Council: first reading on electric rates, JESWA land trade

An ordinance for a land trade between City of Sidney and Cabela’s had a first reading Tuesday at the City Council’s regular meeting.

The trade will allow the city and South Platte Natural Resources District to move forward on the Joint East Sidney Watershed Authority project, which aims to relieve flooding along Fort Sidney Road.

Roughly 1.4 acres of land are being traded.

“This has been in the works for a while,” Ed Sadler, city manager, said.

The water retention area, at the soccer fields and community gardens, bisects unused land owned by Cabela’s, once intended for housing dev...