City Square development undergoing final tweaks

    A committee has met once and another meeting is set for July 5 that is finalizing the plan for Imperial’s City Square development.
    City Administrator Tyler Pribbeno, who also heads the city’s community development efforts, is working with a committee to tweak  the proposal designed by city engineer Miller & Associates.
    Miller’s $1.6 million plan was developed after two community input meetings and online suggestions for the block between 7th and 8th Streets and Broadway and Court.
    The city was awarded a one-to-one matching grant of $562,000 earlier this year from the Civic Community Center Financing Fund for the development.
    The city’s funding match is largely coming from unspent COVID federal funds.
    Pribbeno is excited with the fact two middle school students are part of the committee.
    “It’s great to have the youth perspective and they are not shy,” he said.
    A unanimous feeling among the committee is to remove the ice skating rink, he said, as something not necessary. Its cost is estimated at $21,600.
    Solar panels will also be removed in the shaded parking area due to the solar garden to be built that came up after the City Square plans.
    Due to liability concerns, the open fire pit in the block’s southwest corner will likely come out, but a gathering area there is still a priority, he said.

    Other ideas also arose at their first meeting.
    The east side of block includes a winding walking area. The committee discussed possibly tying that into a future bike path in town.
    Committee members include Sawyer Sauder, Knox Paisley, Emma Jenkins, Chelsea Zuege, Dale Schilke, Danielle Haarberg, Jan Graham, Jo Leyland and city staff Lili Marquez, Hillary Mundt, Mayor Craig Loeffler and Pribbeno.
    The city will have a booth at the July 15 Chase County Challenge to raise awareness about the renovation, seek input about future potential uses for the renovated space and raise funds for additional features.
    Some preliminary prep work could start in the fall, Pribbeno said, but it’s anticipated major work won’t start until 2024.