Trash, donate or sell?

RANDOLPH — More than seven tons of trash have been hauled out of the Cedar County Motel and other items will be donated or sold.

The Randolph city council authorized City Administrator Ben Benton to determine what to trash, donate or sell out of the motel that the city purchased Sept. 27.

Some furniture items from the motel - including a Currier piano - are available for sale and some will be donated. Those interested in items for sale can contact Ed Clayton, caretaker at the motel, or the city.

The city will continue to top off loads headed to the landfill on Tuesdays and Fridays, Benton said.

Since its purchase, motel residents have been notified to vacate the property. The city also ordered an asbestos report from Environmental Services of Norfolk.

Clayton said asbestos exists in the motel’s tile floor and the ceiling.

He spoke at the meeting, urging the council to fix up the motel and put it back to use as housing.

Jason Schmit, chairman of the Randolph Planning Commission, also voiced concern about taking away housing options available in town.

Mary Ann Schlichting told the council her church, St Jane Frances de Chantal, is interested in using the motel as charity housing for those in need.

The council will decide the fate of the motel at its next meeting Nov. 3. Ultimately, the city wants to maximize the commercial potential of the property, Benton said.

At the meeting last week, Benton also gave an update on the city’s Floodplain project.

Bridge Street should re-open by the end of the year or sooner, he said.

The next phase of the project includes replacing 558th Avenue bridge with two 10-foot box culverts and a diversification ditch on the east side of the road, north of the creek.

City utilities on 558th Road will need to be relocated to the west side, he said.

The city is eagerly awaiting the passing of the federal infrastructure bill as it includes language that could help with funding the Floodplain project, Benton said.

After reaching out to lawmakers, language was inserted to increase the federal spending limit to $15 million instead of the current $10 million.

A special council meeting in December may need to be called related to the USDA agreement on the Floodplain funding.

Finally, the city council and Mayor George Bradley accepted the resignation of Kalynda Kuhl, recognizing her for her years of service. She began as a council member in 2018 and resigned from the council due to a move out of the city limits.

A special meeting and public hearing has been scheduled for 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 3, in which several council candidates will give a brief oral presentation. The council is expecting to appoint a new member after discussing the decision in executive session.

At its meeting last week, the city council also: - Heard about grants the city applied for. The fire department received a $500 grant to purchase lighted hand-held stop signs for use during emergencies. Treasurer Josh Rayford has been invited to give a presentation on Nov. 2 to Nebraska Game & Parks for a $250,000 grant applied for trails.

- Approved the sale of a 1947 Farmall B Tractor through bids with a reserve price of $600. Sealed bids will be accepted until Nov. 19.

- Tabled discussion on an interlocal agreement with Belden to provide rescue services; a costsharing program for sidewalk repair; and several planning commission recommendations. Randolph is on the Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District’s schedule for an income study this spring. This would make the city eligible for additional grant-funded projects for downtown revitalization on businesses, streets, and potentially cost-share for sidewalk improvement.

- Heard a report from John Dickes, public works supervisor, on winterizing the pool; taking out trees near the pool; work on softball and baseball fields; well samples and wastewater maintenance. City employees continue to relocate floodplain utilities as well as cold patch street repair. The city is waiting for parts to fix the storm drain at the intersection of South Nebraska and East Wayne streets.

- Approved the annual Christmas lighting discount to Randolph utility customers.

- Heard about an upcoming garbage rate review and annual audit.

- Entered executive session and then approved employee salaries.

- Heard about upcoming openings on local boards including five on the planning commission and five on the park board.

- Discussed securing vendors to tow equipment from the tin structure at 202 W. Broadway Ave. prior to demolition in December/January.

- Heard an update on Aquatic Center fundraising. More than $37,000 has been raised.

- Heard about potential solutions to expand plastics recycling.

- Approved Rayford as city treasurer and authorized him to act on behalf of the city with