BROKEN BOW, Neb.— Broken Bow City Council met on Tuesday night for just short of 40 minutes. The meeting was held in Council chambers at the Municipal Building due to the main auditorium being used as a polling place for the primary election.
Trash rate increase discussed
A trash rate increase for residents and businesses of Broken Bow was discussed during Tuesday night’s meeting. S&L Sanitation Service has requested a rate increase of $2 a month for residential service and $4 monthly for small, medium, and large businesses.
Joseph Roach with S&L Sanitation told Council the rate increase ask is due to an anticipated Custer Transfer Station rate increase as well as the rising cost of fuel. Mayor Rod Sonnichsen added that between the two landfills the transfer station utilizes themselves there have been three rate increases recently as well.
A question was raised as to whether the recent contract between S&L and the city had a mention of stifling rate increases, and as a result the first reading of the ordinance was not waived and no decision was made.
Concerns raised regarding electric bikes, scooters
Scotti Ross with Custer Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) and Stephanie Grafel with the Broken Bow Chamber came before the board to express their concern with electric bikes and scooters in the city, specifically regarding safety. The two cited several examples of witnessing and hearing about close calls with pedestrian and vehicle collisions due to riders not obeying traffic laws and traveling at a fast pace on sidewalks.
Several in the room chimed in with concerns and firsthand examples of their own, which led to a discussion on searching for a solution. Broken Bow Police Chief Chris Anderson came forward and stated that he had been researching what other cities in the state were doing on the subject. It was revealed that an ordinance draft was already in the works, but hadn’t been revealed due to questions about what the vehicles are classified as and if there are laws that already exist that would apply to them.
Chief Anderson stated the main obstacle for officers is that by the time they receive a call about an incident and arrive on scene, those involved have often left or have stopped doing what the complaint was about. He was encouraged by Mayor Sonnichsen to partner with citizens in attendance to explore options and work toward a solution soon, all with the idea of safety for riders, pedestrians, and drivers in mind.
Armory building approved to have bids for purchase submitted
Council approved for bids to be taken for the Armory Building at the corner of Industrial Park Road and South 1st Avenue. They will need to be submitted by parties interested in purchasing the property by June 5 to the City Clerk to be opened at the June 9 City Council meeting. The City can reject any bids.
City Administrator Dave Schmidt said that ideas for the building, including the consolidation of two city departments, never came to fruition. The cost to renovate the building was seen as steep, as was the cost to maintain the building if it isn’t being used in the near future.
City cooperative agreement with Custer County Communications delayed
An agreement between the City and Custer County Communications was postponed, as proposed changes from the county were received too recently for Council to look at them. Mayor Sonnichsen encouraged a push for a decision to be made at the next meeting so that the resulting agreement and its financial figures could be worked into budget efforts.
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Council adjourned at 6:38 PM. The next Broken Bow City Council meeting is May 26 at 6 PM.
