City gets update on Tree Bd., Hillcrest
LAUREL — The Laurel City Council received updates on several city boards and services at its Aug. 10 meeting.
Training for Tree Board members took place Friday, Aug. 7. Jorden Smith is the new Community Forestry person in the area. He shared information on how to identify trees and gave helpful tips on taking the tree inventory. The Economic Development Office has been working with UNL’s Community Forestry personnel on the forms to do the inventory manually and getting information on how to judge the condition of the trees.
Virginia Lundahl, Hillcrest Care Center Administrator reported a cook was hired and shelving for the kitchen was purchased. A Spiritual Care Coordinator position was discussed. There has been one applicant. Census is 22 in the Care Center and six in Assisted Living.
The Board acknowledged the hard work and cooperation of all of the staff in caring for the residents during the pandemic. There has not been any Covid at Hillcrest.
“It has not been an easy road and it continues to have many challenges ahead, but we are grateful for each and everyone who is doing their part to keep Hillcrest safe while giving quality care,’’ Lundahl said.
Hillcrest Board members Milissa Lackas and Annette Pritchard have turned in their resignations. ‘’They have helped see Hillcrest through many changes and challenges and will be greatly missed,’’ Lundahl said. Applications for new members to replace them are being accepted.
The Chamber Tailgate will be Friday, Sept. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the home football game which is also homecoming night with Neligh-Oakdale.
Housing Study/Comprehensive Plan/Zoning: Hanna: Keelan’s Keith Carl and team updated the Laurel Planning Commission on July 7. Keith Knudson provided updated information from the last meeting, and discussed nearly completed Community Housing Study and zoning and subdivision regulation recommendations. Some of the results of the housing study that were shared involved the need to encourage downtown housing (apartments above the businesses). There is a need to make a plan and follow through to rehab or demolish dilapidated housing. Laurel needs more of every type of housing assisted living, elderly housing/ senior living units, apartments and other multi-family units, and more single-family units.
Chris Rasmussen said the Economic Development Certified Community recertification application is being worked on.
She was advised they had not sent the notification, and Laurel was due in July 2020. An extended deadline has been given to the end of September.
“NPPD is a wonderful community partner and they are helping us with a Community Guide Lite, which is a magazine-style marketing piece to help showcase Laurel,’’ Rasmussen said. “They are also working with Laurel on posters to display residential lots and our Industrial lot available for sale. These will be posted on the website when finished. NPPD also hosts our website and with all the changes being made for the EDCC recertification, their help has been a huge plus.’’
L.J. Mallatt sent the Council a letter of termination of services concerning his responsibility for the maintenance and operation of the Power Plant engines and related equipment.
Water Wells 601 and 2009 are both working. The wells together pumped 10,011,000 gallons. With the help of JEO Engineering drilling for a test hole as part of our search for a new well in the 110 acres that the CRA purchased last fall.
A date is being looked at for the inside of the water tower to be repainted. Maguire Iron is the company doing the work. Rutjen’s Construction will give a waste-water estimate on replacing the top 18”of the wall of the oxidation ditch at the sewer plant for approximately 20 feet. The company will examine the rest of this wall as well. 10 years ago half the wall was replaced.
The City Employees are pouring a concrete street extension of 110 feet at the Norris Property on Maple Street.
The city’s playground equipment (City Park and Lion’s Club Park) is being sanitized periodically by City employees. The swimming pool season went well according to Mark McCoy. The last day of the pool will be Aug. 12.
Laurel Northwest M-375(49) (Logan Creek/870 Rd FEMA Project): Detlefsen Construction has nearly completed the Project.
The project consisted of some embankment stabilization of the south embankment of the creek, moving 870 Road 10’ south, extending the box culvert and metal culverts south as well, re-doing the entrance and exit driveways of Central Valley Ag, removing the berm on the north side of 870 Rd and installing a guard rail for 3400’. 870 Rd is anticipated to be open Aug. 13. FEMA reimbursement could take up to three years.
