By Allison Peck
Listen to the full interview on our Kubota Podcast
North Platte City Council members expect to revisit a proposed ordinance restricting pedestrian use of medians after deciding Tuesday night to further refine the language and specifically identify intersections where the restrictions would apply.
Mayor Brandon Kelliher recapped the meeting Wednesday morning during an interview with North Platte Post, saying the ordinance was introduced as a safety measure aimed at reducing the risk of pedestrians being struck by vehicles.
Kelliher said several crashes in recent years have resulted in vehicles ending up on medians, creating concerns that pedestrians standing in those areas could be seriously injured or killed.
Council members discussed concerns raised during previous meetings that the ordinance language could be interpreted too broadly. Kelliher said the revised approach would simply list the intersections where median restrictions would be enforced.
"It only applies to standing on the medians," Kelliher said, noting that sidewalks and other pedestrian areas would not be impacted.
The ordinance is expected to return for consideration at a future meeting.
Council members also recognized North Platte's designation as a Tree City USA community for the 43rd consecutive year. Kelliher credited the city's active tree board and continued investment in maintaining and expanding public tree canopy.
The council approved Mayor Kelliher's appointment of Victoria Loving to the North Platte Housing Authority Board.
Other action included approval of First National Bank of Omaha as a warrant lender, allowing the city to continue utilizing short-term financing tools commonly used to pay contractors during ongoing infrastructure projects before long-term bonds or other funding mechanisms are secured.
Council members also approved warrants totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars for paving, water and sewer improvements associated with ongoing development projects.
Following the regular agenda, the council convened as the Board of Equalization to address a sanitary sewer connection district near Ott's Marine. Kelliher said nearby property owners in the Valley Drive area are not required to connect to the sewer line, but the district provides an option for future hookups if existing septic or leach field systems eventually need replacement.
The North Platte City Council will next meet July 7.