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Council approves city improvement projects |
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Thursday, 11 June 2009 |
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 By Ellen Mortensen, Chief Assistant Editor
The Broken Bow City Council approved moving forward with a number of city infrastructure projects at Tuesday evening’s regular council meeting.
After reviewing plans and specifications presented by city engineer Tylor Bottorff, the council the council approved an authorization to begin advertising for bids on the South Laurel Drive project. South Laurel Drive is the short paved street that runs to the city’s swimming pool, adjacent to Jennie M. Melham Medical Center.
Broken Bow Mayor R.C. McMeen advised the council he has spoken with hospital administrator Mike Steckler, and the hospital has agreed to pay a portion of the cost for the street project. The anticipated start date for that project is Sept. 1.
The council also approved moving forward with sidewalk improvements within the city, consisting of the construction of a new sidewalk on the north side of State Highway 2 from the Catholic Church to Pamida, and sidewalk reconstruction on the north side of Memorial Drive from 17th Avenue to Westridge Drive.
The Highway 2 project carries an estimated cost of about $85,000, with the Memorial Drive project estimated at about $30,000. Infrastructure funds will be used for both of those improvement projects.
Council President Mike Evans presented options concerning the 14th Avenue railroad crossing, and the anticipated cost to the city of each of those options. Those costs would range from slightly more than $1 million, to just under $43,000.
Options Evans presented included complete closure of the crossing, closure with a pedestrian crossing, closure with pedestrian separation, raised medians and one way conversion. Following discussion among the council, as well as solicited input from the public, it was agreed that complete closure of the crossing would be the best option for the city.
With concerns being raised about pedestrians still trying to use that crossing, and the safety issues involved, it was suggested that BNSF be contacted and asked to extend the fence already in place from the baseball field to the tennis courts, on past the crossing. The first reading of an ordinance to close the 14th Avenue crossing will be presented at the next council meeting.
Other business acted on by the council at the June 9 meeting included:
• A bid was accepted from Wayne Hammond for the removal of street department scrap iron.
• A request by Thomas Jones for an extension of time to repair a garage located in the alley on North 12th Ave. between North C and North D Streets was denied.
• Three buildings - garage located at 705 South 9th Ave., garage located at 640 South 7th Ave., and building behind residence at 1642 North B Street - were determined unsafe by the council following a recommendation by Police Chief Steve Scott. The owners of those properties now have 60 days to bring those buildings into compliance or have them removed.
• A city policy was approved prohibiting smoking in all city and utility vehicles. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 17 June 2009 )
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