by Mari Radtke
The Sutherland City Council approved budget amendments totaling $52,400 for the current fiscal year. Public Safety and Business Type Enterprises both received increases of $10,000 spending authority. Public Safety to spending is to meet the new law enforcement pay and the Business Type Enterprise is for repair of the sewer and manhole on the “S Curve” at Beech and Birch Streets. The need was concerned as two residential construction projects are taking place near there at and close to the Williams’ Addition development. Culture and Recreation was granted $32,400 in new spending. The library had 2 projects, 1 was grant funded. A back door was constructed on the west side of the building and new concrete handicapped parking was laid and signed. The city park received a grant for a new slide. The existing twisting slide will be removed and a new slide will replace it.
The public hearing was held on Monday October 7 with no written or in-person comments.
Dennis Fogelman attended to discuss his concerns with water drainage on 4th Street between Ash and Main Streets.
Williams Addition development in the northeast corner of Sutherland was the topic of discussion from Economic Development. Economic Development is struggling with if the cost to install water and sewer should be carried by each individual buyer or if buyers are better served by having that infrastructure already installed. Other concerns for the development of that property, with one lot already sold, is the drainage ditch on the east side of the lots and if a street will be installed at the south border of the development, opening future construction another block of house.
The Sutherland Library report gave big kudos to the success of the “Kids’ outdoor garden” planted in the center of the large green space. A big thanks to Steve and Wendy Koch for their leadership to the project. Director Nancy Hill recommends continuation of the project. The 100-year celebration was considered a success. An estimated 175 people attended the event at the Labor Day Celebration. Visitors and computer use is down, believed to be because of the beginning of school. Wednesday early out after school programs are ramping up and well-attended. Kids’ Saturday continues to be a success. The library will again hold Trick-or-Treat hours on Thursday October 31 from 4:00 to 6:30pm.
Isaac Cruz with Cruz Lighting of Larrabee attended the meeting for follow-up action, if any, as a result of the assessment done to city buildings. Council favored updating library lighting from the currently used lights to all LED lights. They did accept the transition for all city lighted facilities that use a required minimum of lighting hours. Those are library, fire station, maintenance shed and park. The cost of the switch is expected to be paid for from utility expense savings in just 6 years. Cruz Electric will collect the rebate from MidAmerican Energy per program requirements and bill the city for the difference.
No bids to farm the city’s land at the Industrial Park were received. A new letting will be done with opening at the November 4th meeting. Since the meeting, it’s been reported that Economic Development is reconsidering if it is going to bid out the farmland or not.