Accounting:
∙ Attended Council meeting—presented Q1 financial reports.
∙ Attended Department leader Staff meeting.
∙ Attended Bond meeting.
∙ Completed Annual electric power report.
∙ Completed Payroll process.
Utility Services Office:
∙ 6 new residential accounts.
∙ Cycle 3 bills mailed.
∙ Cycle 1 reminder notices mailed.
∙ New Stop sign in Alley across from drive up window installed.
Electric:
∙ We continue to make progress on the CR 58 three-phase line rebuild.
∙ Moved service wires to new pole and performed preventative maintenance on service to Sewer lift station C.
∙ Installed new pole and anchor to allow a re-route of wires at 20th and Emerson. ∙ Repaired/replaced numerous streetlights.
∙ Performed maintenance and installed animal protection in several locations.
∙ Installed wire to complete a three-phase project at Schiff feedlot.
∙ Delivered bulk paper order to various departments.
∙ A pole had to be replaced following an auto accident at west 10th street mid-morning on Monday which caused a small outage and a broken pole.
Transit:
∙ 667 riders.
Streets:
∙ Ongoing work on ice removal from streets.
∙ Cleaned all trucks.
∙ Graded 8th street.
∙ Ongoing pot hole repair.
∙ Equipment training fixed drain box on Countryside lane.
Landfill:
∙ 133 tons of refuse this week.
∙ 72 customers this week.
∙ Ran trommel. Ran burn box.
∙ Worked on cameras.
∙ Ongoing siding and roofing work.
∙ Ongoing baler repairs.
∙ CDL training. Molo training. Excavator training. Dump truck training.
Water/Sewer:
∙ Completed water samples and chlorine residuals.
∙ Ordered VFD for well #3.
∙ Completed 200-amp service upgrade at lift station C.
∙ Worked on chlorine pump at 18th and Colorado well.
∙ Completed monthly lift station maintenance.
∙ 10 utility office work orders.
∙ 7 locates.
∙ Completed amp and volt readings on wells and lift stations.
HR:
∙ Interviewing for open positions.
∙ Completing pre-employment requirements for new hires.
∙ Onboarding new hires, including our new Nutrition Delivery Driver.
∙ Administering the random Drug and Alcohol testing program for FMCSA and FTA monthly requirements.
∙ Representing Western Nebraska at the State Human Resource Conference.
RSVP & Senior Center:
∙ Continued to provide dine-in and delivery meals to seniors in the community. ∙ Two new volunteers signed up for the RSVP program this week.
∙ Approximately 15 volunteers assisted with activities in the community this week. They assisted with Meals on Wheels, Committee Planning, Senior Center Delivery, and activities at multiple churches. We are very grateful to our RSVPs who help the community in so many ways!
∙ The Senior Center hosted Bingo, a card party, a movie afternoon and morning coffee and treats.
Golf:
∙ Conducted interviews for the Assistant Superintendent position at SkyView.
∙ Winter play continues as the weather allows.
∙ Pro shop inventory is arriving, and the pro shop will be fully stocked for Spring. ∙ The golf pro is finalizing events for the 2024 golf season including tournaments, youth golf and lessons.
Parks:
∙ Removed and disposed of old growth and weeds in the bump out beds at the Laramie parking lot entrance.
∙ Removed trash and tumbleweeds from all the fence lines at the ball parks and mini-parks. ∙ Added rock to the trail at Carhenge east of the entrance pad to the building.
∙ Continued working on the ice in the 6th St. tunnel.
∙ Prepared two funeral sites and worked the funerals.
∙ Repaired the deck on the Kubota mower for use in mowing water tower sites this summer.
Library:
∙ We just could not wait for spring any longer, so there is a new display in the library hallway for our visitors to enjoy! Next week will begin the hunt for Lucky Dog, and a new Easter display. We have really noticed an uptick in our visitor numbers this week, which we attribute to the nice weather! Remember, the Luck of the Irish reading contest for adults begins next week for a chance to win a night at the Tin Lizzie Gaming resort and dinner at Snitches in Deadwood. Watch for details!
∙ Children’s Librarian Cynthia Horn held two Story Time sessions featuring a Construction Zone theme and LEGO Club on Tuesday! She also organized the Book Mobile deliveries, created a Find Your Treasure Wiggleworm for the library’s website, did inventory for Easy Fiction and paperbacks, cataloged new items, and performed backpack maintenance. Cynthia also did March program preparations and collected Summer Reading prizes from local restaurants.
∙ Technical Services Librarian Emily Nelson returned many interlibrary loan titles to the lending libraries, processed book club kits for the library and private book clubs, and updated programming information on the website. She also updated the social media pages, compiled the minutes from last week’s Library Foundation meeting, and assisted patrons.
∙ Adult Services Librarian Nalani Stewart cataloged new materials, continued working on the Book Nook Displays for the Fiction shelf, and helped put up new displays around the library. She also hosted the book club at Highland Park Care Center.
∙ Library Clerks Stephanie Hamilton and Pam Becker have been busy assisting the increasing number of patrons needing service at the desk. Tax season can be a busy time in the library, and these two are on top of taking care of our patrons!
Museum:
∙ Hosted the Box Butte County Art Society meeting this week.
∙ Working on cataloging information donated from the IOOF (International Order of Odd Fellows) in Antioch in 1920’s.
∙ The theater was used for several CPR & Red Cross training classes.
∙ The basement room was used by the Extension Office for bean grower education. ∙ Assisting a volunteer with research on all the banks that have operated in Alliance over the years. We would be interested in staff lists or any other relevant information the community might have. If you have information, please contact the Museum.
Airport:
∙ Airport has a vacancy for a maintenance worker. HR has posted the position.
∙ Tractor purchase review was completed and will be on next council agenda.
∙ MALSR update – Received the Verification Authority letter from the FAA. This letter is required by the FAA for approval for the contracted company (NEO Electronics) to do the maintenance and inspections on the MALSR. They are accepting their training on our specific system. NEO Electronics are waiting for parts needed to do some repairs on our system and then the annual inspection can be scheduled.
∙ Final bid documents for the Seal Coat of Runway 12/30 & 8/26 were reviewed with pre-bid meeting and bid opening dates set. Grant Application, agency agreement, and certificates approved at last council meeting have all been submitted to the FAA and NDOT Aeronautics Division.
∙ Participated in phone meetings regarding taxiway and apron rehab project. Meeting on-site scheduled for next week.
∙ Updates to Airport Certification Manual (FAA) and Airport Security Plan (TSA) continues. ∙ Request for Qualifications for consultants for airfield planning has been prepared. Those will be published the middle of March with recommendations going to Council the first meeting in May. Please be aware that the airport has an engineering firm in relation to construction projects, however the FAA requires a separate selection process for planning projects.
∙ Snow removal was required of staff over the weekend and on the holiday.
∙ Maintenance of snow equipment and service to the snow blower was completed. ∙ Repair work completed on runway light assembly and hangar light assembly. ∙ Taxiway edges cleaned.
Chamber:
∙ Easter Egg Hunt is set for March 26th at 4pm (*weather permitted) at the AHS practice field. Three age groups 1-3, 4-6, 7-9. It will be a fun day for the kids!
∙ Alliance Arts Council is putting on the “Holy Rocka Rollaz” tomorrow night at the PAC. Come join the event and enjoy the music!
∙ February is almost wrapping up and we will have our 1st Leadership Box Butte meeting scheduled soon, if you have recommendations for applicants, please send me their details. Fire:
∙ Meeting with Community Development and Police Department on addressing mobile home parks for 911-call handling.
∙ Chief attended the 911 Service System Advisory Committee Meeting as a member of the committee in Lincoln.
∙ Weekly department training was on Cardiac Emergencies and CPR.
∙ Work continuing on upper bathroom remodel.
Administration:
∙ Reviewed intermediate plans for City Hall addition and remodel
∙ Met with architect to deliver staff recommendations for proposed police station ∙ Council meeting included approval of a Mutual Aid agreement with Scotts Bluff County, various actions related to plats, grant application for the airport, and first quarter financial report. Saturday February 24, 2024 was declared “Chelsie Herian Day” to express appreciation for the many years of service Chelsie provided to the community in the field of economic development.
∙ Participated in a meeting for the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant with the Nebraska representative for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
∙ Met with various department heads, including the biweekly staff meeting
∙ Responded to multiple media and citizen requests
∙ Finished the request for proposals for cleaning city hall offices. RFP will be advertised over the next few weeks with bid opening scheduled for March 21, 2024 at 2:00 pm.
∙ There are three City Council seats open in the upcoming November election with the possibility of a fourth. Citizens are encouraged to submit their application to Box Butte County should they desire to run for office!