By Allison Peck
North Platte Mayor Brandon Kelliher is taking on a new role at the state level after being appointed by Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen to the Nebraska Workforce Development Board.
Kelliher said the board holds quarterly meetings, with his first meeting expected to take place September 18.
He said workforce is an issue across Nebraska, but it's an especially important one for western Nebraska.
“If you drive around North Platte or most any community west of Lincoln, you're going to see a help wanted sign in almost every business,” Kelliher said. “I think almost everybody would like to have a couple more employees if they could.”
Kelliher said attracting workers to Nebraska will play an important role in the state's future.
“It's a big determining factor in how our state will do in the next 50 to 100 years,” he said.
Kelliher's new role at the state level also ties into several workforce-related projects happening locally, including an expansion at Mid-Plains Community College.
During Tuesday night's North Platte City Council meeting, the council agreed to take responsibility for the environmental review connected to a grant supporting expansion of MPCC's CDL program.
The college plans to add a large parking lot east of its North Campus for CDL training.
Kelliher said the project is a good example of local organizations working together.
“It's nice when the large entities in town can work together to make something happen,” he said.
The council also approved interlocal agreements allowing North Platte to continue providing 911 dispatch services for Lincoln County and the City of Gothenburg.
Kelliher said having one regional operation makes more sense than each government maintaining its own dispatch center, particularly given the cost of equipment and staffing.
The North Platte 911 center requires at least two employees around the clock, with sometimes three people working at a time. Kelliher said there are about 16 employees needed to keep the operation running.
Lincoln County and Gothenburg share in the cost of operating the center, helping reduce the overall burden on North Platte taxpayers.
The city also renewed an agreement with Lincoln County for road maintenance.
Kelliher said city and county crews work together when possible so they aren't duplicating work or sending separate crews to the same area.
“It's a let's agree to share in order to save the, collectively to save the taxpayers money,” Kelliher said.
Another change approved Tuesday involves the city's employee retirement savings plan.
Previously, new city employees were automatically placed at a one-percent contribution unless they selected a different amount, up to six percent. The new plan raises that automatic starting point to three percent.
Utility rates were another major item on Tuesday night's agenda.
The council approved increases to electric, water and wastewater rates, with the new rates taking effect October 1.
Kelliher said the city, like everyone else, is dealing with inflation and rising costs for materials, employees and the electricity needed to operate the city's utility systems.
But he said the increases are also part of a more proactive approach to infrastructure, particularly when it comes to aging water lines.
The city has identified a number of water mains that are now 60, 70 and even 80 years old. Instead of waiting for those lines to break, the city wants to begin replacing them proactively.
Kelliher said that can ultimately save money by avoiding repeated repairs to both water lines and streets.
“It's much less expensive to just decide to do that all at once than to piece meal it over several years,” he said.
The increases are expected to raise the average North Platte household's utility bill by roughly $9 to $10 per month, depending on usage.
Kelliher said the city still works to keep its rates competitive with other Nebraska communities.
“We always strive to keep our rates in the lower half of our comparative communities across the state,” he said.
The council also spent about 20 minutes discussing the city's updated bicycle ordinance, including regulations involving e-bikes and e-scooters.
The ordinance passed its second reading Tuesday night, but Kelliher said the discussion isn't finished.
“We'll be coming back with some different amendments to further work on the ordinance,” he said.
Kelliher said the challenge is creating regulations that protect riders, pedestrians and drivers as e-bikes and other motorized devices become more common.
The council also approved several development-related items.
One involves city-owned property south of the new East Francis Street. The property is being subdivided so the city can begin selling lots, potentially for future housing development.
Kelliher said much of the property is expected to become housing, although the city will have to wait and see how development unfolds.
“We do need single family homes,” he said. “And so I hope the folks that are planning to build there are successful.”
The council also approved rezoning for property at 820 South Walnut, which had previously been used as a daycare. The new B-1 neighborhood commercial zoning could allow the property to be used for offices, a small boutique or similar low-intensity commercial uses.
Another rezoning involving the former Blue Spruce Motel property and the lot to its east was also approved.
Developers told the council they plan to build a Tommy's Car Wash at the location sometime within the next year and a half.
Kelliher said there will probably be some traffic concerns when the business first opens, but he expects things to settle down.
He compared it to recent restaurant openings in North Platte, where traffic can be heavy during the first week or two before things return to normal.
The council also approved vacating a portion of Cody Avenue between West 13th and Rodeo Road. Kelliher said the change will provide additional space for planned housing development, while the city retains a utility easement.
Looking ahead, Kelliher said the city will hold its required public budget hearing September 9 at City Hall.
Residents will have an opportunity to hear a brief presentation and make comments on the proposed city budget.
He also encouraged residents who have thoughts on the e-bike and e-scooter ordinance to contact their city council representatives or the mayor before the ordinance comes back for its final reading.
“Anybody has any great ideas about how to manage all these needs and expectations, boy, I'd love to hear them,” Kelliher said.