BROKEN BOW – The Broken Bow City Council sent April off with quite a bit of noise on Tuesday night at the Municipal Building, and fortunately, all council members were on hand to keep order.
The council first approved the consent agenda and then turned its attention to its emergency services: Officers Paul Cunningham and Christopher Shelby were congratulated for having officially earned their stripes. The pair recently completed 213th Basic Training in Grand Island, which consists of 644 hours of training over 16 weeks, and is now certified for law enforcement in the eyes of the State of Nebraska.
The council also approved the city’s participation as the governmental entity for a potential Creative District Grant. The initiative could help the city unlock up to $250,000 over 5 years for construction, restoration, programming, and enhancements to a creative center which has been proposed to encompass the 4 blocks around, and including, the town square.
Backed by letters of support from Adams Land & Cattle, BD, and Nebraska State Bank, the initiative was applauded by the council, with incoming City Administrator David Schmidt pointing to the concept’s huge potential for Broken Bow’s future.
“I think it’s really exciting. I think that it’s forward thinking like this that keeps a town like Broken Bow alive, and become in and of itself a destination.”
The Creative District Grant also involves the Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce, the Custer Economic Development Corporation, and the Broken Bow Public Library.
Following multiple calls to service in recent weeks ahead of fire season, Broken Bow Fire Chief Dustin Watson delivered a public update. According to Watson, the Broken Bow Fire Department has responded to 32 fires since the start of the year, has been requested 4 times for mutual aid, and has requested mutual aid once. Watson said that his firefighters are always preparing in one way or another.
“Most evenings, the lights are on in the station, and our firemen are in meetings, training, studying, or working on skills for an upcoming test.”
The council approved the final design for the Mud Creek Left Bank Levee restoration. The approval of the design recommences the project, which had been on hold since February. The final plans continue coordination with BNSF for the project, and are anticipated to cost the city just over $50,000; it was approved unanimously.
Councilmember Schmidt’s resignation and subsequent approval of his City Administrator contract was approved unanimously; the outgoing councilmember said he wished to repay the goodwill he’s received from the community with a bit of goodwill of his own.
“I’d like to express my gratitude to the people of Broken Bow. To say that I’ve received a warm welcome is a tremendous understatement. I truly felt humbled and overwhelmed by the response I’ve heard from this community, and the only way I know how to repay that is to do my very best for you.”
The audit report was approved unanimously for the year ending September 30, 2022, as well, and a vacancy in Broken Bow’s East Ward was declared. The council will advertise the vacancy before filling it. The meeting adjourned at 6:51 p.m.
