THE SUPERIOR EXPRESS

Nuckolls County Election Results

City Council faces Hillcrest Street question

Is it or isn't it a street? That was the question facing members of the Superior City Council when they met Monday evening.
In the 1920s a large area of farmland located northwest of the Eighth and Park Street intersection was slated for development by Andrew Andersen, a Superior real estate agent at the time.
Mr. Andersen platted the area, dedicated areas for streets and even had the proposed streets surfaced with gravel taken from a pit located on the property.
But he died before any homes were built. Shortly after his death, the country fell upon hard economic times, made worse in this area by the drought. The area continued to be farmed.
But in the 1970s interest in addition rekindled and some homes and a trailer park were built.
In 1985 The City of Superior annexed at least a part of the Hunter's Park Lawn Addition including the platted streets of Hillcrest Drive and Roosevelt Court. In a 1990 survey of the area, Hillcrest Drive is noted as a public right-of-way. But a utility easement recorded by the city in 1991 that portion of Hillcrest Drive between Park Avenue and Roosevelt Court is noted as having been vacated.
County records continue to record the street as public right-of-way. However, at least of the adjoining land-owners who would have received ownership of a portion of the street were it vacated has built a garage which is partially located on the street. Another property owner uses a portion of the street as a driveway to reach his home.
If a prior city council started the process to close the street, it appears the work was not completed.
The street has never been maintained by the city though the city has been counting it in the lane miles report submitted each year to the state. Without question, Hillcrest Drive west of Roosevelt Court remains a public street though not maintained and property owners are treating the street like it was closed.
If the eastern most block of Hillcrest Drive is closed, access to the rest of the street would be via Roosevelt.
Though formal action to close the street was not taken Monday evening, consensus of the council was that area property owners considered the street closed and the action to close the street which apparently had once been started should proceed.
In another street related matter, members of the council met earlier than usual Monday to allow time to consider recommended improvements to the city's storm water sewer system.
Four areas were considered.
The first area considered called for the construction of a new storm sewer from Fifth Street south on Central and then west on Fourth Street to drain water to Lost Creek.
The other areas considered were along Second Street and would be extensions of storm sewers that now exist south of the Burtlington-Santa Fe rail yard.
Combined all four projects are projected to cost nearly a half-million dollars.
Council members agreed the work would improve the community but the big question is financing. At this time the city does not have the cash on hand to fund such an ambitious construction effort.
In other action Monday the council hired Carrie Lemke as the city's first paid emergency medical technician. She will be at the Public Safety Building during business hours to maintain ambulance equipment, complete reports, help staff the ambulance and provide some assistance to the police department.
The future of the former water works building complex remains uncertain.
Larry Brittenham, utility superintendent, said none of the city departments had expressed any interest in using either the northern or southern ends of the plant. The plant apparently was constructed over a period of years. There are no plans at present to remove the below ground storage tanks. When the plant was operational, it had a storage capacity in excess of 1 million gallons of water.
After talking with contractors he estimated it would cost $25,000 to raze the two of the three sections or about $20,000 to repair the roof sections. In addition, he said portions of the structure needs to be painted and doors and windows to be replaced.
He said the council had three options. Do nothing and let the structure continue to deteriorate, renovate it or raze it.
Until the 1970s the structure housed a water treatment plant. More recently the water department shop was located in the building. Currently, only the brick central portion of the building is being used. The electric department wants to continue using that portion and the demolition estimates call for leaving that portion in place.
It is thought some portions of the building date to the 1880s.
The council reviewed progress on four blighted properties.
Jay Nielsen met with the council and reported on his work to clean-up a property at 962 East Fourth Street. The council agreed progress was being made and asked for another report at the April 26 meeting.
It was reported the owners of property at 115 West Eight, 853 Central and South Converse Lot 14 had not respond to earlier action taken by the council. Members of the council direct the city clerk to proceed with acquiring demolition bids.

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Superior schools brace for drop in state aid

Figures from the Nebraska Department of Education indicate Superior Public Schools will received $301,128 less in state aid next year than received this year. This year the district received $1,992,333. Next year it is projected the district will receive $1,691,205.
South Central Unified System Five state aid (Sandy Creek, Lawrence-Nelson, Clay Center) is projected to drop $802,608. Last year, the school received $1,364.742. Next year they will receive $562,134.
"The decrease in state aid comes because valuation has increased and according to the state aid formula the district is more able to pay the bill to educate it's students," Supt. Charles Isom said. "The difference will be picked up by local taxpayers."
During new business, members of the Superior Board of Education (BOE) voted unanimously to offer teaching contracts to three full-time instructors: Nick Mumm, elementary physical education; Martin VanWesten, kindergarten through twelfth grade vocal and instrumental music, and Sara Fuller, business education.
Mumm is a graduate of Bruning-Davenport High School and is presently teaching at Sand Hills High School, Dunning, Neb. Last fall he served as the head football coach for the Sandhills-Thedford Knights. A cooperative team composed of players from Thedford (Thomas County) and Sand Hills (Blaine County.)
VanWestern is finishing his teaching degree from Hastings College. Besides music, he has interest in fine arts, speech and one-act plays. During his student teaching at Hasting Public schools, he is working with students using Macintosh computer program -"Garage Band."
Superior students already know Fuller. She stepped in as a social science-business instructor last fall after Ryan Koenig's dismissal. "She has done a fine job in the classroom," Supt. Isom said. "Early on she earned the respect of both students and staff."
Fuller resides near Burr Oak and is the wife of Jamie Fuller, a Superior High School graduate. She is a graduate of Mankato High School and also has sports interest, particularly girls basketball.
In other business, the BOE approved the early retirement of Teresa Christensen. The majority of Christensen's teaching career has been in the Superior school district where she has taught for 30 years. She currently teaches kindergarten through twelfth grade vocal and instrumental music. She will receive the maximum early retirement payment ($24,000.) It will be paid by the school district over a four-year period.
In addition, the BOE approved refinancing the bonds issued in 2005 which financed the heating and air conditioning system at the junior-senior high. The school still owes approximately $300,000 on the project. New bonds will be issued at a lower interest rate which will save the school approximatley $15,000.
Bob Cook, Superior junior-senior high principal, reported 26 high school students (13 girls and 13 boys) are participating in track. Thirteen boys are also out for golf. In addition, there are 23 junior high students participating in track (10 boys and 12 girls.)

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County board approves purchase of motorgrader

The Nuckolls County Board at Monday's regular meeting approved the purchase of a new John Deere motorgrader from Murphy Tractor in Grand Island.
Justin Pape of Murphy Tractor and Chad McDaniel of Nebraska Machinery in Doniphan were both present when the commissioners opened and reviewed bids for the motorgrader. Only two bids were received.
Murphy's bid for a 2010 John Deere 770G was $202,102, plus $7,682 for the snowplow, minus $26,250 trade-in allowance for a total of $183,534.
NMC's bid for a 2010 Caterpillar 140M was $235,500 including the snowplow, minus trade-in allowance of $22,000 for a total of $213,500.
The motion passed 2-1, with commissioner Arnold Brown opposed.
In other business:
· The board met with emergency manager Von Wehrman about the possibility of compensation from FEMA for expenses resulting from the severity of this season's winter weather. Wehrman said FEMA is accepting claims from any 48-hour period between Dec. 21 and Jan. 8, and he turned in a claim for $85,000 for gravel loss, man hours and a destroyed transmission in a motorgrader from a 48-hour period shortly after Christmas. Wehrman said FEMA allows 80 yards per mile for gravel loss. No decisions have been made by FEMA regarding the awarding of funds.
· The board approved the purchase of a new server for the county's computer system at a cost of $14,764, plus $695 for an extended warranty. The new server will replace an existing server located in the basement of the courthouse and will be purchased through the state.
· A quote was reviewed from Follmer Construction for insulating the county shop in Superior. The project will cost about $6,000 with county road department employees doing the work and Follmer overseeing the work. The work was approved.
· Quotes were received from Hein Construction for repairing cracks on three county roads ­­ the Edgar Spur, the Superior cement plant road and the blacktop mile south of Superior. The board approved repairs to the Edgar Spur for $2,016 and Superior south blacktop for $4,124.
· The board approved hiring Tyson Construction, Norfolk, for the Oak Southeast bridge project. The county will furnish all materials for project and do their own grading and backfilling; Tyson's labor for erecting the bridge will be $32,796.
· Gary Warren, assistant highway superintendent, reported on the condition of the City of Nelson bridge that spans Elk Creek on Porter Street. Warren said the state will inspect the county's three fracture-critical bridges, including that one, and he expects the state to close it. Nelson officials will have to decide whether or not to replace it.

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County Government Day held Monday

County Government Day was held Monday at the courthouse in Nelson with juniors from Lawrence-Nelson High School and seniors from Superior High School in attendance. A total of about 45 students attended.
County Government Day, sponsored by the American Legion and Auxiliary posts throughout the county, is an opportunity for students to learn about the functions of county government first-hand. The annual educational program has been in Nebraska for more than 60 years and was originally called "Participation Day."
The day began with registration and a general assembly in the courtroom at 9 a.m. Randy Koehler welcomed the students, led the flag salute and introduced the veterans in attendance.
Crystal Fangmeier, county extension associate, and Darci McGee, county extension educator, introduced the county officials and delivered a Power Point presentation about the roles of the various elected officials and the type of county government in Nuckolls County. After the presentation, there was a short question and answer session.
Diane Wehrman, clerk-magistrate of the Nuckolls County Court, administered oaths of office to those students selected to portray elected county officials for the day.
At about 10:30, Jack West, a sergeant in the U.S. Army, shared his experiences serving in Iraq with the students. Other activities in the morning session included a tour of the sheriff's office and jail, and viewing the documentary film, "Rise Above Meth." At noon, the students walked to Sacred Heart Catholic Church for lunch.
The afternoon session began at 1:05 with a round of the game, "Jeopardy," hosted by Crystal Fangmeier. At 1:45 a mock trial was held involving the students; Tim Schmidt, county attorney; Diane Wehrman; and Karla DeVaney, clerk of the district court.
Following a rendition of the traditional military song, "Taps," played by Mike Jacobitz and Britney Skinner, the students were dismissed at 2:30 p.m.

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