Council Thanks Retiring Board Member

The meeting was short, but the celebration was much longer.

The Sidney City Council expedited business Tuesday in record time, setting up for a well-deserved thank-you to councilman Wendal Gaston who chose not to seek re-election.

Gaston closes more than 16 ½ years of service to the City of Sidney with the opening of the next city council meeting. Tuesday's meeting ended with a reception for Gaston and his family.

At the close of the meeting, Mayor Joe Arterburg presented Gaston with a plaque commemorating his service, a picture of the Gaston Building.

Gaston is also retiring from his job in the pharmacy. He and his wife are looking forward to traveling and seeing family.

In the formal council meeting, the council approved a grant agreement between the City and Vitalix. In her letter to the city council, Economic Development Director Melissa Norgard said the City completed a grant application  and is entering a contract with the State of Nebraska for Site and Building Development Funds. The funds would assist Vitalix in purchasing the building on Cheyenne County Road 101E and an additional 10 acres. The project includes renovation, acquisition of machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures of the new building.

Norgard further said the company is investing more than $8 million into the project. Vitalix is expected to add another 24-30 new jobs to the local economy.

The contract, for $150,000, is between the City and Vitalix, and the City and the State.

the council discussed terminating the agreement with the Cheyenne County Community Center. The termination would be to renegotiate the terms of the agreement. City Manager Ed Sadler said all other departments and budget line items experienced budget reductions. The Community Center was scheduled for cuts as well. He told the council the reduction is from $120,000 to $110,000. City Attorney

J. Leef said she reviewed the contract with the Community Center and the contract is automatically renewed annually until April 30, 2019. To withdraw from the contract, the Community Center would have to be notified by Jan. 31, 2019. In her letter to Sadler, Leef said the City should have expressed its intent to terminate the contract in 2017. She added the city council should have enough time to review the contract before submitting written notice of termination, adding that the month of January would provide time to renegotiate the contract.

The council also approved the appointment of Kelcy Cottrell for a three-year term on the Historic Preservation Board and Dennis Denovolis to the Airport Authority.