City moves forward on pair of street paving projects

    Two streets in the city’s southeast area will be paved this summer following action at Monday’s Imperial city council meeting.
    Nielsen Construction of Kearney won the $1,208,202.50 bid for the concrete paving of sections of Holland Street and East 2nd Street.
    It wasn’t difficult to get the bid, however.
    Nielsen was the only bidder last month on the two paving projects, according to Public Works Supt. Pat Davison.
    He’s uncertain why the projects drew just one bid, despite the fact city engineer Miller & Associates sent the bid specs to more than three pages of contractors.
    The specs separated the bids into three options—only Holland Street (from 3rd to Cape St.), only East 2nd Street (from Orsa St. east to Highway 61) or both streets in one bid.
    City Administrator Jo Leyland said the street department has between $1.5 million and $1.6 million in cash, but the council opted to bond the entire cost of the project instead.
    They cited the current low interest rate for municipal bonds in making that decision on a 4-0 vote.
    Councilman Doug Gaswick noted the large amount of cash in the street department has come up as a criticism during the city’s most recent audit, saying initially he favored spending some of that money, and bonding only half of it.
    However, discussion turned to future street department equipment costs and other projects on the back burner that could require some of those funds.
    The council discussed doing just the Holland Street paving only, which had a separate bid of $584,734.
    Nielsen’s separate bid for the East 2nd Street paving only was $673,468.50.
    Gaswick added, “Inflation is going to rear its ugly head soon,” noting increasing construction and food costs already.
    In the end, they voted unanimously, in two separate ballots, to award the project to Nielsen Construction and to bond the entire cost.
    The contractor’s completion date for the two projects is Nov. 15. Their bid was 2% below the engineer’s estimate.
    Leyland noted there are two other city bonds eligible to be refinanced at lower rates than when they were issued. She suggested they be combined with these street paving bonds.
    A bond company agent is expected to attend an upcoming meeting to discuss that.
    Neither street paving project will be assessed to property owners.
    Leyland said there was no engineering for the Holland Street paving, and half is owned by the city as it borders Shroeder Park. The city also owns half of the East 2nd Street paving sections, and Mayor Coleman noted lot prices in Cornerstone were priced with expectations the streets would be paved eventually.
Nuisance reviews
    Residential areas and mobile home parks in Imperial’s north and northeast will be reviewed by the city’s nuisance officer this year after 4-0 council approval.
    Total cost for those three areas will be $26,635 in an estimate presented by West Central Nebraska Development District (WCNDD), the city’s nuisance officer, at the council’s last meeting.
    Leyland said areas 2 and 3, to the northeast, are most problematic and for which the city receives the most complaints.
    According to WCNDD’s CJ Poltak two weeks ago, there will be some price deductions for the review of trees in those three areas, because they are included in a citywide tree review separate cost of $5,000.
    The city’s 2020-21 budget allotted $20,000 for nuisance costs, but Leyland said all of the nuisance review work will extend into the city’s next budget year.
Other business
    Closure of streets on West 7th, West 8th and Court Street (between 7th and 8th) were approved for the day on Saturday, June 26, for Smokin’ on Broadway. The Court Street section will also be closed the day before starting at 4 p.m. so BBQ competitors can set up and start their cooking.
    Approval of a $6,500 quote from McNally Law Office was given for an update to the city’s municipal code book. Ahead of that, council members and the mayor will review assigned sections to give input.
    In a related matter, Monday’s agenda also sought direction on complaints from two businesses about each other regarding trees, vehicles and sidewalks near their downtown businesses. Need for at least some change in sidewalk repair requirements in the current city code came up, which will be noted as McNally reviews the entire code. Complaints also involved overhanging trees and unlicensed vehicles parked on the city street.
    After a 4-0 vote, recommendation of Brent Sinsel as new manager for T-Junction will be made to the state’s Liquor Control Commission.
    Leyland informed council members its roof replacement cost above the council room will be about $2,000 higher because of cost increases.
    While there is no mold in the water damaged ceiling below it, there is possible asbestos in that ceiling, as well, she said, which is being checked.
    City insurance will cover cost of the roof and ceiling, Leyland said. The roof was damaged in the September 2019 hailstorm.