Engineers to design plan to protect area against storm runoff

Sidney’s city council gave approval Tuesday evening to move forward with engineering designs to protect developed areas in the vicinity of Parkland Drive and Fort Sidney Road from storm water runoff.

Two members, Roger Gallaway and Wendall Gaston, were away with excused absences as council discussed final engineering plans for the area. City Manager Ed Sadler explained the plan is much smaller than originally developed by the Joint East Sidney Watershed Authority (JESWA), which called for mitigation projects in three drainages in southeast Sidney.

Those drainages, which run from developed areas at Sidney’s east interchange, carry storm water downhill toward the north. In the past, large rain events have resulted in flooding of homes and businesses on the Parkland-Old Post Road area and south of Western Nebraska Community College.

Sadler explained the two eastern drainages do not affect developed areas, and with new city requirements for developers to include drainage protection for projects, the focus has turned toward protecting areas affected by the western drainage.

“So there is little reason to spend money on the other areas,” Sadler said. “Especially knowing developers will deal with storm water drainage on new projects.”

The changes will also mitigate another concern for the city as well. First estimates to address issues in all three drainages were more than $4 million. Sadler said the estimate for the west drainage project is just $1.2 million. The city’s share of cost is 80 percent, or about $960,000. The remainder of funding will come from other sources, including the State Revolving Loan Fund.

The city also has dedicated a one-half cent sales tax toward the project. That 10-year tax is expected to raise about $650,000. Councilors discussed that to pay for the entire project, they may have to ask for an extension on the tax-payer-approved tax, or find other funding sources.

Protection will be provided by dams, berms and channels designed to hold or divert storm water away from developed areas. Sadler said the structures are mostly in places where JESWA has already obtained right-of-way, or feels those rights can be obtained.

While all of the structures are west of Old Post Road, council asked about the areas affected west of the road. A culvert under Old Post Road carries a lot of drainage water to the west side of the road, with the water running through lots owned by Horizon’s West implement company and the South Platte NRD, then across to houses north of there.

Sadler said the series of channels and a berm north of Bomgaars will divert most runoff before it reaches the culvert.

On a 3-0 vote, council authorized moving forward with engineering plans.

Council also unanimously approved Ordinance No. 1778, a gas franchise request with Black Hills Energy.

The ordinance grants Black Hills Energy the authority to construct and maintain a gas transmission and distribution system within the city, including gas mains, pipes and other structures necessary for gas distribution. The 10-year contract also authorized the company’s sale of gas.

The agreement is required by state law, which provides that municipalities must have such agreements in place.

Council also approved plans for an intersection at Jennifer Lane and Link 17J. The decision was delayed from council’s last session because the proposal was not specific on plans for a turning lane. The lane was included in the revised plan and council voted 3-0 to approve the specifications and authorized staff to seek bids.

No formal approval was needed by council, but staff members reviewed an application used for uses of city property and right of ways for events. At its last meeting, council gave authority to Sadler to approve such requests, which had previously required council’s approval.

With the change, the process is streamlined for those wishing to use city property for events.

One provision added in the process is an insurance release to be signed by groups and individuals holding or participating in events.

Sadler explained that in the past, there have been groups who have not held event insurance that have received approval. Some groups of volunteers, Sadler said, are unable to reasonably get insurance.

With a concern for liability, Sadler and City Attorney J. Leef are developing the release and waiver.

During city manager and staff reports, council received a report on revenues for the Sidney Aquatic Center. So far, the center has drawn in $41,900 from pool passes and another $4,600 from concessions.