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Downtown Revitalization should begin to take shape this year

LAUREL — Roger Protzman of JEO appeared at the March 9 Laurel City Council meeting to discuss a Downtown Revitalization agreement between JEO and the City of Laurel.

There will be an open house before the city moves to the final design of the project.

JEO will complete data collection, survey all of downtown, Spruce Street and south to the drainage ditch and do a geo-technical investigation. A drainage study will look at the whole area with a hydrology analysis.

Council members were told there is no need for an Army Corps of Engineers permit. Bids will be taken in November with an award in December and 2021 construction. There will be bi-weekly progress meetings, Protzman said.

“This will be the biggest project for Laurel short of a wastewater project,” Protzman said.

The city approved an agreement with JEO, estimated to cost $498,929.

Also Monday, the city passed an ordinance for emergency repairs on the city’s well. Sargent Drilling will do the work.

Cody Wickham of D.A. Davidson spoke with the Council about Series 2015 electric revenue bonds, which will be redeemed and Series 2020 electric revenue bonds will be issued for the purpose of interest cost savings. Wickham said the rate is at an all-time low of .93 percent.

“This is a good opportunity to refinance those bonds,” Wickham said. “The city is eligible to refinance every five years.”

The city has a rate of 3.69 percent on the 2015 bonds, Wickham said.

He projected a 1.964 rate as of Feb. 4. He said the savings would be $254,131 over the life of the bonds and about $15,000-$18,000 each year.

Wickham said there is a 30-day waiting period to inform the bond holders. Attorney Mike Rogers prepared the documents for the bond proposal. The Council voted to approve the proposal.

Rachel Hansen asked the Council about parking east of Wakefield Street.

Hansen’s daycare has a sole entrance and she said she hasn’t had legal parking in front of her business. The street is really busy and she wondered if the city could move the no parking restriction to the other side of the street.

“It’s kind of a tough spot,” Mayor Mark Patefield said. First Street to Fifth Street is no parking.

Police Chief Ron Lundahl said it would make it tight for emergency vehicles and snow equipment if parking is allowed on both sides of the street.

“I understand the request,” he said. “We would have to take off parking on the other side.”

He told the council they should realize this venture might bring in someone else with a parking issue. He said he feels the city is opening themselves up to someone to come in and say, “What about my parking issue, you did this for them.”

“I do appreciate your concern for safety,” Lundahl said.

One suggestion was to make a drop off zone and add a sign. Council members decided to look at the situation and make a decision possibly at the next meeting to give the other people in the area time to have due process and also voice their opinions.

Erica Vasquez received a building permit for a 49’ x 26’ driveway.

Virginia Lundahl of the Hillcrest Care Center updated the council on recent activities.

Fundraisers will be hosted as there is a need to show that the community supports them. A cookbook fundraiser is underway. Anyone can drop off recipes at Hillcrest anytime.

The Coronavirus is a topic of concern at Hillcrest and preparations are being made to stay ahead of what is needed.

The Laurel VFW donated a flag for the pole outside of Hillcrest.

Hillcrest will host a bloodmobile in

May for National Nursing Home Week.

Employees pay $1 to wear jeans on Fridays. Funds will be used to improve patio furniture.

The Police report included three fix-it tickets, nine warnings, one accident, one animal complaint, two motorist assists, two outside assists, two open doors, seven hours of officer training, 14 school traffic stops, two citizen complaints, two funeral traffic assists, two noise complaints, one assault, 190 building checks, one nuisance vehicle and two disturbances.

Details were shared at the council meeting on the Neligh Hemp Farmers Forum Farm Building, Antelope County at Fairgrounds.

People may see Neligh Hemp Farmers@Eventbrite.com for details on speakers from the Neligh event. You may also watch: YouTube: Hemp for Victory - video on the history of Hemp. See more details on the LB1152 NDA Hemp Program - www.nda.nebraska. gov/hemp USDA Hemp - www.usda. gov/rules-regulations / hemp FDA Cargill - Durafiber.

An estimated 180 people registered ahead of time with a handful of attendees from South Dakota. The South Dakota farmers were encouraged to contact Gov/ Kristy Noem’s office directly (605-773-3212) to express their want to grow Hemp in South Dakota.

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