Council Discusses Highway Funding Options

The State of Nebraska is proposing more work on highways near Sidney. The question is how to fund the City’s share of the cost of nearly $2 million.

“This is a pretty good offer,” City Manager Ed Sadler said Tuesday.

The work will effectively take off from where the last project ended east of Sidney toward Highway 385/Highway 17J. There are several options that have been discussed already, including using existing funds from the road budget and funding the project with bonds. In his letter to the City’s bonding company, Sadler said he is recommending one payment at the end of the road work, with bond sale concluding from November to December 2020.

Sadler also submitted estimates for bond rates for 10-year, 15-year and 20-year terms. Quoted rates vary from 3.05 percent for a 10-year payback, 3.40 percent for a 10-year payback and 3.56 percent for a 20-year payback.

“I think there are multiple ways we can get this done,” Sadler said.

He said regardless of the decision on bond funding, the City will first pursue grant funding for its share of the project. The State is encouraging the City to wait until the project is completed to fund it. Sadler said the advantage in waiting is if the cost changes, the bond is for the correct amount; there is no need to redo the bond or seek another note. The funds would not be needed until about fall 2020.

In other business, the council discussed three Planning Commission members whose terms expire June 1. The Council approved re-appointing John Glenn and Caleb Sweetser to the Planning Commission, each for three-year terms. Board member Deanna Volkmer chose not to return to the Planning Commission. The City will continue seeking applications for the third seat.

The council also approved the 2018 International Building Codes.

“It will help all Nebraska counties. All contractors will follow one code,” Sidney Chief Building Official Kevin Kubo said.

The codes updated include Building Codes, Residential Codes, Plumbing Codes, Mechanical Codes, Fuel/Gas Codes, Property Maintenance Codes and Energy Conservation Codes. According to Kubo’s memo to the council, “the International Building Codes are founded on principles intended to establish provisions that are consistent and that adequately protect public health, safety and welfare.”

The memo also says Building Codes are developed over a three-year period with code changes introduced by Code officials, industry professionals and manufacturers. The State of Nebraska passed LB405, adopting the 2018 International Building Codes.

Kubo said most of the updates are “minor word changes.”

The code updates were approved by a 4-0 vote with vice-mayor Joe Arterburn absent.