Sidney to Receive Outdoor Pickleball Courts

SIDNEY--On Tuesday, November 26, 2024, the City of Sidney council held its regular meeting, with several items on the agenda. Councilmen Paul Strommen and Brandon Bondegard were absent from this meeting. After approving the council minutes from the November 12 meeting and November 15 Strategic Planning meeting, the council moved to the first order of business.

Cheyenne County Veterans Service Officer Fred Wiedeburg introduced Eagle Scout candidate Grady Kendall to the council and explained that for many years the Boy Scout was always on hand for U.S. Flag ceremonies, whether it was retirement ceremonies via bonfire or to help plant flags at gravesites on Memorial Day. Wiedeburg thought it was a great idea when Kendall proposed building two proper flag retirement drop boxes for his Eagle Scout project, and Wiedeburg encouraged him in the endeavor. One of the drop boxes was displayed in the council chamber, and it was a finely finished piece made of wood and entirely constructed by Kendall. Kendall explained that there were no true flag drop boxes in the Cheyenne County area, and the ones used previously were makeshift cardboard boxes. He believed the United States flag deserved a proper drop box befitting the honor the flag represents, and he constructed two of these drop boxes, one for the Cheyenne County Courthouse, and the other to be placed at City Hall in Sidney.

Kendall said, "I came up with the idea to create a better solution, and later went to Fred (Wiedeburg) and asked for his thoughts on the box. He was supportive of the project. From there, we formed a plan and got to work."

After completing this project, Kendall has some paperwork tasks to complete and will be eligible to receive his Eagle Scout award in 2025. He noted that the total cost of materials for the two boxes was $950 and that he had raised $650 to cover the expense. He then asked the council if it would be possible to obtain a grant from the city for the $300 that remained. City Manager David Scott informed Mayor Brad Sherman that according to the city charter, the Mayor could award funds for a Boy Scouts of America project such as Kendall's. Mayor Sherman agreed and granted Kendall the $300 to pay for the project.

Heidi Gillespie, Director of Cheyenne County Emergency Communications Center (CCECC), gave the annual report for Cheyenne and Deuel County public safety entities for communication and dispatching services. The Cheyenne County Emergency Communications Center handles all emergency calls in the counties, except calls for the Nebraska State Patrol. Gillespie said that year-to-date, the Communication Center has created 18,920 service calls between the Police Department, Sheriff's Department, Duel County, Ambulance, Fire Department, and 911 emergency service. She said that equipment, software, and different platforms have been utilized to provide the best possible service for residents. Services like Rapid SOS and Prepared Live are programs that allow tracking and can send hyperlinks to share photos and live stream during emergency calls. Mayor Sherman thanked Gillespie for everything that the CCECC does to ensure the safety of the community. Gillespie noted that the CCECC is understaffed and looking for two dispatchers to hire immediately.

City of Sidney Street Superintendent Hank Radtke spoke with the council concerning bids for the 13th Street bridge repair. He noted Mark Chrisman Trucking had submitted the lowest bid, coming in at $89,765, and proposed a starting date of March 15, 2025.

Don Dye of MC Schaff & Associates was at the meeting and said the repairs should take about 60 days to complete. He also said his firm recommended delaying the repairs until March as starting the project during the winter months would cause additional expenses for cold weather equipment and could cause traffic problems during times of snow removal. The council agreed with his assessment and approved the bid of $89,765 3-to-0.

Parks Superintendent Chase Frerichs next spoke to the council about resurfacing the tennis courts and adding pickleball courts in Legion Park. Frerichs said the tennis court surface needed resurfacing and also felt there was a need for pickleball courts due to the surging popularity of the sport. He claimed people that now play the game at the Community Center want outdoor courts on which to play, and that four pickleball courts could be added for the same amount of space occupied by one tennis court. Frerichs had received a bid from Renner Sports to resurface one tennis court and install four pickleball courts for $43,000. The posts and nets for the pickleball courts would cost an additional $2,000. The council approved the expenditure of $45,000 for the project 3-to-0.

City Manager David Scott announced the next council meeting would land on Christmas Eve, and therefore suggests the meeting be moved to December 17. The council approved the change. Scott also noted that he had attended the Nebraska City Manager Association meeting and the League of Nebraska Municipalities. He announced the Holiday at Hickory Square event is on December 7, and the Employee Recognition Banquet will be held on January 10, 2025. Scott then congratulated Todd Sukup, Waste Water Treatment Plant Supervisor, on recently receiving the Hatfield Award from the Water Environment Federation for outstanding performance and professionalism.

Sidney Library Director Amanda Eastin said the bookmobile was receiving maintenance, but should be up and running next week. She also said the Friends of the Library will be crafting holiday ornaments, and that the public was encouraged to attend the Merry Grinchmas event and Holiday Open House on December 18, 2024.