Mayor, resident share input during communication time
The Aurora City Council approved two street project change orders at its Oct. 8 meeting, extending expected completion dates for the 1st Street and Grant Street projects by 90-100 days.
Mayor Marlin Seeman explained the change order on planned 1st Street renovation work, reporting that the contractor anticipates adding 89 days due to the additional work added on to the project in the Streeter 5th and Streeter 6th housing subdivisions. Seeman said that paving, water and sewer work in the subdivisions will require more time, though the cost of the project is not expected to change.
Council member Mark Dunn asked if the later completion date might prompt an eventual increase in costs, with Seeman confirming that the city would not be responsible for any pricing increases.
As for the Grant Street project, Seeman reported that the contractor estimated a 100-day extension due to material and weather delays.
Both change orders were approved by unanimous vote.
Council members also approved a revised multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan, which is required of all state and local municipalities.
Public Works Director Adam Darbro reported that the city works with the Upper Big Blue Natural Resource District every four years to update the plan, which must be FEMA approved. The purpose of the plan is to lessen the effect of disasters by increasing the reaction in local jurisdictions by identifying hazards that might affect the area, in this case the city.
Darbro noted that consideration was given in the latest hazardous mitigation plan to cyber security for the city, which was not part of the previous plan. He reported that the plan establishes a mitigation process for the future, though it remains uncertain if funding for those elements will be available.
In other action items, the council approved a request for a special designated liquor license for a Dec. 7 fundraiser at the Edgerton Center, as well as a similar request from Grandview Cafe for a Christmas Party at The Leadership Center Nov. 22.
Communications
During the petitions and communications portion of the meeting, Seeman announced that he has moved up through the chairs of leadership and is now serving a one-year term as president of the Nebraska League of Municipalities, a statewide organization covering 526 communities.
Seeman also shared that he met last week with the two staff members at the city’s wastewater treatment plant, reporting in detail some of the steps taken there each day to keep the system running efficiently. He noted that staff members remove several gallons of material by hand each day to take non-biodegradable items out of the waste stream in order to ease wear and tear on the pumps and motors. He said city staff members take similar steps at the wastewater lift station on Highway 14 by the interstate.
“We added a bubbler out there, which adds oxygen,” he explained. “Oxygen breaks down the fats, oils and greases that are coming out of these interstate facilities and reduces the amount of oils and greases that coat the inside of the pipe. This is the kind of stuff that our guys do every day.
“By the way, the treatment plant is run by two people, not the three or four that would be in the other cities that have similar kinds of plants,” he added. “We try to cut down the wear and tear, and then we try to run them the most efficient with the least amount of operator cost. It’s hard to quantify, but it’s important. The less we wear out, the less maintenance and repair we have to do, the more efficient it runs and the less electricity we use. These are all beneficial things that the staff is doing.”
Aurora resident Mario Flores also spoke during the communication period, sharing his thoughts on recent public hearings involving the city’s budget increase.
“It seemed like you (city clerk Barb Mikkelsen) were really being attacked, and I didn’t agree with that,” he said. “I want to thank all of you for what you do and for stepping up and wanting to be voted on and dealing with all this, because not everybody does.
“But in some instances, I do think that it appears … that maybe there is kind of a blank check policy,” he added. “When something’s asked for, it’s given, and I think it needs to be ridiculed and looked over a little bit before we just open that checkbook. I really do appreciate that you guys brought the budget down. I mean, it’s still 20 percent (increase) but it started at 37 or 38 and from a lot of people that is appreciated.”