Police:
Taveled to Rapid City to drop off our three new to us (i.e. used) vehicles for equipment upfitting.
Commenced work on our Annual Report.
Human Resources:
Completed the last payroll of the year.
Completed Open Enrollment and processed follow-up steps for FSA/HSA, Colonial Life, and Voluntary Life enrollment steps.
Reviewing HRIS documents and processes for 2025 changes to Benefits, Onboarding, and document tracking for employee files.
Finalized and disseminated the updated Personnel Handbook.
Provided employees correspondence about using their new EAP benefit, the upcoming Employee Recognition Banquet, the Employee Engagement Survey, and mandatory notices.
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 the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Workers’ Compensation, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and processing related requests. Maintained two Department of Transportation (DOT)-required drug and alcohol testing programs.
Public Transit:
417 riders this week
Landfill:
115 customers this week
105 tons of refuse this week
Move and lay dirt cover
Streets:
Hauled 174 loads of crushed concrete from landfill
Dispersed slice on streets
Completed 5 locates
Placed locates for sign replacement
Ongoing alley work
Hauled dirt from rock crusher
Ongoing Christmas tree pickup
Water/Sewer:
Completed 14 work orders, 5 locates
Fixed ferric tank hose at E
Elkhorn well
Completed globe valve repair at SCADA
Assisted resident with low water pressure issue
Flushed 2 hydrants
Collected chlorine residuals
Installed 32 radios
Read cycle 1 radios
Fire:
2024 was the busiest year on record for us. We responded to a total of 1091 emergency calls for service.
Continuing preparations for our new MSA G1 SCBA in-service training with MacQueen.
Completed staff evaluation.
Airport:
Airline renewal – All airline interviews will take place next week.
Participated in the Prairie Dog Advisory Committee meeting.
Work continues on close out documents for both the seal coat and the taxiway/apron rehab projects.
Work continues on the airport’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, which is required every three years.
Reviewed quotes for the prairie dog control efforts. This should start in the next 10 days. Working on advertisement for the snow plow assembly for bid.
Replaced batteries in Snow Blower.
Staff had to troubleshoot a loss of lights issue on Runway 12/30. A temporary fix was found and then part was replaced on New Year’s Day. The loss of the lights lasted less than 24 hours.
Silverado pick up and snow blower cleaned.
Finished plumbing work on the old Weather Service building.
RSVP & Senior Center:
RSVP had 20 volunteers in the community assisting with community activities this week.
The Senior Center provided 1,000 meals for delivery and dine-in for the month of December 2024.
Senior Center hosted card parties, Bunco, and Friday morning treats this week
Staff is working with WCHR to assist with dispersing commodities to needy individuals in the community.
Parks:
The Nebraska Fish and Game Association will be hosting an ice fishing event for youth in Alliance on January 11th. There will be classroom instruction and an “on ice” event at Laing Lake. Please visit the Alliance Nebraska Parks and Pool Facebook page for more details.
Staff completed wiring and welding repairs on the dump trailer
Assisted building maintenance with several projects at City facilities.
Serviced equipment
Cleaned up the shop
Library:
2024 was a successful year for us at the library! Last year we circulated 57,548 items and had 31,364 patron visits!
We have been busy this week taking down all the Christmas decorations and getting ready for the New Year! We have had many people come in and get new cards or renew old accounts since they have made reading more part of their resolutions! We have so many titles from self-improvement to new hobbies so come check out what we have to make your 2025 kick off to a great start!
Children’s and Youth Services Librarian Cynthia Horn shared December highlights with three Head Start classrooms. Story Time featured Festive Holidays, including visits with Alliance Police Department, Chief Leavitt and SRO Tyler Sherlock sharing Winter Safety. The search for Pete the Cat continued through December 24 and LEGO Club worked on their creations. Cynthia also organized Book Mobile items, shared announcements on KCOW Radio, cataloged new items and maintained backpacks. Her ongoing projects include updating the website, book displays, checking the shelving of the library collection and preparations for upcoming events.
Technical Services Librarian Emily Nelson has been busy assisting with those seeking new employment opportunities and many who are printing return labels for Christmas gifts, LOL.
Adult Services Librarian Nalani Stewart has been preparing programming for the new year and cataloging all the new materials that are rolling in!
Library Clerks Pam Becker and Stephanie Hamilton have been a great help in cleaning up all the Christmas décor and processing new cards!
Museum:
Staff got the Christmas items cleared out of the basement just in time to host the January Scrap booking event.
Staff continued working in the basement
Visitors picked up a bit as holiday visitors toured the museum
Community Development:
2024 Year End Permitting:
377 Permits total in 2024. Down from 432 in 2023.
145 Building Permits; down from 148. Total estimated improvement value of $24,590,639.43; up from $10,115,017.86.
63 Construction, Excavation, and ROW Permits; up from 29.
6 Demolition Permits; up from 5.
128 Plumbing and Mechanical Permits; down from 200.
35 Zoning Permits; down from 50. Total estimated improvement value of $350,002.97; up from $315,492.16
Issued 26 Certificates of Occupancy.
135 Contractor Licenses issued.
2024 Nuisance Abatement:
357 nuisance contacts made.
328 nuisance issues abated.
Board Meetings:
Five Planning Commission meetings.
One Board of Adjustment meeting.
Zero Board of Health meetings.
Facilities Maintenance:
360 maintenance work orders entered; 348 work orders completed.
12 carryover projects into the 2025 calendar year.
Administration:
The Public Transit Program was moved under the supervision of the City
Preparation for next week’s City Council Meeting and workshop
Work continued on securing the 1st Interstate Inn with plywood
Conducted Annual Review of Employee
Preparation for FY24 Audit
Worked with surveyor to obtain plat for Veteran’s Cemetery