The Broken Bow City Council met Tuesday evening at the Municipal Building for their regular meeting.
After approving bills, official rosters of the Ambulance and Fire Departments, and 2024 treasurer’s report, council heard an update from Broken Bow Fire Chief Dustin Watson. Watson reviewed damage from the Round Valley Fire in December. The fire destroyed an abandoned house and a couple of outbuildings and burned 2800 acres north of Broken Bow. A total of 33 fire departments aided the BBVFD in extinguishing the blaze before it threatened residents of the city.
Watson also reviewed department numbers from last year. The Fire Department responded to 95 calls in 2024, all but three in Custer County and 60 calls within Broken Bow city limits. The department dealt with 18 fire alarms, natural gas leaks, assisting the public, ambulance assistance calls, an electric pole on fire, a fuel spill, four structure fires, two calls where someone was burning leaves or railroad ties without a permit, and one instance of a tree falling on a house due to a storm passing through the area.
Mayor Rod Sonnichsen went over fire inspection procedures, as well as emphasizing that the fire chief has the power to arrest a suspected arsonist or anyone who’s impeding the flow of emergency vehicles to the scene of a fire. He also reminded those present that the fire chief has full power to investigate all fires in the county.
Council member Paul Holland asked if the city has an Emergency Operating Plan and was informed Broken Bow is in the process of updating the plan. Holland thanked the Fire Departments, ambulance service and everyone involved in the recent Round Valley Fire.
Next, the Broken Bow police department spoke about proposed traffic changes in the city. Captain Chris Anderson said a lot of accidents in certain areas have prompted them to propose changes to the Council. Changes proposed include: a two-way stop at 6th and South C, a four-way stop at 6th and South D, a two-way stop at 7th and South C, a two-way stop @ 7th and South D, as well as a proposal to return the speed limit to 25 mph standard residential at South B between 10th and Tomahawk Park. Another change proposed is a four-way stop at 9th and North H. Megan Svoboda spoke in favor of the changes, noting many students walk to the library after school and the proposed changes would increase safety for the children.
In new business, Ethan Harders spoke to the Council about upgrades they are initiating for the Melham disc golf course. Proposed upgrades include: adding 5×10’ concrete tee pads at each tee location, replacing homemade baskets with championship level PDGA approved commercial baskets, increase the number of holes from 9 to 18, replace the current tee posts with descriptive tee signs about each hole, and install a new course sign to give an overview of the course layout, rules and additional information. Harders said the course updates will enable them to host tournaments and draw more disc golfers to the area.
Funding for the upgrades will come from donations from local businesses or individuals and applying for a grant from the Custer County Foundation. City Administrator David Schmidt said while they are prevented as a Council from donating money to the project, the City would look into contributing to the course with labor since it is an existing park feature.
Mayor Rod Sonnichsen announced that an ordinance originally passed in 2015 is getting a renewed emphasis on enforcing. The ordinance, 2015-8, says that it is unlawful to park a trailer not attached to a vehicle on city streets, with the provision that a temporary permit may be obtained by a contractor to park an unattached trailor on city streets for a limited time.
City Administrator David Schmidt expressed appreciation to the Fire Department Auxillary for serving the fire departments during the recent Round Valley Fire.
Council adjourned at 6:48pm, the next meeting is January 28th at 6pm at the Municipal Building.
