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 Sidney City Council recently approved new people on the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment and on the Historic Preservation Board.
In the Jan. 14 city council meeting, Dave Hausmann, Steve Hume and Scott McDaniel were recommended to return to the Board of Adjustment. Hausmann has served on the board for 15 years, McDaniel 10 years and Hume 19 years. The Board of Adjustment consists of five regular members plus one alternate, all of whom are appointed by the City Council for a term of three years. One of the regular members must be appointed from the membership of the Planning Commission. This board has the authority in specific cases to authorize variances or to vary or modify the zoning codes of the City of Sidney.
The council also approved the appointment of Matt Benzel to fill a vacancy on the Planning Commission. The position held by Deanna Volkmer expired June 1, 2019, and she has chosen not to return. Benzel's term expires Jun 1, 2022.
The Planning Commission consists of nine members each appointed to a three-year term. The Planning Commission is responsible for making and adopting plans for the physical development of the city, and to make recommendations to appropriate public public officials regarding programs for public structures, and improvements for financing the programs.
The Planning Commission will be seeking another member as John Phillips was appointed to a four-year term on the Historic Preservation Board. Economic Development Director Melissa Norgard told the council a person cannot serve simultaneously on the Planning Commission and the Historic Preservation Board.
In the City's financial statement, Finance Director David Scott showed a slight increase in revenue for November 2019 compared to November 2018. The Dec. 10, 2019 report shows property tax and DMV revenue budgeted at about $1.5 million for 2018, $1.4 million for 2019 and $1.34 million for 2020. Property Tax and DMV collected $175,056 in November 2019, compared to $154,673 in 2018 and $76,494 in 2017 for a 13 percent increase. Overall, taking into account sales and occupation tax, fees for service, state, federal and county revenue, franchise and administrative, and other sources, November recorded a 10 percent gain over the same period in recent years.
Scott said some of the “other” budget item is the $8,700 the City receives from UST Global/Xpanxion for the rental agreement on the three-story building at 13th and Illinois. In Scott's report, he said the rental revenue will be offset by the property taxes and insurance.
Reader Comments(0)