The Yuma City Council received an update on replacing alley pans and street repairs during its regular meeting, last week in Council Chambers at City Hall.
All seven members were in attendance — Mayor Ron Swehla, Mayor Pro-tem Marc Shay, Tim McClung, Marylu Smith-Dischner, Jerome Benish, Dan Baucke and Terri Frame.
City Manager Scott Moore told them four alley pans had been done, and then are closed for 17 days to allow to settle. He said the goal is to try to do three alley pans per week, but they won’t all get done this year.
As for street repair, Moore said getting the asphalt has continued to be a struggle. He said miscommunications with the supplier has led missed opportunities to get the asphalt. However, the plant east of town was to be in operation Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, and Street Department personnel would be there to collect it.
Moore also noted that the consistent rains for much of the summer has played a role in the street repairs. However, he told the council it should all be done in the late summer and early fall.
Yuma Ethanol and the city have entered an agreement in which Yuma Ethanol will take the effluent water from the Waste Water Treatment Plant, via a pipeline from the plant to the ethanol facility to the east.
Moore told the council that a pre-construction meeting was held recently. Concrete Specialties out of Sterling will be doing the project. It is scheduled to begin August 29, and should not take long to be completed.
The council approved the first reading of an ordinance regarding a lease of city-owned property to 8000 County Road 39, LLC. It entails four acres located southeast of Yuma. Moore said the city has been trying to sell the four acres, but there have been no takers.
8000 County Road 39, LLC, which lists Angela Andrews as its registered agent, proposed to the city a 50-year lease for the lump sum of $57,000. Moore told the council that if someone eventually wants to buy the property, the lump sum would be prorated back to the LLC, or it can have the right of first refusal. It can use the land but not build on it.
When asked about the property, Moore told the Pioneer it was originally purchased by the city in 1929 from J.A. Listan. He said he has been told it was used as a city dump site for many years.
The council unanimously approved the Yuma Police Department applying for a JAG Grant. Chief Jerry Thompson explained the grant would be used to help replace older computers. He said officers currently have tablets in their vehicles, and desktop computers in the office. The idea is to buy a laptop for each officer, eliminating the need to purchase two computer devices for each officer. The grant will help ease the strain on the yearly budget.
The second reading of an ordinance amending the city’s official zoning map was approved, following there being no comment during the public hearing. The zoning of three parcels of land that have never been zoned is involved.
The Indian Hills Golf Course is now being zoned Agriculture, the 13 acres where the gun club is located, as well as Smithfield’s leased ground, are being zoned R-2, and the city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant is being zoned Industrial 1.
The ordinance also outlines rules and regulations for solar panels. The wastewater plant is where solar panels will be located if the city reaches an agreement with Sandhills Solar.
Liquor license renewals for Mexsu and Y Liquors, LLC, were approved on 7-0 votes.
Moore announced that Sue Armstrong was retiring from the Yuma Ambulance Service, and will be greatly missed.
Council members gave various reports regarding committee meetings, including a senior citizens exercise program called Silver Sneakers might be introduced at the Yuma Community Center through use of the grant, and discussion about the floor replacement project at the animal shelter.
The council’s next regular meeting will be September 5.
