2011-10-25 Washington County East Annex; ADA sidewalk and shelterOctober 14, 2011
Mayor and City Council Members
City of Blair
218 South 16th Street
Blair, NE 68008
Honorable Mayor and Council Members:
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INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Washington County
I am writing to request an allocation from the Blair City Keno Fund to Washington County
Extension for $875. The funds would be used to construct an ADA approved sidewalk to provide
accessibility to a shelter in the conservation demonstration landscape.
Washington County Extension had been given the task of converting the lot at the
Washington County East Annex, 597 Grant Street, from an alfalfa field to a conservation
demonstration landscape. The conservation landscape will help to demonstrate how conservation
plants can be used to manage stormwater runoff from the parking lot, the use of conservation plants
in commercial and residential landscapes, serve as an educational resource for 4-H groups and
school classes and provide a relaxing and restful place for walkers using the walking trail or for any
citizen.
The design of the landscape was developed through the efforts of a local committee with the help of
a University of Nebraska-Lincoln/University of Nebraska -Omaha horticulture landscape design
class. Mr. Steve Rodie, University of Nebraska -Lincoln Extension Landscape Specialist and class
instructor supervised the class project. The lot has already been converted from an alfalfa field to a
conservation landscape through the planting of native warm season grasses, wildflowers, buffalo
grass, native and non native shrubs and trees. Funding for the plants was provided by donations from
the Blair Horticultural Society, Washington County Recycling Association and the Blair Area
Community Foundation.
To complete the landscape the Riverside Grange has donated $3,300 to construct a shelter. To
provide accessibility for all citizens to the shelter and the landscape, an ADA approved sidewalk is
needed. I am writing to request funds from the Blair City Keno Fund to construct the sidewalk to
complete the landscape plan.
Thank you for your consideration of our request. The conservation landscape is intended to be an
asset for the entire community.
Sincerely,
" Steven R. Tonn
Extension Educator
597 Grant Street, Suite 200 / Blair, NE 68008 / (402)426-9455 / FAX (402)426-3577
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, COOPERATING WITH COUNTIES AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
East Annex Lot Conservation Demonstration Landscape Shelter Project
Total Cost for the Project $4,175
Riverside Grange Donation for Shelter -$3,300
KENO FUNDS REQUEST $875