Members of the Sutton City Council gathered for their monthly meeting Monday, Dec. 11, with several beginning point discussions centered around the Schwab Ground housing development, and the Hickory Street improvement project. Prior to talks centered around the housing development, council members approved, and reapproved several appointments to the council and leadership of Sutton’s city government.
Councilman Mike Newman will take over the presidency of the council for the first time during his tenure on the council.
Reappointments to the city included: Tracey Landenberger, as the chief of police; Kent Rauert, as the city attorney; and Marla Newman, as the city clerk and treasurer.
Council members also approved annual contractual interest statements from two council members, Jeff Schelkopf, and Newman. These contracts will be filed with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, so that Schelkopf’s business, Quality Builders, and Newman’s business, Van Kirk Bros. Contracting, where Newman serves as president of the construction firm, can continue to do business with the city under this statement.
Additionally, Steve Parr of JEO, was approved as the city street superintendent; JEO was also approved, once again, to serve as the city engineer.
COMMITTEE’S
The following committee appointments were also approved Monday night, including:
• Stan Perrien and Ali Kerkman to the cemetery board;
• Doug George and Jim Smith to the zoning commission; • Jim Smith to the board of adjustments;
• Jeremy Robinson to the CRA (Community Redevelopment Authority);
• Mary Ann Spearman and Dee Boals to the tree board;
• Kim Lemkau to the housing authority;
• Nancy Domeier to the library board;
• Zach Parrish to the LB840 citizen advisory board; and
• Corey Ebert to the LB840 committee.
Council members approved the appointment of Renee Villarreal to the Sutton Volunteer Fire Department roster.
In other business of the local fire department, council members approved the purchase of fire hoses in the amount of $11,377, which includes a variety of hoses and nozzles.
A new ambulance cot was also purchased at a cost of $42,172.20 to be used by the Sutton EMT squad.
DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS Council members, during their November council meeting discussed with business and building owners in the damage caused by the July 29 EF-1 tornado that damaged much of the north half of the Saunders Avenue business district.
From that November meeting, city leaders voted to move forward with securing a structural engineer to take an overall look at the west side of the business district, as one collective assessment.
During Monday night’s December meeting, council members approved a proposal by KPE Architecture, Engineering, and Forensics of Omaha to provide engineering service to the city, at a cost of $21,000, with a pre-payment of $5,250, or 25 percent down payment on the service.
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
Discussions related to the Hickory Street improvement project, and the Schwab Housing Development continued Monday, with JEO presenting the two-part opinion probable cost of the Hickory Street project.
The first part, which will include eight-inch doweled concrete pavement, six-inch driveway approaches off of the street and a host of sewer, grading, and drainage elements, to name a few, will come at an estimated cost of $1,821,970, with the second part, which includes sidewalk improvements of five-inch concrete for the sidewalk, on the south side of the street, coming at a cost of $167,040.
The total opinion of cost, which will be discussed again next month during the Jan. 8, 2024 meeting, comes in at $1,989,010.
DECLARATION OF COVENANTS
City of Sutton attorney, Drew Sandoz, provided a first-hand look at what the potential covenants, conditions, restrictions, and easements could look like for the Schwab housing sub-division.
Sandoz, along with city administrator Jeff Hofaker, and city clerk, Marla Newman have had discussions with the City of Sutton’s CRA committee, who along with the City of Sutton’s Planning and Zoning committee will be the eventual enforcement committees to the housing development.
Though no formal action was taken by council members, some of the potential covenants may include: all homes will be “single-family dwellings,” meaning no apartment buildings, townhomes, or multiple-family dwellings.
Once a lot is purchased, the purchaser has one year to commence construction of the home, and then has one year after starting construction to have a substantially completed home, meaning that the home must be liveable, with any construction improvements that remain, can be finished while the homeowners are living in the home.
Details of the declaration of covenants, however, are still in the developmental stages with the CRA and will continue to be brought in front of council members with each coming monthly meeting until it is finalized.
JASON BROCKMAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS
