proportionally for two years. The signed agreement will be forwarded to the county commissioners for the April 30 meeting. The agreement is to take affect July 1.

Sadler said Deuel County had been contracting with Keith County at a rate of $1,000 per month, but ended the agreement because they were not happy with the service. He added that calls for service are directly related to the population of the community. For example, the City of Sidney pays the largest share of the Communication Center costs, followed by Cheyenne County, and the population of both entities reflect the difference in population. Sadler said if that formula is applied, Deuel County’s share would increase after the first two years to about 16 percent.

“The calls are very tied to the population,” he said.

He said he doesn’t expect an addition to staff. Additional equipment is being supplied for the Communication Center to communicate with Deuel County agencies.

The Council also reviewed a Pavement Management Study and Plan. Sadler said the City staff of Sadler, Assistant City Manager Dawn Martin and Street Superintendent Hank Radtke met with a civil engineering firm regarding the city’s streets including anticipated paving projects and curb and gutter needs. He said the confirms that the city’s biggest concern is near the curbs where the pavement thins. He added Sidney’s problem is drainage.

He said the City looked into purchasing a curb and gutter machine. He said they learned no communities own curb and gutter machines.

“Apparently, it is very labor intensive to replace the curbs unless you do it at the same time as the construction of the street,” Radtke said in a memo to city council.

He said they are suggesting budgeting $25,000 annually from Federal-State STP Fund. The City would then contract on alternating years to have someone do $50,000 of curb and gutter replacement. He added if the estimate is too low, the City may have to plan on three-year intervals.

“I think we have a pecking order on what needs to be done first,” said councilman Bob Olsen.

Sadler said the priorities could change each year upon review of the streets.

The City Council also approved the purchase of a new dump truck for the Street Department. The Council had already approved Radtke spending $165,000 for a new dump truck. Cornhusker International Trucks Inc. in Omaha quoted a price of $164,677, a price used in the National Joint Powers Alliance and State bids.