Search on for new Sidney city manager

Applications will soon be accepted for the vacant Sidney city manager position.

Mayor Mark Nienhueser said representatives from an executive recruitment firm hired by the city to help in the search process were in town last week.

The representatives met with department heads and city councilors to help identify characteristics sought in a new city manager, the mayor said at a city council meeting on Tuesday.

“We are in the process of finalizing the drafts of those documents that will hopefully get posted this week,” Nienhueser said.

The position will be advertised in numerous outlets and applications will be reviewed beginning in mid-December.

J.D. Gray Group, the recruitment firm, will review the applications and make a recommendation to a selection committee.

“The committee will then help select that down to semi-finalists and finalists,” the mayor explained, “then setup interviews for early February.”

A job offer will potentially be extended in late February, he said.

“It’s the full council that will be making the decision on hiring the new city manager, and also all the council members will be involved in the interviews,” Nienhueser added.

Also at the meeting:

• Councilors approved a request to temporarily close a half-block of 10th Avenue near Hickory Square. Tina Hochwender, Sidney economic development director, said the annual closure – set to begin Nov. 18 and last until Jan. 5, 2016 – will accommodate holiday activities.

“The closed street space will create a town-square type feel for the holidays,” a memo submitted to the council said.

Decorations will be placed in the closed street space throughout the holiday season and events and activities will be encouraged to take place at the Hickory Street Square, the documents added.

• The council authorized a loan contract for a joint storm water project with the South Platte Natural Resource District. The Joint East Sidney Watershed Authority was created more than two years ago to address storm water management in the eastern part of the city.

The project calls for the construction of a network of bioswales, or natural drainages, and retention ponds that will collect storm water and slowly release it over a 48-hour period.

Galen Wittrock, SPNRD assistant manager, said the project would help address flooding following rain storms.

According to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality loan contract, construction is expected to being in June. The project will cost nearly $2 million.

• The next Sidney City Council meeting is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at city hall.