August 7, 2023 at 7:00 PM - Beatrice Regular City Council Meeting

Discussion:  TT - LS6 by storekraft, serves large portion of north community. 3rd largest.  OA preliminary design last year, recommendations of improvements needed. this will design improvements that need to be improved $69,400 contract price.
 

Discussion:  Accuma was offered ability to apply for site & build grant. city applied for, similar with _______, as they build buildng, we submit to state, state send us $, send to accuma, have done couple others.
KErr -new bldg?  TT - yes, Jobs?  depends, was looking at mfg bldg
mayor apreicative of accuma, positive for Beatrice & nice to see

Discussion:  CDBG LOan, LB840 loans were extended couple years ago, cdbg will be taken care of this month.  lb840 sept next year.  refinancing of their personal house, our collateral to loans, additional land adding.  KErr- land worth?  TT - $30,000 land puts in good position. 2nd on land & house.

Discussion:  kerr - don't like taking 2nd to banks.
Barnard - Not sure what he said????

Discussion:  Mayor- tonight adoping master plan, conseptual idea of what it would look like.  not the design, design work hasn't started & there will be design.  Will work directly with owners of businesses/properties during design process, roundabouts, several points where public will be asked for input.  we know we will work with those.  Could take 3-10 years with the process.  know we do this right, it's change, everyone has own opinion.  worth listening to, trying to do what is best for beatrice, not today, but 20 years down the road.

Ruh - like resolution number adding the word concept to each resolution where master plan is stated, Kerr 2nd. - discussion:  Kerr  reason 2nd it, quite a few phone calls, concerned this was final plan.  this is just idea, will take this to engineer & then work with owners etc to.  also have to do this to find out final costs, plan on how to pay.  many want to get ball rolling, may find out not able to do due to lack of funds.  this is idea - vote: 7-0

Fralin - on Facebook alot, nothing against media, when people take 5 seconds of a story & blow it out of proportion.  add - concerns about roundabouts  44% reduction in all crashes with rabout; 72% ????  Federal highway determination gives these states.  most of the time, more than 4 inputs/exits.  inform yourself & don't follow.

senator down, district 30, 151_____ adams, NE - met today with NDOT.  met 1 year ago preliminary from 2014 were talked about.  today's meeting - 7 from NDOT, talked about funding, timeline - not 1 year project, how long it takes will vary on funds/federal funding, how they play in to project.  also talked about concept, once this CC approves & they send letter to NDOT, now design part will come in to play. will work from CIty.  NDOT was excited & supportive of this project, believe economic value of this will be a good main part of growth, longer you decide to put off, the further down the road it becomes.  critically important to make decision to start the ball rolling.  federal funds, many unanswered questions, but most important is do you want to proceed with this concept.  What NDOT needs is support of community.  if not support of community & gets derailed, will be because support of project is not here.  look at where Beatrice will be 5-10 years down the road.

TErry - thanked DOrn, down 7 important people there today & had good strong comments & discussion

Katie Thies, 203 North LaSalle, manager of Rail, in plans will be losing direct access & landscaping placed in front of buildng, not a plan detrimental to business, feel alienated.  feels like not part of downtown, if so, why not buy out.  several stated roundabouts ,  significant unknowns, north entrance not good like south.  back concerned about empty buildings today, 

john charles fisher, 702 _________, roundabouts drive rock truck.  hwy 32 through oakland, north of fremont, no way to put roundabout in that area without taking out businesses, trail, etc., seems rushed, dont see need for it.  truckroutes are not madatory.  no signage for truckroute.  simpler solution.  appreciate recording meetings & on youtube.  apologize, just forced to pay taxes, property taxes went up.  don't see need. put weight limit on 136, length limit, harvest time - coop is maze to get through takes off trucking by brewery.  next logical option 3rd street to  Perkins would have no way out of home.  get its conceptual, long term plan, but some reactions were just here.

kate ratigan, black crow owner, __________sterling, ne  not against doing something for downtown but opposed of plan as is, not afraid of roundabouts.  main concerns what trying to accomplish and is this plan going to do it?  have done research, businesses where people drive by & stop to go in.  traffic counts & pedestrian friendly, also reduce # of people that will see and stop at businesses along court street.  other concern is timing, if just concept, why voting on it? had 2 public meetings, asked for input,  if really wanted to have input, do differently.  split the highway & use oneways.  already in economic issues now, going to have ghost town, what about people here now. requires you make affirmative choice, slow down traffic, beautify.  Mayor- why vote tonight, however vote goes, want to see a decision of yes or no to move on to some other decision tryng to come to conclusion to yes moving forward, or no.  Kate - brought up ideas on how to reroute.  vote no until input from people

dana hydo, 208 Sherman street, wasn't planning on speaking.  raised downtown, lived down, love downtown, but can always improve.  this concept is scary, but also positive & for it.  we have to get the semis out of downtown.  people are scared to open door into traffic.  looking at concept.  think moving highway to market street is best decision.  have time to get it right & trusting whoever is on coucni, they will take time to get it right & help citizens through fears.  family has deep history in downtown & continues to do so.  people just going by will stop sometimes, but also believe cars will still come through downtown, if they are going through & turst long term will be positive for us

Rick Harldson, ________, President of Chamber, agree with stated objectives, retain businesses, greenspaces look forward to working with city & businesses.  takes time &

jane nider, 398 SOuth 25th STreet, happy to see plans on Facebook & better idea of plans.  hesitant, studies do add up.  this far in the plan, public restroom would be helpful.  main complaint is parking, no one afraid of trucks, but dont' like to walk.  transportation to schools & demolition of schools.  have asked about deterioration of trail along scott street, boarder that looks like brick is crumbling, weeds growing between trail, sore spot by popcorn stand.  things that have to be maintained if making   TT - talking with contractor to see if we get answer on how to fix. 33rd & Lincoln - Terry - will get answer to her

Michael Sothan, Main Street Executive Director, supportive of concept presented.  not final, would transform COurt street, help support future businesses, still conceptual, ask to have businesses involved in final planning.  this plan helps carry forward, provides space for existing to thrive & new businesses.  downtown impresses several, not everything it could be.  plan provides opportunity to show what downtown can be.  areas that have been brought up, as talking with business community, may never be perfect plan, but still room for improvement & ask that buisness community, main street, etc, be included in process. without community support will go no hwere.  about even of in favor/against. many cautiously optomistic, do need to communicate more on this idea.  Kerr - 12-13 calls, all businesses were not contacted.  MS - don't have exact number, talked to everyone?  KNow.  sent out emails on this, over 200 contacts that we share community meetings, etc., social media, trying to make sure information is pushed out.

john rosenthal, 104 south 21st, own 105 south 3rd street, big problem is not about beautifying downtwon, take out my business.  problem is people keep getting things stuffed down throat.  support to improve downtown, moving highway not answer.  majority not in support, vote should represent people who voted & that is what frustrates most.  people want to be heard

ashley mason, 1300 Lincoln street, if upset they are not listening, vote for someone else.  they are being very clear, want you to vote the way they want you to, dont' like this plan.  did poor job of listening.  want accurate representation last to encourage to spend more money.  have spent the money, drop these plans & possibly spend money again.  no government offial should scare constituants.  should have been made clear this was master plan.  disappointed in all.  encourage all to vote the way constituants want

craig zarybnicky, own 2 properties also work in real estate, when show properties downtown biggest concern parking & traffic.  mentioned many studies done to improve.  moving highway is part of it, at least 4 previous studies that say this is a good idea.  so far, chosen not to do so, think we need to look at someway to enhance think putting this off for another decade if no decision made.  also have concerns like many others, needs to be done right, has potential to be very postie & change conception of beatrice.

kim witulski, _____________ South 5th AVenue, clean slate soap, east end of court street, completely renovated building, 3 businesses, feel businesses are not struggling, brought in over 3000 custoemrs from 9 different states, if you go forward with concept, will take out building & 3 businesses doing very well.  disagree with michael, did not talk to them, sent emails, not coming in & talking to owner.  this proposed concept does not support existing businesses.  will tear up roads, no customers that complain about door being taken off, park in front of store, accross street, no concerns about traffic.  asking to go forward with new concept that keeps businesses don't need to go extent of moving hgihway

mike havecost, 9th & court, came to see what was going on went to other meeting at city aud & walked away thinking this will affect foot traffic, enjoy traveling stopping at small businesses, reason go there, you see it, rerouting traffic will affect business.  when closing both ends to work on it, will affect buisnessas as well.  thoguht from gentelman that drives truck, think roughly $2 million in area, reroute truck traffic, downtown parking garage, think with roundabouts, 100 foot radious, 200 feet take out bisnesses.  would be challenging.

ron mencl 219 florence ave, 6 days a week on court street, see trucks & cars, pedestrians not a lot of traffic downtown, others have more than us.  truck route could be established here instaed of $$$ on roundabouts, install signs & communication. concerns with traffic going by, less tehy see you, the less they will stop.  problem with downtown started with walmart, did affect, join & watch traffic go by.  no to this concept, future route to include, no trees...

david lange, __________, thankful for commercial tenant, rerouting would have concerns.  upstairs tenant would be ok.  trees not just birds, but visual block & also have to maintain.  vote no, fiscally money could be used on sidewalks, why not repair instead of replace.

Aaron Schoen, property owner, truck route, if follow plan with NDOT & have signs where supposed to be may fix some of the problem.  think about they came back with exact same study, no public input provided, would feel bad use of money for same design. look at 2nd opinion.

Kerr - Kate mentioned market 1 way & Ella 1 way, was discussed with olsson?  TT - engineer looked at it & thought not most feasible.  Kerr - tonage limit on downtown, could we enforce?  TT - would have to check with NDOT if allowed on hgiway  JOhn - been through city can enforce traffic laws, tonnage signs along hgihways, problem also puts tax on pd to enforce it.  sheriff can enfoce, DOT can as well. signs cheap to put in & maintain & enforceable, sure NDOT would allow weight limit.have existing truck routes, improves safety aspect, safety aspect would mitigate

Barnard - anything that happened with school, take up with school board.

Ruh - roundabouts & truck route, not a lot on main street itself, parallel on one side, angle on others, adds more parking, will add more parking downtown, closer to businesses.  not just about moving truck route, are concerns about affecting businesses.  dont' want to put someone out of business.  don't want that to happen.  trying to do tonight, vote to move foward.  this may not be final plan, but helping parking, pedestrian, truck traffic, etc., need to get trucks off downtown.  when say vote against concept, this idea will move forward, in favor of having more public input, need to move forward, will vote yes, want ot look at plans, what else can be done. need to look at future & see what can be done.want to imrpove downtown beatrice. watched 2 semis run traffic lights

Fralin - remember concept of plan, come with forward thinking property.  everyone will be at more community meetings, appreciate john on trucking, whole concept to improve existing businesses & bring in more, not to hurt any.  as going forward with community meetings, business woners, citizens need to be there, waiting until last minute doesn't help

Kerr - upset with market & Ella not being brought up & tonnage, comments on facade program, don't like fact not brought up.  that this was the only concept that was provided  Ruh - need to discuss nothing is set in stone.  Kerr - spending money on plan, shoudl have had more information before moving foward.

Gary - was this on previous study?  TT - was discussed since 2011.  KErr - brought up at metings, but not brought to us from Olsson.  TT - study was to retain OA to review the Court STreet Corridor.  all drawings affect court street if highway was moved.



 

Discussion:  Terry - discussed improving ELla Street, $400,000 grant need to decide how to spend money.  looked at market or court, decided to look at ella.  consider to start improving Ella street, 4th to 6th street.  McLain - mirroring what court street would look at.  narrow street to 2 lanes, safety 
Terry - conceptual again, not sure if city engineer can design.  McLain - timeline. TT - believe have to spend by 25.
KErr - if we do this, vote for this, if we reroute truck route?  TT - still can, truck route would still be ok

Aaron Schoen, own on Ella street, for this.  mostly because have 2 more stores coming to Ella street in near future.  on pool nights, parking is horrible. concern is do not shut down traffic would help businesses.  one other thing, not going to water flowers.  McLain - 5th STreet not to do ;)

 

Discussion:  state legislature made chagnes at state level, can carry concealed handgun, anyone with city ordinance was now void, amending city code, removes handgun from still allow knives

Fralin - was misdemeanoer?? TT yes

Discussion:  John fisher, couple concerns, at council meeting formed committees, know have been busy with notices for lawns, had city on property saying had unlicensed plate, 624 south 3rd steet, has been junk yard since 2015, was house on property that burnt down, property owner now has 2 vehciles not moved in 3 years, camper shell, tree limbs, trash, received notices, moved items, continued problem.  wont sell property, city is allowed by 2-3 times then have properly cleaned up, like to see city step up more with nuisances, not worry about height.  encourage to leave racecar permits alone, racing big part of this community.  downtown issue - cats, looking at the issue humane society, like to have city clean up & relocate the stray cats.  have seen other cities do this. 

Discussion:  Rachel - mission statement, current strategic goals updated & approved by ngage board.  surveying businesses BRE visits.  need to have strategic needs - last page of packet - greatest challenges. labor attraction - quality of life/housing, access to sufficient applicants, community amenities, childcare.  these responses directly support the initiatives, some activities relaunch of young professional group 18-40; connected & engaged.  also hired contracted employee to work under childcare grants, 3 grants currently, working on preschool grant with current providers to increase their 

McLain - putting a lot into childcare, seeing improvement?  Rachel , yes some providers have increased by about 85 spots. hard to retain employees, several have also had to close door.  recruiting providers to open in home or centers. 
terry - invited council to C4K launch & Learn?  Rachel - business after hours feel, 530 August 29th 5 speakers to discuss state of childcare from broader perspective & then local level as well.  come up with 
Rachel - other event tackling workforce retention & attracting employees.  educating students - career for all mentality.  make sure youth career ready for skills, professional, etc., premise 9am NOvember 3rd @ BHS will also speak to students. 

Fralin - thanked for YP3 getting together again, good way to network with community.

Discussion:  258years of experience 9 employes
water towers 1981 mulberry 1/2 mill gallons pressure fluctuations is reason it was put in.  other at 19th & Jackson 1965 1 mill gallons; repainted recently with logo have service contract with company to repaint every 10 years & 12 years outside
north reservoir 1931 starting point for water department, not a sufficient well field until ____; water dept 1st water system in 1886, pumped out of river.  still in service, nitrates fairly high, there for backup 3 mill underground storage
south reservoir - 1965 5 mill gallons of storage  9.5 mill available water, 2 mill average daily.  nearly 5 days under 
pumps in reservoir - gravity fed in basement, all piping original from 1931.  3 pumps & standby generator  2500 gal to 1500 gal minute  verticle turbine pumps. still have diesel engine being replaced waiting on material to be delivered, hoping by first of year
underground reservoirs normally not lights, installed during cleaning, filled with water.  good shape, state regs inspect & clean every 5 years, typically do every 5 years virtually nothing on floor, inspect concrete, roof, still in very good shape, almost 100 years old
had to repair some pillars couple years ago
well field 900 gallons per minute, 4 wells at field 1, picutre on right 
99% come from city farm well field, low nitrates on this well field
TErry - guess longevity of supply we have for future?  SK - 2 mill day, can pump 5 with permit, can go up to 8 mill, no more than.  The new wellfield, 2 1997 - expect those to last as long as nitrate levels, should last 50-75 years plenty of water there, not making dent
GEnerator - serves koch nitrogen, generators on 3 to serve them, cant go without power, so generator up within seconds.  upgrade & also SCADA, Koch financed portion of project
CIty farm wellfield generator - diesel  installing additional generator at city wellfield with SRF project
Water Main pipe replacement - replace 1 mile annually, do own construction, very cost effective.  50% cost savings  directional drilling which cusotmers like not tearing up their yard
fire hydrant testing annually, EPA recommends, flow test at same time, from flow test color coded  red less than 500 gal minutes, orange 500-999, green over 1000 gall minutes
computer model of water system, put in model hosted at OA, cost to do software updates pay OA to run model, run to determine size of water main needed
water valves, 1300 water valves like shut off valves at house, if not turned 1x year, hard to turn
backflow testing 400 devices tested annually; test at no cost to customer - other communities hire someone to test devices; asked to talk about backflow program at water conference, done since 1970s, hard to tell them pay $300 now.  spend $20,000 for testing each year
2022 pumped total ___________ water, 
people of beatrice have done great job of conserving water, super since ____, 6.75 mill, 
Rates - 
steve - 51 years experience; 70 noq; tough to leave.  Mayor - how will you replace that knowledge

 

Discussion:  TT - making improvements at Hannibal Park, would you have issue with hiring fundraising company to name fields, parking lots, etc., _________named Field; free up lodging tax to use for other projects in community.  Pethoud in favor, get more projects done quicker.