2001-01 Blair GatewayG
L BULK RATE
U p
S. POSTAGE PAID
BLAIR
P
PERMIT NO. 47
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ZIP CODE 68008
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21 South 16th Street/Blair, Nebraska 68008 (402)426-4191 Fax: (402)426-4195
e-mai cityofblair@huntel.net
Business Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 RM. www.blairnebraska.org
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IV E m
PUBLIC HEAwROING PRU"' POSE mm" '"b"K
I OTH STREET OVERPASS
CITY OF BLAIR
SALES TAX FUN31r
MEMEW1
Interest Income 16
Total $1
W
Hwy 30 East $130
Asphalt Street Overlays -1999 189,457-56
Fire Station Site Preparation
Fire Station
il3NMZ19M=Z
Total
BALANCE ON DECEMBER 31,2000
60,000.00
75,901.85
183,199.22
1
ME=
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owners remove snow,
ice, mud, etc. from the
sidewalks adjacent their
properties within 12 hours
after a storm. If sidewalks
are not cleared, the Cit
may remove the snow
and bill the adjacent
propert owner.
1'erlicies rrm'Iepwmev
in the public right-of-way for no longer than 48 hour
Any vehicle left for more than 48 hours may be deeme
abandoned, and impounded, particularly if it hinde
City snow removal efforts. I
Streets in the .downtown area are posted No Parking
from 2 am to 5 a * m, from 1 st October through I st April.
Cars parked along these streets during the posted hours
could interfere with snow removal. If so, they may be
impounded.
If you need additional information, please contact the
City Office at 426-4191.
TRAILS SYSTEM PLAN
SESSIONS HELD
Typically, wood chip trails through natural areas
are used by runners and walkers. Wider, concrete trails
appeal to bikers, roller bladers, and the disabled. In
some established parts of town, the trail system could
utilize existing or new sidewalks, and a bike lane could
be painted in on an existing roadway.
According to Shu'kert, the next step in the plan will
be field work to identify potential trail routes, prioritization
of trail segments, and another public meeting to present
the findings, probably in late March.
The Blair Gateway January, 2001
X: he City of Blair and the Blair Fire
03:
Department will be doing inspections
..... . . . . . . . .
on commercial properties within the
Other information that will be recorded is the
presence or absence of fire detection and sprinkler
systems. The information will be used by the fire
department for pre-planning in case of a fire or
other emergencyto help the department respond
quickly, and to increase the safety and welfare of
the fire fighters. The inspections will also bring to
the property owners' attention issues that might,
potentially, affect the welfare of employees,
tenants and customers.
Building Inspectionstaff toschedulethe inspections.
Owners can also contact Dale Miller by calling the
City Office at 426-4191.
I Pllk� L-7jo
YMCA (under construction) are on the south side. Pedestrians and bike
riders, including many children, currently cross the railroad at grade to
reach these facilities. Private vehicles and school buses cross at grade
as well. The new overpass would provide an alternative route, close to
town, for both vehicles and pedestrians. Because there is not enough
space between the railroad and Highway 30, the overpass would have
to span the roadway as well before touching down.
The drawing on page one shows the proposed alignments of these
improvements.
Street needs to be rebuilt with new storm sewers to drain storm water
away f rom Iowa Street.
A second alternative would be to rebuild 10th Street with a turn lane
from the Burger King entrance to Nebraska Street, and new storm sewers
to drain Iowa Street. The estimated cost of this alternative would be
$220,000. The City would be responsible for the entire cost of this
alternative.
An overpass at 1 Oth Street is the fourth alternative. This alternative
would cost an estimated $5,000,000. The City's share would, however,
be $250,000 (5%) plus right-of-way acquisition costs, with DOR
contributing $4,500,000 and UP contributing $250,000.
"With the commitment by the State and the railroad to contribute 95%
of the cost of the 1 0th Street Overpass, it becomes one of the least
expensive of the feasible alternatives," said Storm. "The City has an
opportunity to provide additional safety to vehicles and pedestrians, for
only a little more than the minimal improvements of the second alternative
would cost."
Several alternatives will be evaluated before a final decision is
made. The first of these is the "do nothing" alternative. City Administrator
Storm indicates that this alternative is not really feasible, because 1 0th
The first public hearing will be held on 23 January 2001, at the
regularly scheduled City Council meeting, in the City Council Chambers
at 218 South 16th Street. The second will be held on 13 February 2001.
The Blair Gateway
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Property owners will be contacted by the
C TO CONSIDER
INFORMATION
SYSTEM FOR MAPS, RECORDS
Printouts of maps and databases could be made
available to contractors •! • property owners, to assist
them in project design and site plan preparation.
Development of the GIS system, and initial entry
information, would likely be done by a consulting firm.
However, staff would be trained to access the
information, and to keep it updated.
• -•• sheets containing information about the ma •
elements'(data bases) can be attached to the map syste
For example, the databases could include informatio
about fire hydrants, • • location, or sidewalk •
• • condition. The data • n then be used to facilitat
emergency repairs, or to schedule routing maintenan
F
v : t
C 0" U N C1 L RETREAT H E LD AT SCOTT CE NTE R
he third annual City of Blair retreat began at
3:30 a.m, on Saturday, January b, 2001 at the
Scott Conference Center at the University of
Nebraska-Omaha. The retreat was open to
the public.
Mayor Mick Mines welcomed council members Mike
Biffar, John Abbott, Frank Wolff, Tammy McManigal, John
Shotwell, Jim Realph, and Dave Waite, as well as, Rod
Storm- CityAdministrator,Sue Hiller -Asst. City Administrator,
and AI Schoemaker - Director of Public Works.The purpose
of the retreat was to provide information and discuss the
key projects and issues likely to come before the cit y this
year.
Kirkham Michael & Associates offered their final
conclusions for a highway bypass, HWS Consulting
presented their plan for a railroad track overpass at l 0th
Street,and Olsson &Associates reviewed the advantages
of a Geographic Information System GIS record keeping
y C) p g
database.
Department heads Dale Miller (Building Inspection),
Brenda Taylor ,(Clerk), Ruth Petersen (Library), Pat Long
(Parks & Cemetery), Rich Warrick (Streets), Peggy Frahm
(Treasurer), Jim Stier (Waste Water Treatment), Mark
Adams (Water Treatment), Dan Coon (Utilities), and
Mary Doeden (Police) described the operation of their
departments. Other meeting topics focused on animal
control facilities, public parking lot paving, brick streets,
sidewalks, new sewer system study, snow removal,
employee compensation and comparability,The retreat
concluded at 4:30 p.m.
MONTHLY
Mayor and City Council
7:00 P.M. Second & Fourth Tuesday
Library Board
5:00 P.M. First Monday
-
Tuesday
Park Board
7:30 P.M. Second Wednesday
Airport
.; Tuesday
Board of Adjustment
Noon Third Thursday
The Library Board meets at the Blair Public Library,
210 South 17th Street.
-- Blair
218 South 16th Street.
The Blair Gatewa January, 2001
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