Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
The Cheyenne County Commissioners Monday approved an agreement with Farris Engineering for installation of new water lines at the fairgrounds.
The commissioners and Cheyenne County Fairboard have discussed on several occasions the need for updating the fairgrounds, including the water system and placement of water hydrants. Monday morning, commissioner Randal Miller said the engineering fee is $8,400. Miller said Sidney City officials suggested the County hire an engineering firm to lead the project.
“They will oversee the whole project,” Miller said.
He said the project will be addressed in two phases, with hopes the second phase will not be needed. He said a six-inch line will be built from an existing line at King Street. The hope is replacing a crumbling and sludge-packed line with a new one will restore the pressure needed for fairground water needs.
Miller admitted he is concerned with the budget impact. The first phase is expected to cost about $121,000. The cost will include the new distribution system, design fee and a new six-inch line.
If a second phase is needed, Phase 2 will be an eight-inch loop from Linden Street at an estimated cost of $165,000. Presently, there is no water service to the livestock area.
“The idea is to put new lines in,” Miller said. “They money we spend on the new taps won’t be wasted.”
Miller said the system is past the time for repair; it needs replaced.
“We’ve been band aiding this and band aiding this for years and years. It is time we get it done before something worse happens,” he said.
In other business, the Kimball County Transit Service offers public transportation throughout Kimball County, into Cheyenne County and as far as Deuel County.
The program is hoping to recruit some support from Cheyenne County. Christy Warner, administrator for the Kimball County Transit Authority, said the program brings people to Cheyenne County, but it is not in competition with the Stagecoach public transit system.
“In the beginning, we only took a few people, our residents,” Warner said.
She said the program was asked to assist Deuel County as well.
According to the website, Kimball County Transit routes include trips to Potter and Sidney, to and from Scottsbluff including Harrisburg, and to and from Cheyenne include Pine Bluffs.
The agency does its own dispatching using tablet computers in each of the busses, and a free Walkie-talkie program for their cell phones. The program also receives Rural Transportation Assistance 5311 funds which covers about 80 percent of wages and fuel and oil costs.
Warner was encouraged to meet with city officials as well.
The board also met with Karen DeBoer, 4-H Extension Educator regarding the Extension Educator position, approved an application by ARE Properties to change zoning from Agriculture to Heavy Industrial on a tract of land near the industrial park northwest of Sidney. The board also discussed the bidding process for a motor grader with Highway Superintendent Doug Hart.
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