08/20/2002 Minutes
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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
August 20, 2002
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Study Session of the City Council of the City of Grand
Island, Nebraska was conducted in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 100 East First Street, on
August 20, 2002. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on August
14,2002.
Mayor Ken Gnadt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following members were present:
Councilmembers Pielstick, Ward, Seifert, Larson, Hornady, Whitesides, Haase, Murray, Walker
and Sorensen. The following City Officials were present: City Administrator Marlan Ferguson,
City Clerk RaNae Edwards, City Attorney Charlie Cuypers, Public Works Director Steve Riehle
and Finance Director David Springer.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was said.
RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS: No individuals reserved time to speak on
agenda items.
Presentation by Susan Seacrest Regarding the 15th Annual Children's Groundwater Festival for
2003 and the Statewide Ground Water Education Program. Mayor Gnadt introduced Susan
Seacrest to update the Council with regards to the 15th Annual Children's Groundwater Festival
for 2003 and Statewide Ground Water Education Program. The Children's Groundwater Festival
has been held annually since 1989. Mentioned was the money spent during this event and the
45,000 children that had been served since 1989. Ms. Seacrest thanked the City for their
involvement in these events.
Presentation bv Pam Price and Susan Gallagher Regarding the Stuhr Museum Train. Pam Price
and Susan Gallagher, Executive Director of Stuhr Museum made a presentation concerning the
train fundraising strategy plan. Mentioned was the County's decision to place the capital cost of
a train on the November ballot and the possible Operating Train Endowment. Ms. Price invited
the City to come on board and help in this endeavor.
Reviewed was the fundraising strategy of issuing bonds for $4.9 million. Requested was support
from the City to help fund the operation of the train until an endowment could be raised to
support the annual operation costs of the train, which was estimated to take approximately 10
years.
Councilmember Whitesides suggested that this item be put on the next meeting agenda for a
vote. Glendale Reiss, 910 North Boggs, spoke of the challenges of a project like this. Lewis
Kent, 624 East Meves, spoke in support and questioned ifthe committee had an alternative plan.
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Page 2, City Council Study Session, August 20, 2002
Presentation by Mark Vess Regarding the Thermal Decontamination of Load Line 1 at CHAAP.
Gary Hedman representing Southern Public Power District introduced Mark Vess, Senior Project
Manager with MKM Engineers. Also present was Billy Moses, Quality Control of Bomb
Disposal with MKM Engineers. Presented was a video of burning Load Line 1 at CHAAP.
Councilmember Larson questioned how long this would take to clean up. Mr. Vess stated that
the plan was to do one Load Line a year. Mr. Vess presented the Mayor with a plaque from
MKM Engineers for the support of the City in cleaning up the Cornhusker Army Ammunition
Plant.
Discussion Concerning Stormwater and Drainage into Cottonwood and Sucks Lakes. Steve
Paustian, Parks and Recreation Director, updated the council on a $45,000 grant project to
improve Suck's Lake. The project would include dredging the lake to deepen it as well as
modifications to the storm sewer system that drains into the lake to prevent silting and keep
storm water contaminants out of the lake. Total cost of Suck's Lake restoration would be
approximately $331,237.
Councilmember Seifert questioned if there would be aeration in the lake. Mr. Paustain stated
there would be.
Steve Riehle, Public Works Director briefed the Council on a project being considered for
Cottonwood Lake. Cottonwood Lake (also known as Brach's or Joe's Lake by some Grand Island
residents) had also experienced silting problems from storm water culverts that drained into the
Lake. The Cottonwood Lake Association had approached City staff and would like the City to
remove the silt and install controls to prevent it from silting in again. The Association would like
to partner with the City on a joint project to remove the silt and dredge the lake to deepen it.
Staff suggested that these two projects be done at the same time to save money. The Cottonwood
Lake Association would like to see a cost share of a 50/50 split. Discussed was using public
funds for a private lake. Councilmember Walker asked what the cost would be to do this project.
Mr. Riehle stated costs would be approximately $48,000. Councilmember Larson stated that the
City needs to clean up the problems created by the City, which would benefit both the City and
the Cottonwood Lake Association. Ilene Gruendel, President of Cottonwood Lake Association,
spoke in support.
Sidewalk Committee Report. Steve Riehle, Public Works Director, reported that the Sidewalk
Committee had reviewed the Geographic Information System maps and concentrated on areas
leading to and away from schools. The Committee identified areas where they believed Council
should order sidewalks installed before school starts in the Fall of 2003. It was mentioned that
after the Study Session, the Sidewalk Committee would review the areas, meet with property
owners in areas where there may be some installation problems with sidewalks, hammer out
details, and then come back to Council with the final list. The Committee would then ask
Council to direct the Staff to write letters to property owners telling them to install sidewalks
before school starts in Fall 2003.
Councilmember Ward suggested notifying the public through the newspaper or utility bills with
regards to installing sidewalks. Councilmember Hornady questioned if it was necessary to put
sidewalks on both sides of the street.
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Page 3, City Council Study Session, August 20,2002
Norm Saale, 1314 South Harrison Street, spoke in support with regards to installing sidewalks
along the west side of Harrison Street.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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RaNae Edwards
City Clerk