BROKEN BOW – The Broken Bow City Council held its last lengthy meeting in January. Russ Smith was absent, all other council members were present.
Library Director Megan Svoboda gave the Council an annual report of the Library for the 22-23 Fiscal Year. Svoboda stated that by borrowing items from the library, users have saved $690,830. 31,017 items were checked out, and there were 3,008 individuals with library cards. The Broken Bow Public Library reached Gold Accreditation which allows the library to gain more State Aid and grant money. Svoboda also stated that her goals for the library are to hire one part-time employee, maintain the Gold Accreditation, which will need to be renewed in 2028, update technology, and increase the book budget, which will help the Library keep its Gold Accreditation. City Administrator, David Schmidt, told Svoboda that she is doing an outstanding job.
There were two bids for the Eagle Crest Subdivision, one local and one not local. Myers Construction of Broken Bow bid at $1,541,456.43, and Heartland Concrete & Construction, Inc. out of Hastings was bid at $1,545,191.72. A close bid. The council approved the bid from Myers Construction. Seemingly, Chris Myers abstained from voting.
The Council also set a workshop date for February 13 at 4:00 before the next City Council Meeting.
The Council postponed waiving three readings of ordinance 1275, mandatory trash removal fees until the February 13 meeting. The trash removal fees are looked to move up four dollars. Two dollars will go to S&L Sanitation and the other two dollars will go to the Custer County Transfer Station. The increase will be due to the increases that S&L Sanitation is witnessing.
The hot topic of discussion that has been brought forth to the Council in 2019, 2021, and now again in 2024 is concerns of mobile food vendors on the City Square. Nine people of the public brought forth concerns about the Mobile Food Vendors, with the highest concern being on how the beauty of the Square is being taken away.
RJ Thomas, a resident of Broken Bow talked about how the mobile vendors detract tourists from stopping at the heart of Broken Bow.
“We drive around the Square every day, and anything you see every day eventually you take for granted, and we kind of forget how unique it really is. It is on the National Historic Registry, one of three left in the State. It is really more than we think about, but the reality is if we are going to get any mileage out of it, we need more people from out of the area to see it. Fortunately, we’ve got a highway running on the South Side (of the Square), one of the more heavily traveled highways, and two-lane highways in the State.”
Mike Evans, a resident of Broken Bow brought up financial standpoints and how he, as a business owner pays taxes, and utilities while these Mobile Food Vendors do not.
“My first thing has been from an aesthetics standpoint for years, I just haven’t liked it because it blocks the Bandstand. The more I got into the numbers, I was thinking that they are paying $125 a year, which figures 34.3 cents a day to park there. So they are blocking our Mt. Rushmore. From a financial standpoint, I just wanted to say that we bought this Butler Gas Station out here on the corner. It’s not the Bulter Gas Station anymore but it’s across from the Courthouse. We paid 30 grand for it about 10 or 15 years ago. And this last year, our taxes were $400 on it, insurance with liability was $2,700, our gas bill was $1889, and our utility bill was $2120. So that was $7110 a year, or $19.50 a day. I really don’t think it’s fair to get by with 34.3 cents a day on the square and free electricity. I think they definitely have to start at least paying their fair share if they’re gonna block our Mt. Rushmore”.
Most complaints stem from the Historic Bandstand being blocked, the Mobile Food Vendors getting free electricity, and how they take away from tourism. The consideration of the Mobile Food Vendor rules and regulations will be on the next agenda.
Mayor Sonnichson stated that it makes a difference when the citizens show up to give their opinions on ideas.
The next City Council Meeting is set for February 13 at 6:00 and the public is welcome to attend.
