Accounting & Finance:
• Annual Certification for STP funds completed.
• Attended Webinar on proposed Consumption Tax.
• Attended Council meeting.
• Paid all Council approved claims.
• Attended Department Leader staff meeting.
Utility Billing:
• 6 new residential services this week.
Chamber of Commerce:
• This year’s Chamber Banquet was well attended and awards were giving to very deserving nominees.
• Taxes and W-2’s are next!
• Membership renewals will go out on Monday.
Clerk’s Office:
• Council Hosted their 2023 Employee Recognition Banquet with help from the EAC. • Proclaimed January 7th as Jordan Hooper Day.
• New City Council Software System CivicClerk is planned to go live on April 2nd. Fire:
• Work continues on the upper restroom remodel project.
• Chief participated in the monthly NSVFA Recruitment and Retention Committee meeting. • Participated in FY23 AFG Application Development Workshop.
• Staff participating in Distance CME trainings for EMT renewals.
• Staff taught CPR for Hemingford Volunteer Fire Department.
• Monthly Department EMS training was CPR.
• Alliance hosted the Scotts Bluff County Mutual Aid Association Meeting.
Golf:
• Working on plans for the 2024 season including ordering inventory and getting information collected for the tournament schedule.
• Staff has been moving snow onto greens to provide some insulation from the extreme cold temperatures.
• Equipment maintenance continues in preparation for the 2024 season.
RSVP & Senior Center:
• RSVP had 29 volunteers assisting with community events this week.
• Food drive was conducted and food items will be distributed to Box Butte County food banks. • The Nutrition Site continued to prepare and serve dine in and delivery meals for seniors in our community.
Parks Division:
• Staff completed snow removal on public property multiple times this week.
• Cleared the snow off of the ice rink for use.
• Repaired snow removal equipment as necessary.
• Prepared for a funeral this weekend. Including the grave opening and snow removal on the roads and around the site.
Museum:
• We held the monthly Museum Board meeting.
• Jodi did an interesting research project to an out of town patron. We call it “rabbit-hole” research. • Bailey typed the travel journal for Dr. Frank Knight’s travels abroad in the early 1900s. These are available to be read by researchers now and are very interesting.
• Kim finished the extensive file system of businesses here that start in 1888.
• We are still in need of several people that would volunteer file the large amount of clippings, etc. that we have acquired. The only requirement is a love of Alliance history and the perk is you get to read everything that you file. You will become an instant hit at coffee time.
• The theater was rented for a baby shower.
• The basement was rented for a birthday party.
Library:
• Many thanks to all our patrons this week who graciously dealt with our closure times due to weather and mechanical issues. We are always amazed at their patience and kindness and feel inspired by their excitement to get back in the library.
• This week marked the beginning of the annual “Blind Date with a Book” contest! Check out one of our “dates” for a chance to win dinner and a movie for two! Watch for more details or stop in the library.
• Children’s Librarian Cynthia Horn held Story Time featuring Winnie the Pooh and Friends and a Winnie Watercolor. She also organized Book Mobile items, designed a new Wiggleworm feature on the website, updated displays, maintained backpacks, and prepared for upcoming events.
• Adult Services Librarian Nalani Stewart watched Nebraska Library Commission Webinars to gain Continuing Education hours, aided in the preparation of Valentine’s boxes, and created new monthly calendars for Adult Programs. She also hosted the book club at Highland Park Care Center, the Crime After Crime Book Club, and the Craft Club.
• Technical Services Librarian Emily Nelson processed interlibrary loans for patrons and several book clubs. She also updated the Facebook/Instagram pages, assisted patrons with computer and Libby questions, and made Bookmobile deliveries.
• Library Clerks Pam Becker and Stephanie Hamilton have been busy processing new materials and maintaining patron accounts. Pam has also been helping to create special items for exciting Spring events the library has coming up!
HR:
• Led HR Association Meeting for WNHRA.
• Confirming Pay Codes and Withholdings for January 12 pay period and verifying employee enrollments.
• Held HR Strategic Planning Meeting for 2024 initiatives.
• Preparing for 2024 Seasonal Employment.
• Finalizing job descriptions for new positions.
Electric:
• Monday morning, we operated the Cody generation plant per request from MEAN.
• Continue making progress on the three phase line rebuild on CR 55 south of Rock Road.
• Repaired/replaced several street lights.
• Energized new garage service.
• Repaired damaged equipment on irrigation transformer bank on CR 63.
• Performed maintenance and testing on ground sets.
• Working with MEAN personnel on proper installation of new load control switches.
• Kirby attended ACE and MEAN committee and director’s meetings in Kearney.
• Assisted PD with replacement of InAlert cameras.
Water/Sewer:
• Multiple curb stop shut offs for customer water repairs.
• Collected weekly chlorine residuals.
• Collected weekly water samples.
• Collected UCMR samples for EPA.
• Completed 8 utility office work orders.
• Completed 2 locates.
• 70 drive by radios are installed.
• Met with core and main for update in billing office software for drive by radios. • Ongoing update to lead and copper line inventory.
• Assisted AHS with water shut off.
• Repair of broken piping at Elkhorn treatment plant.
• Ongoing snow removal assistance.
• Disassembled automatic reel assembly on vactor truck.
• Cleaned chlorine analyzer.
• Submitted annual water use report to State (540,937,308 gallons of drinkable clean water produced in 2023).
Transit:
• 798 riders this week.
Landfill:
• 44 customers this week.
• 75 tons of refuse this week.
• Assisted with snow removal.
• Ongoing baler repairs.
• Regular maintenance on paddle scraper and excavator.
Streets:
• Plowed snow routes twice.
• Received and put away two truckloads of slice.
• Dispersed slice in town.
• Pushed snow pile from scrapers.
• Plowed residential sections.
Airport:
• MALSR update – working with NEO Electrical Solutions to fill needed information for non federal data base. NEO Electrical Solutions in contact with FAA to get coordinate next steps for annual inspection. Working on some long distance trouble shooting on two control panels. • Training of new employee continues.
• Wildlife permits and reports submitted.
• Staff attended monthly NOTAM (notice to pilots) Manager training.
• Snow Removal was needed several days.
• Maintenance on Loader and Snow Blower was completed.
• Scheduling and coordinating multiple conferences and trainings for staff in the upcoming months. BBDC:
• Attended the Hemingford Chamber monthly meeting on Tuesday.
• Met with Bradley Weise, NeDED, to discuss our Rural Workforce Housing Fund, brainstorm new ideas to generate interest for applicants/developers/builders.
• Working on Annual RWHF Report.
• Attended the Alliance Chamber Banquet Wednesday evening.
• Listened in on the Activate Alliance monthly Zoom.
• Hosted the monthly Heartland Expressway Association board meeting at my office and via phone due to weather.
• Joined the weekly NEDA Legislative Update via Zoom Friday morning.
• Host NEDA Education Committee meeting Friday at Noon.
Community Development:
• January 9 Planning Commission Meeting:
o Code Amendment providing for the Minor Subdivisions of land approved and sent to Council.
o Approved a recommendation for the Final Plat of Lot 9A Hillcrest Addition.
• No January Board of Adjustment Meeting.
• Issued a building permit for the Westco Agronomy Building to be constructed north of their new tire shop.
• Building Maintenance has been working with Stephanie at the library working through the heating issues.
• Heartland Flats apartment building is basically finished on 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors. 1st is approved to start insulation and drywall.
• The Westco fertilizer storage facility exterior has the south side left to be shingled and siding on the wood framed portions. The interior storage areas are in the stages of plywood cladding on the wood framed portions and the occupied areas are about to begin the insulation and drywall.
• Jelinek Custom Cleanings new scale/office addition has the plumbing roughed in and insulation and drywall going up.
• Marian Residence building has approval to remove and open up some interior walls to reconfigure space.
• Sautter home has exterior walls framed and sheathing partially done.
Administration:
• Personnel matters
• City Council Meeting which included designating January 7 as Jordan Hooper Day to commemorate her induction into the University of Nebraska – Lincoln Hall of Fame. Jordan was deemed an ambassador for the city and given the key to the city.
• Attended a webinar on the EPIC tax option
• Met with various department heads
• Continue implementation for new public notification software.