Knight Museum:
∙ We have been cleaning up after a very successful Christmas Auction fundraiser for 2023. Thank you to all who donated their time and talents to make it a success
∙ The memory trees are still up in our hallway. If you have a loved one you would like to celebrate, please bring an ornament in their memory to hang on one of the trees. The hospice volunteers will take them down and store them until next year when they will redecorate the trees with all of the memorial ornaments.
∙ The Newberry Gift Shop has a large variety of items that make excellent choices for Christmas Gift Giving. Available are books on many topics, including local authors and Nebraska and Alliance History. We also have a large selection of handmade soaps and bath products, Nebraska and Carhenge clothing items and souvenirs, and Christmas decorations and ornaments. Our hours are 8 am to 5 pm Monday the 18th through Friday the 22nd. We will be closed on Saturday, Sunday and Monday for the holidays. Merry Christmas!
Parks:
∙ Servicing pickups and mowers.
∙ Assisted the Museum with teardown and storage of Christmas supplies.
∙ Installed the new Carhenge sign on the door and signs at the tennis courts.
∙ Assisted maintenance with the ramps at the museum.
∙ Installed a new cutting edge on the skid steer bucket.
∙ Dug one grave and worked the funeral.
∙ Inventoried and ordered servicing material for all pickups and equipment.
Senior Center:
∙ 20 volunteers assisted the public this week.
∙ The Senior Center and RSVP have been added to the City of Alliance Website, click on each tab to see information about opportunities to become involved and programs offered.
∙ The kitchen remodel is nearly complete.
∙ Look for the Senior Center on Facebook. Like our page and follow the fun activities available during each month.
∙ New volunteers were signed up to assist with local projects. Please call 762-1293 and ask for Angie if you would like to volunteer.
∙ Attendance has increased for Senior Activities.
Library:
∙ Ornament sales wrapped up this week with a tremendous response from the community! The paw print ornaments were our most popular, with proceeds going to the Alliance Animal Shelter to cover medical costs. If you are looking for a last minute holiday gift, don’t forget the library’s
bookstore – lots of new Christmas titles going out this season! Come in and grab something good to take you to a less stressful place in your season!
∙ Adult Services Librarian Nalani Stewart cataloged new Fiction and Nonfiction books, hosted Fiber Arts Club, and the book club at Highland Park Care Center. She also created new displays in the DVD section.
∙ Technical Services Librarian Emily Nelson processed Interlibrary Loans for several patrons and book clubs, made the weekly bookmobile deliveries, and updated the website and social media pages. She also helped in the training of our new clerk, Stephanie Hamilton.
∙ Children’s Librarian Cynthia Horn held a “Baking Adventures” Story Time with handprint holiday cards for family Reindeer Crafts with Keep Alliance Beautiful! The search for Merry Chris Moose continues. Cynthia also performed website updates that include Story Time themes for 2024 and Wiggleworm feature of Christmas Classics, organized the Bookmobile deliveries, and worked on craft projects.
∙ Library Clerks Stephanie Hamilton and Pam Becker have been busy processing new titles and taking care of our patrons. This is one of the busiest times of year for the library, and these ladies are excellent at taking care of all the diverse needs our patrons have!
Utility Office:
∙ Three new residential services.
∙ Cycle 2 bills sent.
∙ Cycle 4 bills due.
Accounting and Finance:
∙ Payroll processed.
∙ Claims submitted for Council.
∙ Invoices processed.
∙ Audit preparation.
Electric:
∙ Continue to replace “reject” poles and upgrade single phase line south of Valley Road. ∙ Continue to make progress on 3 phase line build at Schiff Feedlot.
∙ Replaced “reject” pole on CR 58 south of Homestead Addition.
∙ Connected new service for Motel parking lot lights.
∙ Received one load of poles for Solar Field three phase line build.
∙ Installed transformer basement at WESTCO fertilizer new building.
∙ Personnel raised lines for oversize load moving through our service area on Monday night. Community Development:
∙ Planning Commission Meeting
o Approved recommendations for the acceptance of the Area A and Area N Blight and Substandard studies.
o Approved a recommendation for the rezone of a 3.88 tract of land from Ag to Heavy Commercial. The application was made by WESTCO. The Planning Commission made their approval contingent on the receipt of a petition to annex from WESTCO.
o Moved their regular meeting time to 5:30 p.m.
∙ Board of Adjustment Meeting
o Reorganization of the Board.
o Approval of the previous meetings minutes
o Training
o Moved their regular meeting time to 5:30 p.m.
∙ Building Maintenance
o Replaced the kitchen cabinets at the Senior Center. Waiting on a few pieces that were cut incorrectly by the manufacturer.
o Worked on the boiler for the heated steps at the Municipal Building.
Fire:
∙ Staff has continued to work on our upstairs restroom remodel project. Demolition complete, reconstruction has begun.
∙ Continued to prepare for the upstairs flooring project.
∙ Chief performed quarterly Airport Fueling Inspection.
∙ Monthly Department-Wide meeting held.
∙ UL FES completed annual aerial ladder test, pump tests, and ground ladder testing for 2023. Chamber:
∙ The launch of the new digital Chamber Bucks program has been unleashed and is off and running. If you have participated in the Chamber Bucks program in the past, please on-board your business – This will make the process much faster and easier for both customers and merchants. We are keeping the physical check system in play while we launch the new program. Spread the word, please.
∙ The annual banquet will be held January 17th at the Westside Event Center 6-9pm.
Public Transit:
∙ 935 Riders this week.
Landfill:
∙ 175 tons of refuse this week.
∙ 127 customers.
∙ Laid dirt cover on MSW. Resurfaced top of MSW hill. Placed final cover on West side of MSW.
∙ Moved and stacked bales.
∙ Received new loader tires.
∙ Ongoing scale replacement project.
∙ Ongoing baler repairs.
Streets:
∙ Road grader training. Loader training. CDL Training.
∙ Ongoing street sweeping.
∙ Ongoing work on dirt alley approaches.
∙ Repair culvert on 2nd and Hudson.
∙ Traveled to Sidney for CDL testing.
Water Sewer:
∙ Installed new PLC in A station and downloaded software.
∙ Rebuilt injector on chlorinators for chlorine plant. Fixed leaks at chlorine plant.
∙ 2 employees attended training in Grand Island.
∙ Complete weekly chlorine residuals and collected samples.
∙ Worked on 18th and Colorado Well.
∙ Completed 5 locates. Completed 12 utility office locates.
∙ Installed 15 drive-by remotes.
HR:
∙ Preparing for Civil Service Commission meeting and interviews.
∙ Conducting pre-employment testing for conditional offers.
∙ Conducting candidate testing for Police Officer position.
∙ Processing Open enrollment changes and follow-ups with employees.
Administration:
∙ Provided information for Mass Notification Software rollout
∙ Dealt with multiple personnel matters
∙ Scoping meeting for possible police station building purchase
∙ Attended BBDC Perfect Blend at PREMA
∙ Preparations for Police Chief Interviews
∙ Met with multiple department heads regarding training, personnel and projects
∙ Updates to the visitalliance.com website