Grand Island council approves South Locust acquisition, $250,000 Fourth Street lighting and easement vacations

The Grand Island City Council on May 13 approved a package of infrastructure and land-use actions, including continued property acquisition for the South Locust Street improvements, a $250,000 Fourth Street lighting project, and two ordinances vacating utility easements at Silver Road and Conestoga Marketplace.

The actions matter because they clear property and utility obstacles to a multi-year street-improvement project on South Locust Street, add street lighting intended to improve safety and downtown livability on Fourth Street, and permit private redevelopment and site reconfiguration at 3961 Silver Road and Conestoga Marketplace.

Public hearing and resolution for South Locust right-of-way Keith Kurtz, the city’s public works director, said the South Locust Street action is “just a continuation of property acquisition for the South Locust Street project that is currently underway.” The council opened a public hearing on acquisition of public right-of-way and a permanent easement for the South Locust Street Improvements (project number 2021-PD-6), heard no public comment and approved Resolution 2025-161 by motion of Council member Lanfear, seconded by Council member O'Neil. The motion was adopted; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally.

Fourth Street lighting project: scope, funding and timeline Matthew Gleeson, identified earlier as finance director, introduced the Fourth Street lighting proposal and a city staff member identified as Ryan provided technical details. Ryan said “it's not going to be FASTOUN Lights. It's going to be regular, street lights,” and described a plan to increase uniformity of lighting along nine blocks by adding roughly 52 lights (about 40 new poles and repurposing 12 existing poles), installing roughly 7,000 feet of cable and using 30-foot concrete poles. Staff described the lights as LED with a color temperature matching Third Street; council heard that the project would include a separate circuit to support future decorative fixtures or banners.

Council member Patrick Brown moved to approve the lighting project using approximately $250,000 from kino funds; Council member Lanfear seconded and the motion was adopted. Staff said there is cash in the budget to cash-flow the work and that lead time for poles is about eight weeks, with a hoped-for completion by October, weather permitting.

Ordinances vacating easements at Silver Road and Conestoga Marketplace Council suspended statutory rules and approved Ordinance No. 10,015 to vacate a utility easement at 3961 Silver Road to accommodate an expansion by Anderson Diesel; staff said the existing transformer location conflicts with the expansion and the service will be moved. The ordinance was approved on motion of Patrick Brown, seconded by Connolly; the motion was adopted and the transcript does not include a roll-call tally.

The council also approved Ordinance No. 10,016 to vacate easements at Conestoga Marketplace (Conestoga Mall Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Subdivisions). City staff member Nabody said the easements had been planned for future vacation once utilities were installed and new easements dedicated; he said, “we needed to wait until all of the utilities were in, and we were ready ready to dedicate new easements.” Planning Commission recommended the related plat; staff said utilities have been removed from the easements being vacated and the new easements will be dedicated within two weeks. Council member Hasey moved to approve the ordinance and Council member Pollock seconded; the motion was adopted. The ordinance becomes effective after the statutory waiting period noted by staff.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 2025-161 (South Locust Street right-of-way and permanent easement acquisition): Moved by Lanfear; seconded by O'Neil; outcome: approved (motion adopted; roll-call tally not specified in transcript). Referenced properties: TLC Properties Inc; Gooseek; E Y Housing LLC; Arons; Oberg; Mont Montague; Trias Federal Credit Union; Francis Family LLC; McDermott. - Fourth Street lighting project (resolution number not specified in transcript): Moved by Patrick Brown; seconded by Lanfear; outcome: approved (motion adopted; roll-call tally not specified). Key details: ~$250,000 from kino funds; ~52 lights total; ~40 new poles and repurpose 12; ~7,000 feet of cable; 8-week pole lead time; target completion by October, weather permitting. - Ordinance No. 10,015 (vacate utility easement at 3961 Silver Road): Moved by Patrick Brown; seconded by Connolly; outcome: adopted (roll-call tally not specified). Reason: relocation of service/transformer to allow Anderson Diesel expansion. - Ordinance No. 10,016 (vacate easements at Conestoga Marketplace—Conestoga Mall Eighth/Ninth/Tenth Subdivisions): Moved by Hasey; seconded by Pollock; outcome: adopted (roll-call tally not specified). Planning Commission recommended related plat; staff said utilities removed from vacated easements and new easements will be dedicated shortly.

Copies of the city audit were distributed at the end of the meeting by Matthew Gleeson, and the council adjourned. The transcript records no substantive public opposition on these agenda items during the public hearings.