Police:
Chief Leavitt and Lieutenant Felker attended the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in Boston, Massachusetts
Met with Legislative Assistant to Congressman Smith, Davis Powell about federal assistance for our public safety radio project.
Attended ICMA budgeting workshop
APD assisted with and participated in the Homecoming Parade
Fire:
Chief Shoemaker was elected the 2nd Vice President of the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association at its 142nd Annual Conference in Gering last weekend.
Provided fire protection stand-by for the AHS Burning of the A as part of the high school’s homecoming events.
Fire Apparatus Engineer/EMT Allen Lorensen chaired the City’s Safety Committee Meeting on Wednesday afternoon.
Chief Shoemaker and Police Chief Leavitt met with Congressman Adrian Smith’s Legislative Assistant Davis Powell reference a potential radio infrastructure project for the City.
Career staff meeting held Thursday morning.
Chief attended the budget training webinar on Thursday at City Hall.
Members of the fire department will be staffing the concession stand at the AHS Homecoming football game Friday night.
Electric:
Removed three phase line at well field
Trenched in pipe for underground cable at Country Club Road and CR 62
Installed new secondary line to chlorine plant at well field
Installed control cables on line equipment along Country Club Road
Repaired/replaced several streetlights
De-energized all electrical equipment at Parker Plant so plant personnel could perform maintenance on equipment
Staked line and hauled poles for three-phase line rebuild at Nance and CR 63
Pulled and removed poles along CR 63
Finance:
Attended Employee Activity Committee Meeting
Attended Budgeting webinar
Prior FY pension contribution reconciliation
Utility Billing Services:
Cycle 3 bills mailed
Cycle 1 reminder notices mailed
4 new residential accounts
Public Works:
Transit:
695 riders this week
Water/Sewer:
Filled W. 3rd Street tower with water and placed back on-line.
Completed 1” water tap at 920 Big Horn
Winterized Carhenge
Took apart water tap machine and repaired parts
Completed amp and volt sheets for wells
Installed 28 water radios, completed 17 locates and 19 work orders
Winterized wells
Flushed 3 fire hydrants
Landfill:
389 tons of refuse this week
206 customers this week
Ongoing baler repairs
Dozer training with street department
Trash route training
Basic maintenance on all equipment
Streets:
Completed 17 locates
Ongoing sweeping and cleaning of drains
Hauled sweeper dirt to landfill
Ongoing replacement of street signs
Serviced and washed unit 919
Installed snow plows on units 912,914,919
Serviced snow blower skid steer attachment
Graded Sweetwater, Nebraska, Iowa, Hills, South Mississippi, and South Grand Constructed storm sewer jetting map
Placed and picked up barricades for parade
Serviced tractor and tar machine then stored for winter
RSVP & Senior Center:
Completed renewals of several MOU’s with station partners in the community.
We had ten volunteers assisting with community events and activities this week.
Individuals hosted several card parties, Bunco, an afternoon movie, and Friday morning coffee and treats at the Senior Center.
Area seniors played BINGO with WNCC students as part of their homecoming activities this week.
Library:
It has been a busy time at the library preparing for the basket auction. We estimate 50 baskets this year, with bidding beginning November 4th and ending Thursday, November 21st. We are also planning a fun open house for the night of the 21st including music and a special skit from the AHS theater group!
Technical Services Librarian Emily Nelson ordered Interlibrary Loan books for the library and private book clubs, made Bookmobile deliveries, and helped with upcoming fall/winter fundraising projects. She also assisted patrons on the computers and updated the website and social media pages.
Children’s Librarian Cynthia Horn held Story Time featuring “What’s New?” with new books in our library collection, Show and Tell time, and making autumn baskets with Granny B. The search for Gertie Ghost continues through October 31st. Cynthia also did KCOW announcements, organized the Bookmobile and worked on shelving order skills with the new library pages. She made preparations for upcoming events, cataloged new items, and performed backpack maintenance.
Adult Services Librarian Nalani Stewart hosted the APL book club, the book club at Highland Park Assisted Living and the book club at Highland Park Care Center. She also cataloged new materials, prepared for future programs and hosted the Doves Community Workshop.
Library Clerks Pam Becker and Stephanie Hamilton have been working hard at processing materials we have purchased to replace worn copies currently in our collection. This week they have been working on our entire “Wimpy Kid” collection, which has certainly seen better days!
Museum:
Hosted a workshop for Westco
Hosted lunch for the American Legion & County Government Day.
Hosted a community forum for candidates for City Council.
Completed our Railroad collection and our Rocks & Fossils collections inventory. Many of these items will start showing up in displays this winter.
One area that we are always looking for is in our Advertising area. Any receipt, give away or ad, especially for a business that is no longer here, would be a great addition to our new display telling the history of businesses in Alliance, Hemingford and Box Butte County. So next time you clean out your junk drawer, check for advertising!
Parks:
Completed winterization of all thirty of the park irrigation systems.
Mowed all parks. Depending on weather, this may be the last time for the season.
Started fall leaf harvest in various park areas.
Blew out the fountain plumbing for the winter.
Finalized pool winterization.
Installed a new backwash valve at the fountain to be ready for operation next spring Airport:
Seal coat Runway 12/30 & 8/26 – Weather has continued to be a slight issue in the completion of the airfield markings. The hope is that today will be the final day of painting.
Completed required paperwork to renew radio station authorizations for the airport. This is required every 10 years.
Participated in monthly Prairie Dog Advisory Board Meeting.
Airport staff met with Public Works to discuss a long-term plan for prairie dog issues on City Property.
Airport staff met with engineers on the electrical project design.
Multiple phone conferences with airline consultant Volaire on our renewals for airline service. Four airlines have shown interest and calls will be had with each over the next week. Started working on putting a small group together to work on recommendation to council for our airline service. This council recommendation then is submitted to DOT as they are the final decision maker.
Department of Transportation (DOT) published the bid documents for Alliance Municipal Airport’s EAS service. Bids from carriers are due November 19, 2024.
Maintenance staff conducted multiple inspections daily for the construction project, ARFF vehicle, perimeter fence, and airfield inspections.
Maintenance staff serviced and washed the Loader and the Hustler Mower.
Special inspection of all light fixtures for Runway 8/26 was finished.
Human Resources:
HR has coordinated and administered 14 applicant skills assessments this week as part of the application process for three separate open positions. Assessment will be scored and distributed to department heads for review to determine minimum qualifications before interviews.
Scheduled and participated in interviews for open positions.
Prepared a detailed benefit summary to help an applicant understand the City’s benefits and answered follow-up questions.
Communicating with Police Department applicants regarding the upcoming Police Review Board and Civil Service Commission Meeting and interviews scheduled for November 1, 2024. HR ensures that applicants submit all required documentation, schedule and complete the written exams, and meet the minimum passing scores as required by the Civil Service Commission, NLETC, and State of Nebraska law. This application process takes approximately 2-3 months to complete the entire cycle between Civil Service Commission meetings and NLETC Basic Training Academy dates.
Met with ENI and Brown & Brown representatives for NexGenEAP services planning meeting. Discussed finalizing the service contract and plans for implementation and employee onboarding. The Employee Assistance Program is part of the complete benefit package available to City of Alliance employees and their families.
Planning and scheduling upcoming Employee Benefit fair. This will be an open house format that will enable our benefit providers to assist employees with understanding and utilizing the resources available to them in the upcoming plan year. More details to come as they are finalized.
Met with employees and department heads to discuss and address confidential matters, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and organizational policies.
Worked collaboratively with department heads, supervisors, and employees on Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Workers’ Compensation, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and processing related requests. Maintained two Department of Transportation (DOT)-required drug and alcohol testing programs.
Managed the application process, administered applicant testing, completed pre employment and post-offer conditions for new hires, and facilitated onboarding for newly hired employees.
Processing applications for open positions including: Full-time Water/Sewer Maintenance Worker, Full-Time Public Safety Dispatcher, Full-time Police Officer, Full time Police Sergeant, and Part-Time Museum Clerk.
Administration:
Preparation for the upcoming Council Meeting
Finishing updates to the City’s Purchasing Policy
Currently advertising Requests for Proposal for the Public Safety Center, Tourism Services, and Planning for the Electric System and an Invitation to Bid on securing the 1st Interstate Inn
Submitted grant contract to the Federal Highway Administration for initial review.
Met with multiple City Council members. Met with multiple department heads
Participated in ICMA training on budgeting
Attended Safety Committee Meeting
Participated in a zoom meeting of City Managers in the Panhandle
Work on FY26 Budget