Columbus City Council approves redevelopment plans, infrastructure contracts and multiple licenses

Columbus City — The Columbus City Council on Feb. 18 approved redevelopment plans for two properties, authorized engineering and financial agreements tied to water and bridge projects, accepted equipment and repair funding for public safety, and forwarded two liquor-license management changes to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission.

The actions followed public hearings and committee reports and were approved by the council during its regular meeting. The council moved the consent agenda with one exclusion and took separate votes on multiple resolutions and staff recommendations.

The redevelopment approvals and housing plan drew the most public comment. The council adopted Resolution R25-23 approving a redevelopment plan for the Cricket LLC project at approximately 1856–303 Third Avenue; city discussion and the applicant said the plan calls for demolition and a rebuild to accommodate ServiceMaster plus additional retail or office space. Andrew Willis, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said the project will require “total demo, asbestos abatement” and substantial exterior and utility work; the applicant is requesting tax-increment financing (TIF) assistance of $197,000 toward an overall renovation estimated at about $1,100,000.

The council also approved Resolution R25-24, the redevelopment plan for the Quail Meadows project (roughly between 14th Avenue and the extension of 10th Avenue adjacent to Lovers Lane). Roger Nadrakal of NeighborWorks Northeast Nebraska told the council Phase 1 will use about 10 acres to build 46 housing units — 20 townhomes for sale, 14 single-family homes for sale and 12 rental townhomes — and that about 15 units will be sold under income-restriction requirements with down-payment assistance. Nadrakal said modular homes for the first 15 units are lined up and contractors are ready to begin work if council approval is granted.

On infrastructure and professional services, the council: - Adopted Resolution R25-26, a municipality financial agreement with the Nebraska Department of Transportation for Columbus South Bridges improvements on U.S. Highways 30 and 81; council members said this begins a multi-year reconstruction that will replace and rebuild two bridges in sequence. - Adopted Resolution R25-27, approving a Professional Engineering Services Agreement with HDR Engineering Inc. for North Wellfield No. 20 design-phase services in the amount of $198,600; city staff confirmed test wells and water and soil testing are part of the scope.

Public-safety and equipment items approved included accepting a quote from Motorola Solutions for two mobile and three portable radios totaling $38,721.21 (CIP 21-01) and reallocating $20,000 from CIP 2504 to pay for ambulance repairs. City staff reported an aging ambulance (2007 model) is at a repair shop and the reallocation is to expedite repairs; warranty coverage was described as possible but not yet determined.

The council also approved several committee recommendations: adopting fees for use of the Vandenberg Golf Course simulator (and related fee-schedule changes in Resolution R25-29) and recommending approval of an application to add a Class I liquor license for Vandenberg Golf Course. The council set the interest rate for Street Improvement Districts No. 184 and No. 189 at 0% per committee recommendation.

On licenses and management changes, the council voted to: - Forward a recommendation to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission to approve an application from Anthony Edward Cresha doing business as Traditions Inn for a Retail Class C liquor license for the premises at 2905 14th Street, with Cresha named as manager. Anthony Edward Cresha told the council he plans a gradual re-opening and said, “we're gonna take it very very slowly,” and that he hopes to bring back restaurant and lodging uses. - Forward a recommendation to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission to approve a change of manager at American Legion Hartman Post 84, naming Margaret F. Smith as manager.

The council adopted a nonexclusive franchise agreement (Resolution R25-30) with Eagle Broadband Investments LLC; city staff clarified the franchise is nonexclusive and the same terms are available to any provider operating in the city limits. The council also adopted amendments to the Columbus Planning Commission bylaws (Resolution R25-28).

Votes at a glance: the meeting record shows all listed resolutions and motions were approved by the council (motions carried with “aye” votes during roll call or voice vote; no formal no votes were recorded in the transcript). Where specific dollar amounts or unit counts were discussed, those figures are included above as they were stated during the meeting.

Why it matters: the redevelopment approvals and bridge agreement start projects that city officials said will remove blighted property, add commercial space and housing, and begin multi-year transportation work; the water engineering contract will advance state-required tests and design work for a new wellfield source. The equipment and ambulance funding decisions affect day-to-day public-safety operations.

The council made several other routine and committee approvals, and removed one loan item from the agenda as requested by the maker of the motion. The meeting concluded with council comments and adjournment.