Potter Community Hall Renovation Project Approvals Getting Closer

MIKE MOTZ

Sidney Sun-Telegraph

POTTER--It has been a long process between securing initial funding, preparing plans, and getting contractors to bid on the work, but it looks like early 2025 will see the Potter Community Hall Project move forward in earnest, as nearly all of the elements required to move forward with the project are close to being secured.

The Sun-Telegraph reported on much of the early work on the renovation and the challenges the project has had to endure. COVID-19 was a big challenge, limiting workers and materials to be used on the project and sharply escalating costs. Coupled with supply chain difficulties, the project's costs were raised significantly.

There were also difficulties securing an architectural firm with the resources and time available to steer the project. Through the difficulties, progress has been made, and Hal Enevoldsen, the project's director, had a lot to say and a lot of information for the Village Trustees to act upon at the Thursday, December 19, 2024 Village Trustee meeting.

Before the group could get into funding issues, they first had to discuss a change in zoning for the Community Hall. The Community Hall is currently zoned as R-2. R-2 is a residential zoning that allows for some mixed-use commercial or community space. Claire Smith, with the Planning Commission, said that the Community Hall is a non-conforming structure within the R-2 zone. Although this is allowed, it also means that the Community Hall cannot be expanded, which is part of the project plans. To allow for the expansion, the Community Hall needed to be rezoned as C-1, commercial. The group discussed how to make this happen, and whether it could be done at the meeting. It was determined that the Planning Commission needed to convene to discuss the issue, neighboring property owners needed to be informed of the potential change, and a Public Hearing needed to be held. Moving as quickly as possible, it is hoped the Planning Commission will have a clear path forward to getting the work necessary completed to begin to implement the zoning change procedure in time for the January 13, 2025 meeting.

The group then discussed the project details, the funding mechanisms used to finance the project, and the timelines involved. The group was joined by Jack Baker of JEO Consulting who has been working closely with Enevoldsen on the project. The group first wanted to determine which of the next phases of the project needed to be funded and implemented first, and after much discussion, the order of work was determined to be Electrical, Framing, Drywall, and Insulation. There was also much discussion concerning the funding, and it was determined that approximately $42k needed to be raised by the end of February to pay the contractors for the first phases of the work. The project has received a $300k grant through the State of Nebraska, with $150k already being dispersed. An additional $190k must be spent using other sources of funding to receive the next draw-down of $150k from the grant. Envoldsen stressed that no taxpayer money from Potter has been used in the project, except for small amounts for electricity and utility expenses.

There was also a discussion about the plans for the project, and whether they should be approved before the building inspectors' review and zoning change implementation. Although a change to the project plans could present difficulties with the project, the group generally agreed that plans are generally approved prior to these reviews by building inspectors, and in the interest of not delaying the process any longer, the Trustees voted to accept the plans by a vote of 4-to-1, with Kendra Mitchell casting the opposing vote.

The Trustees also discussed a $50k Grant from T-Mobile that would be used to help finance the project. The grant is a stand-alone disbursement, with no matching funds required. Envoldsen said he needed just one more recommendation letter he is in the process of acquiring, and the grant should then be approved.

Although there are many moving parts to the project, especially with financing, it looks like Hal Envoldsen and the Trustees have a good handle on the process, and are moving forward at a good pace to have the renovation completed. The Sun-Telegraph will have more information to relay on the project as the Village of Potter has two meetings in the middle of January, one on the 13th at 7 pm and the other on the 21st at 6 pm. A bid review for the first few projects should be on the agenda for the meeting on January 21. The meetings are at the Village Office on Sherman Street, and are open to the public.