City Council Informed of $16k Pool Repair Bill

SIDNEY--On Tuesday, June 25, Sidney's City Council met in a relatively brief session. After approving the minutes from the last meeting, the council went into the first order of business, naming Chase Frerichs as interim Parks Superintendent.

Parks Superintendent Tom Von Seggern announced he was retiring in August from his position, which also oversees Cemeteries and the Sidney Aquatic Center. He plans on conducting interviews to find a successor by September of this year. In the interim, Chase Frerichs will be the acting Parks Superintendent. Von Seggern said Frerichs spent six years with the City of Lincoln and two years in Sidney working for the Parks Department. Frerichs will also be a permanent member of the Tree Board. In 2019 the City of Sidney determined that the Parks Superintendent would also be a permanent member of the Tree Board. Von Seggern noted that Frerichs would be a great fit for this position, as he showed a strong interest in trees in his work with the Parks Department. The council approved the interim appointment 5-0.

Von Seggern then moved on to the next order of business, informing the council of needed repairs at the Sidney Aquatic Center. He stated that a water leak was discovered in the lap pool during an inspection conducted by a technician from Prestige Pools on June 5. Von Seggern and the pool technician determined that the leak was in the return line, coming through the wall of the pump pit. The leak is between the Mechanical Building and the Bath House. Von Seggern said the leak is under concrete, and repairs would necessitate the closure of the swimming facility. The repair has been scheduled for after the end of the swimming season, and not affect pool users or the employees working at the facility. He said Prestige Polls estimates the repair at $12,500 plus approximately $1,000 in parts. The job will take only one day to complete, and with labor costs, Von Seggern estimated the total cost of the repair project at $16,000.

City Manager David Scott reported that Forrest Street is now open between 17th Avenue and 19th Avenue, with work in that area being completed. He also said the parking lot at the Aquatic Center and trails around the facility are also finished. He also noted that the road work on Jackson Street and 14th Avenue is completed. The crew will work on another project for about three weeks, and then return to start work on the Memorial Gardens and Golf Course parking lots. He also stated that he attended the 6 Regions, 1 Nebraska meeting with Governor Pillen in Gering, and Sidney was well-represented at the conference. He ended his comments by reminding the council that a Strategic Planning Session is scheduled for July 2 at noon at the City Offices.

City Clerk Lori Borchert said that the Farmer's Market will be starting on Saturday, June 29. Twenty-six vendors are scheduled to be in Hickory Square, every Saturday morning until the end of summer. Tom Von Seggern then told the council that mosquito spraying would be starting in the middle of July and that he would put notices in the Sidney Sun-Telegraph and other media outlets. He also said there is a process for residents to opt out of the spraying if they desire.