City Clerk:
∙ Preparations for upcoming City Council Meeting June 18th.
∙ Swore in newly elected Councilwoman Tacy Liptack.
∙ Council unanimously appointed John McGhehey as Mayor and Tearza Mashburn as Vice Mayor.
∙ Attended a Nebraska Land Bank Presentation.
∙ Budget Workshop with City Council on June 7th.
Accounting and Finance:
∙ Budget review.
∙ Met with FNBO sales rep for potential earnings opportunity.
∙ Attended Council meeting.
∙ Council claims paid.
∙ Attended Department Leader meeting.
∙ Tax Valuation increase review with Airport Director at Assessors office.
∙ Attended Unum Insurance training webinar.
∙ Transit invoice submitted to NDOT for January 2024 reimbursement.
Utility Billing Office:
∙ Cycle 1 Bills mailed.
∙ Cycle 3 payment reminders mailed.
∙ 17 new residential accounts.
Fire:
∙ Maintenance conducted on all seven (7) outdoor warning sirens.
∙ Chief attended the Missouri Valley Division of IAFC conference in Ft. Collins.
∙ Monthly ARFF training was conducted on extinguishing agents.
HR:
∙ Launched Onboarding Packets for additional seasonal hires. With these 5 additions, seasonal hiring should be completed for 2024.
∙ Conducted required DOT training to FMCSA and FTA employees. This includes recent updates to the City’s Drug and Alcohol testing policy to ensure compliance with DOT rules. ∙ Maintaining required record-keeping for FMCSA and FTA random pool testing and results. ∙ Assisting employees with requests.
∙ Completing pre-employment conditions for individuals scheduled to begin employment and references for the same.
∙ Communicating with current applicants for Police, Sergeant and Lieutenant positions regarding testing and interviews.
∙ Preparing for upcoming Civil Service Commission meeting and interviews for Police Officers to be held June 13, 2024.
∙ Accepting applications for Part-Time Nutrition Delivery Driver, Full-Time Cook, Police Officers (Certified or Trainees), and Part-Time Certified Police Officers. Please see the City’s website at www.cityofalliance.net for details on these positions.
Water/Sewer:
∙ Installed new analyzer tube kit at chlorine plant.
∙ Mowed all wellfield roads and around well houses.
∙ Trimmed weeds at 18h and Colorado well.
∙ Collected SOC samples on all wells.
∙ Took monthly readings at lift stations.
∙ Changed seal filters on all lift stations.
∙ 42 water radios installed.
∙ Completed 16 utility office work orders.
∙ Replaced 4 rear tires on vactor truck.
∙ Completed 23 locates.
∙ Vactored pit and jetted storm sewer line for airport.
∙ Exposed manhole for plumber at Lutheran school.
∙ 20560 feet of sanitary sewer line jetted.
Streets:
∙ Completed 23 locates.
∙ Installed new signs on E. 3rd.
∙ Picked up car show barricades.
∙ Ongoing pothole repair.
∙ Painted yellow line markings.
∙ Ongoing road grading.
∙ Cleaned shop and vehicles.
∙ Ongoing mowing and weed eating.
Transit:
∙ 606 riders this week.
Landfill:
∙ 371 tons of refuse this week.
∙ 255 customers this week.
∙ Ran burn box.
∙ Re-graded tree pile.
∙ Moved bales and dirt.
∙ Ongoing baler repairs.
Electric:
∙ Work continues on the three-phase line extension on CR 63 south of Madison.
∙ Work continues on solar field line build.
∙ Installed electric meters for south half of extended stay hotel apartments.
∙ Installed electric meters for new homes in Meadows area.
∙ Assisted electricians on 4 house service upgrades.
∙ Squirrels caused three separate outages this week.
∙ Terminated primary cables at Walther Potato new processing facility, poured concrete for transformer pad.
∙ Attended virtual training for load management system.
Museum:
∙ Memorial Day found the Museum Staff staffing the Alliance Cemetery and helping to locate loved ones for the many local and out of town visitors. Once again, our “grave witching or dousing” demonstration was well received.
∙ We hosted three training sessions for the City of Alliance staff.
∙ The Nebraska Cattlemen hosted a workshop here.
∙ We hosted several birthday parties in the theater. Glitter abounded!
∙ The Knight Museum is on the Passport Program this summer and we are seeing a large increase in Passport visitors.
∙ Chili Potmesil, AHS Senior has started as a summer volunteer! We are excited to have him join our history minded family.
RSVP & Senior Center:
∙ Over 1,200 meals were served for dine-in or delivery this week.
∙ RSVP has 17 volunteers assisting with activities and public events this week.
∙ The senior center hosted Bingo, card parties, Bunco and coffee and treats on Friday
Golf:
∙ Prepared to host the AHS Boys Golf fundraiser on Saturday.
∙ Junior golf starts on Monday. Participants can still register by calling the pro shop.
∙ Play continues to be steady as weather conditions allow.
Parks:
∙ Continued getting caught up on mowing and trimming in town. The mowing schedule has settled enough that we can get ballfields mowed twice.
∙ Worked on irrigation repairs and replaced heads as necessary.
∙ Annuals were planted downtown and in other landscape areas in the Parks.
∙ Completed one funeral this week.
∙ Picked up grass clippings as necessary.
∙ Mowed all the large city lots at Titusville and Homestead additions this week.
∙ Sprayed for weeds at Laing Lake and in the ditch behind the dog park.
Library:
∙ Summer reading is finishing its second week. We are enjoying seeing so much excitement around this year’s program: Our May statistics showed we had over 1,000 more visitors to the library this May than in May 2023 and we can’t wait to see the June numbers! The program ends June 28 and prize winners will be announced the first week of July. Many thanks to the Alliance Public
Library foundation for the amazing prizes this year!
∙ Children’s Librarian Cynthia Horn hosted LEGO Club and Watercolor Wednesday with artistic grandmother/grandson duo Marla Wade and Library Page Camden Wade. Cynthia also did Check-ins for the second week of “Adventure Begins At Your Library”, made KCOW announcements, organized and delivered the Book Mobile, compiled May Stats, Maintained backpacks, and updated programs on the website and book displays.
∙ Adult Services Librarian Nalani Stewart cataloged new materials, updated our website and social media pages, and hosted the Book Club at Highland Park Care Center. She also processed ILLs, prepared the monthly stats, and Director’s Report, and created new displays for Summer.
∙ Library Clerks Pam Becker have been very busy with keeping up with the summer reading program and all its happenings! These two have issued so many new patron cards in the last few weeks and have been excellent at helping maintain records.
Community Development:
∙ May Permitting:
o 10 Building Permits issued for a total improvement valuation of $401,472.
o 8 Zoning Permits issued for a total improvement valuation of $11,100.
o 16 Plumbing and Mechanical Permits issued.
o 4 ROW Construction, Excavation, or Obstruction permits issued.
∙ June Planning Commission Meeting:
o 2024-2025 CIP Budget.
o Chapter 107 Code Amendments regarding final plat material.
o Chapter 111 Code Amendments regarding mobile homes and on street parking. ∙ Nuisance Abatement:
o 120 in person contacts.
o 10 citizen complaints.
o 8 complete contacts.
o Working on finding out-of-state property owners.
o Asked to participate in Activate Alliance.
∙ Building Projects:
o Building Permit issued for 1515 West 3rd Street (Bloedorn Lumber) parking lot and lumber shed.
o 2381 Hwy 2 Westco Agronomy Building steel structure is going up.
o 2465 S Hwy 385 Apartments and retail spaces nearing completion.
Police:
∙ Attended the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center Orientation and Training Session.
∙ Attended an airport tour and orientation with Lynn Placek.
∙ Attended the Council Meeting.
∙ 1st COPS Hiring Grant deadline was met, and application is in progress.
∙ Attended Department Head Meeting.
∙ Held monthly APD leadership meeting.
∙ Attended Meet and Greet at Box Butte General and discussed security needs.
∙ Planning and Staffing for Heritage Days.
Airport:
∙ Taxiway/Apron project update – No activity this week on the project. All asphalt and grinding done. Expecting cleaning of current markings and re-painting to start the weekend of June 22nd.
∙ The annual ARFF truck inspection was completed by Global ARFF and maintenance staff.
∙ Maintenance staff participated in monthly ARFF training.
∙ All airport staff attended firearm safety training. Thank you Tim Peterson with Police department for conducting that for us.
∙ Conducted a tour with the new Police Chief of all airport property areas and then met with him to go over emergency plan and security plan for the airport.
∙ Mowing this week consisted of Runway 12/30, airport road, terminal areas, and NAVAIDs (navigational aids for pilots) areas including MALSR, ILS, and localizer.
∙ Filled holes in safety areas.
∙ Worked with the water department to clean out FBO drain and pit.
∙ Continue to work on preparation for FAA document inspection beginning on the 13th. Should have all needed items from other parties collected today and will begin scanning documents to FAA on Monday.
∙ Working on scheduling special water testing required at terminal due to TSA leased areas. Forsee this being a formality since we already test our water and have RO unit.
∙ Met with City Manager on budget items.
Administration:
∙ Council Meeting on June 4th and follow-up
∙ First budget hearing held with City Council on June 7th, receiving feedback and direction on strategic goals and vision.
∙ Met with multiple department heads throughout the week about budget requests for FY25.
∙ Attended BBDC monthly board meeting
∙ Attended trainings on land banks, vacant properties, and community revitalization.
∙ Held biweekly meeting with senior staff members.
∙ Worked to help department heads on some capital projects for completion in the current fiscal year.
∙ Preparations for Independence Day fireworks show.