SIDNEY - It’s been a long time coming, but the Wastewater Treatment Plant project is finally going out for bid after council’s approval during the regular meeting Tuesday night.

Olsson Associates and the city have been working with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality for more than a few months now in a teeter-totter like fashion in order to make sure the plans for the new treatment plant meet environmental criteria.

Bidding will be advertised in the newspaper June 18 and 25 and again July 2 and 9. A prebid meeting will be July 1 and bid opening will be July 15. Bids for consideration will be presented to the council during its regular meeting July 22.

According to Olsson Associates, the project could be complete as early as fall 2009.

In other business, council approved the submitted bid of $77,505 for real estate located at 1433 Illinois St. The bid was submitted to Frenchman Valley Coop.

City Manager Gary Person said the building has possible office and storage space uses. Person noted the space problems currently facing the Sidney Police Department, but also mentioned adding a second bus to Sidney’s public transportation. If the building isn’t a fit with the city, council could turn around and sell the property.

Person placed a strategic bid so that the city would be the highest bidder. According to Person, the city was barely the high bid, but the addition of $5 proved to be all that was needed to come in at No. 1.

Council also heard a brief presentation from the state director of the Nebraska Main Street Program, J. L. Schmidt.

Schmidt told council that Sidney is one of six communities in the state to be nationally recognized, but the only one that “nailed all 10 points” that was not a provisional award winner. Nationwide, fewer than 600 of 2,200 communities in 45 states participating in Main Street programs were awarded with national recognition.

As for Sidney’s downtown revitalization, Schmidt said, “It’s awesome.”

In other business, council:

Approved the discharge of firearms in Legion Park for the Sidney Gold Rush Days committee. Celebrations are set for June 13 and 14.

Approved the recommendation of Jeffrey Moore to the Liquor Control Commission. Moore submitted an application to be manager of Wilkinson Sidney Conoco near Interstate 80.

Approved payment for Water District No. 20. Sidney Public Works Director John Hehnke said the work has been completed and tested, and everything is in order.

Tabled taking action on consideration for an engineering company to pioneer the next step in the city landfill’s future.

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