Grand Island City Hall, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND — The Grand Island City Council met Jan. 23 and approved 27 items on the consent agenda.
Four other items that were on the consent agenda were removed for discussion. Nine of 10 City Council members were present, with Michelle Fitzke absent.
One major project that the city is undertaking is improving South Locust Street from Fonner Park Road to Second Street.
The heavily driven stretch of road was described as having both asphalt and concrete paving, with some sections of the street in better condition than others.
City Engineer Keith Kurz answered questions about the project. He said that work on the project should begin “by this time next year.” During the time the road is under construction, north/south traffic will still be maintained. The Council voted 9-0 to approve Amendment No. 1 for engineering consulting services from Olsson Associates for the project.
After some discussion, the Council voted 9-0 to approve final completion for the Central Nebraska Regional Airport Sanitary Sewer Collection System Rehabilitation Project.
Council members discussed a request to purchase seven APX 8500 Motorola radios that will be installed in new police vehicles. The Council voted 9-0 to approve the purchase.
Council members voted 9-0 to approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the Grand Island Area Economic Development Corp (EDC). City Administrator Laura McAloon on Jan. 25 gave further details about that Memo of Understanding. She said that the issue involves having EDC facilitate a required housing study. HUD requires the city to do a housing study every five years. This study will update a 2018 study. The study concerns helping promote affordable housing. A grant from the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority is involved. With the grant, EDC will be able to use a portion of the grant to cover its administrative cost, she said.
Another item on the consent agenda was to approve a preliminary engineering services agreement with JEO Consulting Group for what is called the South Locust trail. The hiker/biker trail would go from where the trail meets South Locust Street south along the west side of South Locust Street to just past Camp Augustine at Mormon Island. The trail would cross two channels of the Platte River, McAloon said. The trail would eventually go to Mormon Island State Recreation Area. Plans are underway to transform Mormon Island State Recreation Area to a state park, McAloon said. She noted there is no state park in central Nebraska.
Another item on the consent agenda also concerned city’s hiker/biking trail. The agenda item was to approve an environmental Services Agreement with Alfred Benesch and Co. for what is called the Grand Island West Connector Trail. The trail is southwest of the corner of South North Road and West Old Potash Highway and in the area of Shoemaker Elementary School, McAloon said. Eventually, there will be a hiker/biking trail around the city of Grand Island.
The remainder of the consent agenda was approved on a 9-0 vote.
A public hearing occurred on a request from Werner Construction for a conditional use permit to operate a mobile concrete batch plan on a temporary basis for a local road construction project located at 4199 County Road 29 (Stolley Park Road). The site is west of Grand Island along Highway 30. It is a two-year permit. The Council voted 9-0 to approve the request.
The Council discussed forwarding a Blighted and Substandard Study for a Proposed CRA Area where Anderson KIA is located to the Hall County Regional Planning Commission. The issue was approved by a 9-0 vote.
The Council was asked to approve changes to several local speed limits, including a stretch of Highway 281, Claude Road, and 18th Street. The Council voted 9-0 to approve the changes.
A salary ordinance was introduced that involves three positions. The Council voted 9-0 to approve the ordinance.
The Council was asked to approve updates to various City Code sections. One issue that was discussed involved people who sit at Pioneer Park and violate City Code. The Council voted 9-0 to approve the updates to various City Codes.
The City Council packet was very large, containing several hundred pages of documents. The City Council meeting scheduled for earlier this month was cancelled due to very cold temperatures, so that is part of the reason the consent agenda was so long for the Jan. 23 meeting.
