Council declines appeal to create Fletcher Avenue water special-assessment district

The Lincoln City Council on April 28 voted not to advance an appeal seeking creation of a special-assessment district to extend city water along Fletcher Avenue from North Seventh to North Fourteenth Streets.

The vote came after a public hearing in which residents, the district requester and city staff described technical, financial and public‑health aspects of the proposed project. Laura Peglas of Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU) summarized the request and the Sar (special assessment revolving) committee recommendation; applicant Keith Spilker said he sought the district because of water-quality and service concerns; several neighbors urged denial because of cost.

The proposal would have led to a formal process to design, bid and potentially construct a water main on Fletcher and to levy assessments for property owners in the affected area. Peglas said the prior cost estimate (prepared in spring 2024) was “a little over $1,100,000” for the water district, with roughly $330,000 assessed to property owners and the water department covering the…