Finance:
• Assisted with Budget completion.
• Attended Budget hearing and Council meeting.
• Attended Department Leader meeting.
• Submitted approved budget for 2024 to the State and Box Butte County.
• Completed payroll process.
• Attended HR & Payroll workshop.
• Final invoices processing for 2023 year-end.
Utility office:
• Welcomed new Accounting Clerk I, Paula Hatterman.
• Cycle 3 bills sent this week.
• Past Due notices sent for Cycle 1.
• Rate review completed.
Electric:
• We completed a line extension on Sarpy Road to provide service for a new house under construction.
• Poured a cement pad for outside yard storage area.
• We performed maintenance on three irrigation-well transformer banks.
• Shipped out 20 transformers for salvage or rebuild.
• Replaced four poles deemed inadequate by pole testers.
Landfill:
• 198 customers this week.
• 254 tons of refuse this week.
Transit:
• 582 riders this week.
Streets:
• Cleaning of storm drains.
• Set out barricades for homecoming parade.
• Completed 17 locates.
• Replaced sign on 10th and Buffalo.
• Picked up branches in alleys.
• Assisted electric department with concrete pour.
• Clean up and cement pour after main break on Box Butte.
• Grade Sweetwater.
Water/Sewer:
• Pulled check valve and air release at A station.
• Main break, valve replacement and hydrant repair at Emerson and 14th.
• Unregulated contaminant samples for 5 wells.
• Weekly water samples and chlorine residuals.
• Changed seal filters in lift stations.
• Completed 15 utility office work orders.
• Completed 17 locates.
• Jetted 3000 feet of sanitary sewer.
• Made new check valve gaskets for a station.
• Made police report for vandalism on tank filler.
Fire:
• Staff attended 2023 Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service in Kearney.
• Staff participated in NSVFA SAFER Grant Meeting.
• Staff participated in Governor’s Volunteer First Responders Summit Review on EMS. • Reviewed both Memory Care techniques and Carter Kits (first responder autism kits to appropriately focus children who are on the autism spectrum) recently placed on our ambulances.
HR:
• Completing Onboarding and meeting with new employees in multiple positions. • Onboarding software has gone live for all employees! From now on, new employees will select benefits on the Paylocity HRIS and current employees will be able to view detailed benefits on their employee profiles. Yearly open enrollment will also be conducted through the Benefits module.
• Conducting and scheduling interviews and reference checks on candidates.
• Began updating employee wages to comply with the 2023-24 FY Classification and Compensation Plan.
Museum:
• Hosted the monthly Museum Board Meeting.
• Hosted Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason for a poetry workshop and poetry reading.
• Hosted the 2nd Barn Quilt painting workshop led by Rose Mapel from Cozad.
• The Museum Partners are continuing add more inventory of gifts and souvenirs in their gift shop.
They added new books written by Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason. Stop by and check it out.
• Added several new security cameras to upgrade the existing system.
• We are working with local contractor, Bob Wood, on a new multi-level exhibit to feature our many small collections. This is an exciting concept made possible by a bequest from former longtime board member & volunteer Jim Girard.
Parks:
• Disassembled and blew out the plumbing in the bath house and pool pump house. Winterized the irrigation at the swimming pool.
• Took down the slide canvas, guard chairs, and diving board for the winter.
• Mowed the smaller vacant city lots and along the 10th Street trail East of Flack Ave. • Added gravel to improve areas of the trail and Laing Lake and around the public bathrooms in that park.
• Picked up grass piles at Bower park, Sallows Museum, and BN ballfield.
• Repaired the older Hustler 104” mower by installing a new wiring harness.
• Assembled another portable pickleball net for the 16th Street courts.
• All usual mowing was completed this week.
• Prepared for 3 funerals.
Library:
• Fall is certainly in the air at APL! We have enjoyed seeing the return of the students to study here in the library as we have returned to our regular hours of operation, being Mon-Thurs 8-6 PM, Fri 8-5PM, and Sat 10-2PM. There are many new Fall titles rolling in with a few holiday ones arriving and we have added many new titles to our Libby Advantage account. These titles allow our patrons to by-pass the long wait times for titles since they are accessible to Alliance patrons. Hop on to Libby and see what’s new!
• Children’s Librarian Cynthia Horn hosted School Adventures story time and LEGO Club with great attendance! The Autumn in Alliance Coloring Contest is underway, with all ages invited to vote for their favorites. Cynthia is also busy preparing Story Time photos for the Children’s Room, organizing Book Mobile items, and preparation of October events. In the Young Adult collection, she is doing updates and completing shelf reading.
• Technical Services Librarian Emily Nelson processed interlibrary loans for two private book clubs as well as several patrons. She also composed the meeting minutes from last week’s Library Board meeting, made Bookmobile deliveries, and assisted patrons with computer questions.
• Adult Services Librarian Nalani Stewart helped create a new display for fall, cataloged new books, and planned more fall programming for October. She also hosted the Fiber Arts Club, and the Highland Park Care Center book club.
• Library Clerks Pam Becker and Kris Wilder have been busy with all the increased activity at the circulation desk! Kris also assists with the many items we feature in the bookstore by sharing her talents with us!
Airport:
• Paving has been suspended for the season in anticipation of cooler and adverse weather conditions. Work will resume in the spring.
Council:
• Adopted the budget for FY24 which begins October 1st. Budget included an increase for water, sewer, and refuse utility rates. Electric rates remain the same for the coming year.