City seeking suggestions for aquatic center name

Mayor Mark Nienueser suggested taking submissions for possible names for Sidney's new aquatic center at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

The public can make a submissions for the name to the city or Geri Anthony, interim city manager, until the next city council meeting on Feb. 23. Names will be considered and possibly approved at that meeting.

Construction on the aquatic center began Aug. 17, 2015 and the official groundbreaking was held in October of last year. As of late January, the project was on target to be completed by May 24. The total cost of the swimming pool/aquatic center is $5.4 million.

Also on the aquatic center, the city council authorized a payment of just over $500,000 to Saunders Construction.

There is still approximately $3 million left on the project. However, donations are helping to alleviate some of the financial burden. Union Pacific Railroad recently made a $25,000 contribution to the aquatic center.

The council approved a change order for the Pole Creek Crossing/Fort Sidney Improvement project since guard rails for the bridges were not included in the original bid. The council voted 4-1 in favor of the change order, with councilman Joe Arterburn voting against it.

The cost of the change order to complete the project will be $40,705.75.

Annual reports for the Sidney Public Library were presented at the meeting. The council accepted the resignation of Vickie Ryder as a library board member. She and her husband are retiring. The council added Amy Riggs to the library board to replace Ryder.

Also at the meeting:

• In the board of equalization hearing, the board set special assessments for water extension in district 23, sewer extension in district 24, and street improvement in districts 60, 61 and 62. This is the Cabela's Ranch of Sidney development west of the new hospital. The cost for the water, sewer and streets will be over $3.1 million. The amount will be billed to the land owners, Cabela's Ranch at Sidney LLC. The proposal was unanimously approved.

• City councilors unanimously passed a manager application for Denise Billups for Buffalo Point Steakhouse. They made a recommendation to the Nebraska Liquor Control commission for the same action.

• The next city council meeting is set for 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 23, city hall.