By Allison Peck
The North Platte City Council will have a lengthy agenda Tuesday evening, with proposed increases to electric, water and wastewater rates among the major items up for consideration.
The council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 1, in the City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting includes 16 agenda items, along with several public hearings.
One of the biggest items facing the council is Ordinance 4262, which would increase North Platte's electric rates by 6 percent across all rate classes, effective October 1. The proposed schedule includes changes to residential, commercial, irrigation, electric vehicle charging and other electric service rates.
The council will also consider Ordinance 4263, increasing water rates by 6 percent across all rate classes beginning October 1. The proposal includes separate rates for customers inside and outside the city limits, as well as irrigation service.
Wastewater rates are also on the agenda. Ordinance 4264 calls for a 9-percent increase across all rate classes, with the new rates taking effect October 1. The proposal includes residential and commercial sewer rates, non-water-metered service and large sewer service.
The council is also scheduled to consider agreements involving dispatch services. Under a proposed agreement with Lincoln County, the city would provide dispatch services for the County Sheriff's Office, with the county paying the city $28,462.72 per month. A separate agreement with Gothenburg would have the city provide dispatch services for Gothenburg's police and fire departments for $5,320.17 per month.
Road maintenance is another item on the consent agenda. The city and Lincoln County are seeking to renew two one-year agreements under which each government entity will maintain specified roads in the other's jurisdiction. One agreement calls for the county to maintain roads including portions of East State Farm Road, Hidden Lakes Road and Front Street, while the other covers several county roads, including East 10th Street, East 6th Street, Webster-Rodeo Road and Wilson Avenue. The city would pay the county $1,733 per month under the agreement.
The council will also consider a $334,849 contract with T.L. Sund Construction for electrical utilities work.
On the development side, the council has several public hearings scheduled. Those include requests involving the North Platte Opportunity Center, a proposed vacation of city right-of-way near West 13th Street and Rodeo Road, and rezonings involving properties on West Walnut Street and South Bailey Avenue. The agenda also includes consideration of an industrial park subdivision and a conditional-use permit for the Opportunity Center.
The council will also consider amendments to the city's Police Officers' Pension Plan and Salary Reduction Thrift Savings Plan. The pension amendment is related to changes enacted by the Nebraska Legislature, while the savings plan amendment would increase the city's automatic 401(k) contribution from 1 percent to 3 percent for employees who are newly hired or fail to make an affirmative election under the plan.
Other business includes agreements related to Mid-Plains Community College's HUD-funded project, covenants for properties receiving Rural Community Recovery Program funding, a liquor license application, and an annual agreement for operation of the city's Government Access Cable TV system.
The North Platte City Council meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.