Council Approves 2-Hour Parking

The Sidney City Council approved limiting parking on the east side of 10th Avenue from Jackson Street to King Street.

The move was made in the October 11 meeting of the city council.

The move was discussed in a previous meeting. The concern is extended parking could hinder businesses in the area and the apartment residents in the area have other parking options.

In the October 11 meeting, City Manager David Scott said the businesses were surveyed with no objections to limited parking.

The limit will be only for parking on the east side of 10th Avenue.

New Freedom Yurt Structures LLC has been awarded a $75,000 grant. The grant was completed by the City of Sidney and awarded by the State of Nebraska Economic Development Site and Building Development Fund. The grant is to assist New Freedom Yurt Structures with construction costs associated with upgrading and updating the headquarters, warehouse and manufacturing space. New Freedom Yurt Structures is located at 3200 County Road 101.

The funds will be used to upgrade lighting, HVAC, restrooms, paint booths, and other projects related to the business.

Freedom Yurts moved to Sidney several years ago when Ken Sawyer moved to Sidney from South Dakota with his wife. He had been a cabinet maker in Denver. After a few years with Cabela's, he contacted a former business partner, and soon Freedom Yurts began taking shape. The company produces homes that can be disassembled and reassembled in days, moved in sections. The wood cabins are built according to customer specifications. Customers vary from retail, military, governmental customers and tribal to name a few.

The business recently relocated to a larger building and currently employs 27, with plans to hire an additional 16 employees in the next two years.

The City Council also approved the reappointment of Dolores Virgil to the Housing Authority. The reappointment would continue her term until October 2027. She was recommended and approved to serve on the Housing Authority in 2006. She lives in the Sioux Villa and would give input regarding the needs of the Sioux Villa residents.