Sidney City Council tackles financial planning, land requests

Councilors discuss priorities as budget time nears

As the City of Sidney looks toward drafting its budget for fiscal year 2015-'16, city councilors recently announced their goals and priorities to help guide city staff in the process.

At a city council meeting Tuesday, each councilor was given an opportunity to highlight their priorities.

Many councilors said the city is already in the process of completing numerous projects and they were hesitant to begin more until the current ones are completed.

"I think prioritizing is going to be tough but pretty important," councilor Joe Arteburn said. "I don't have a set list of goals. We have a lot of projects going that need to continue."

He added that the proposed new swimming pool is going to be a big issue, along with maintaining and improving streets.

"I think we have to plan wisely and spend wisely and pick the projects we need to have and not worry so much about ones that are just nice to have," he said.

Councilor Chris Gay said he agreed with much of what Arteburn said and added the council needs to be mindful of the cap on how much the city can bond.

"I think that's really going to limit us as well as we think about these big capital projects, so we need to keep that in mind," he said.

Street improvements were identified by numerous councilors, including Roger Gallaway.

"I really feel we have to make an commitment to street improvements on existing streets," he said.

Recent one- and six-year plans submitted to the state didn't include any projects to repair existing streets, he said.

"It's all too easy to get caught up with everything else that's going on in the community, which is good, but we have to find a way to stay committed to improving current streets," he said.

Councilor Wendall Gaston said the city has a lot on its plate and those ongoing projects should be the priority. But he said a long-term plan for park upkeep should be addressed, including tree and park bench replacement, if needed.

"Maybe we can put a little money toward those less pricey concerns," he said.

Mayor Mark Nienhueser said the city has already accomplished many goals outlined in a 2012 comprehensive study – including addressing a housing shortage.

The city has also added and improved amenities, which are necessary to attract new residents, he said.

"The swimming pool, improvements to the park, improvements to the golf course, improvements to the tennis courts, the sand volleyball courts are all positive things that we've put in play to keep us as a sustainable community," he said.

With those upgrades – and new housing being built – he said the priority moving forward should be strengthening workforce recruitment with local employers.

"I think our No.1 priority is to work with the employers in town and we have to address this problem – it's not unique to us – but what's our workforce recruitment?" he said.

The city needs to figure out how to facilitate the process and assist businesses to attract workers, he said.

"Because there's plenty of opportunities for them, we just have to get them here," he added.

Additionally, the mayor said he'd like to see more activities planned for the community to make use of the improved amenities.

"I think we need to look at what it takes to better facilitate, plan, orchestrate activities in our community – and that's for all levels, from youth the senior citizens," he said. "What do we need to do to make all of these amenities are better used and to get the most out of them?"

Overall, Nienhueser said he was pleased with the city's progress.

"All in all, I think we're very, very fortunate as a community to be where we're at with a growing population base, a growing employment base," he said. "It's a tough world out there right now, and we're all fighting for the same thing, and that's workforce."

Council moves forward on rezoning applications

The Sidney City Council moved forward multiple rezoning requests at its meeting on Tuesday evening.

Two agenda items relating to the proposed Peralta's Paradise Subdivision unanimously passed second readings. The applications call for rezoning two tracts of land from agriculture to rural residential estate designations. The tracts – one 17.5 acres and the other 3 acres – are located off County Road 109.

A third and final reading of the ordinances will be heard at the next city council meeting.

Preliminary and final plats were also approved at the request of Michael Snyder for subdividing two lots off Sidney Draw Road.

Earlier this month, the Sidney Planning Commission recommended the approval of the plat. During that meeting, Snyder said he intended to subdivide the two front parcels into residential lots and retain the remaining acreage for himself.

A resolution accepting the Planning Commission's recommendation that the property be rezoned from agriculture to agriculture residential was also approved. A public hearing on the matter was set for the next council meeting.

Also at the meeting:

• Tina Hochwender, the city's new economic development director, was appointed the City of Sidney's representative to the Panhandle Area Development District.

City Manager Gary Person said he is also a representative but only attends when Hochwender has a schedule conflict.

The group is a coalition of city and county governments and private sector representatives that works on regional issues, grant administration and comprehensive planning, according to Person.

Sidney has been a member of the coalition since the group's inception in 1970, he added.

• A bid received for Street Improvement District No. 56 – Anna Drive and Outfitter Way – was rejected.

Adam Vath, a M.C. Shaff engineer, said the bid – the only one that came in – was more than $200,000 above the engineer's estimate. In accordance with the subdivision's owner, Vath said, M.C. Shaff recommended the bid be rejected.

Vath said his firm would attempt to negotiate with the construction company and simultaneously seek to find other interested contractors.

Councilor Joe Arteburn asked why the bid was so high.

"Contractors' work loads, that'd be my best guess," Vath replied.

Mayor Mark Nienhueser asked how long it'd take to bring back more numbers. Vath said he'd likely have them by the next meeting.

"We're going to be pressed for time," Councilor Wendall Gaston said.

• In his report to the board, Person welcomed Hochwender to the city. She began her position earlier this month after the former economic development director, Megan McGown, relocated to Brady with her family.

Person also said construction on the new Love's Truck Stop had begun. Construction is expected to last seven months and includes a truck stop, motel and dormitory motel for employees.

• Sidney Police Chief B.J. Wilkinson thanked the Cabela's leadership team that recently worked on landscaping at the police station.

"If you haven't been by to see it, they've done a wonderful job," Wilkinson said.

The chief also thanked city workers who assisted on the project.

"It was a good show of community teamwork," he said.

• The next Sidney City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14 at 7:15 p.m. at city hall.