City council approves loans, contracts and program changes in unanimous votes

Columbus City Council approved a series of resolutions, vendor quotes and funding actions during its April 7 meeting, including two low-interest loans for workforce housing, design-phase contracts for park and cemetery facilities, multiple procurement quotes for technology and infrastructure, and a resolution calling a special election June 10 on continuation of the city's 1% sales and use tax.

The council unanimously adopted Resolution R25-48 approving an $800,000 loan to Quail Meadows LLC for workforce housing and infrastructure in phase 1, and Resolution R25-49 approving a $1,200,000 loan to Kay Herrmann Development LLC for two workforce housing projects. City staff said both loans are offered at 2% interest and will be repaid into the city's economic development fund to be reused for future projects. "So the $800,000...and the 1.2 are both 2% loans that will be paid back over the next few years into the economic development funds," city staff said during the meeting.

On park and facility projects, the council adopted Resolution R25-50, a $100,000 design-build agreement with BD Construction Inc. for Gerard Park restroom and concessions design-phase services; staff noted the schematic design estimates the eventual construction cost at about $1.2 million for a roughly 4,500'5,000-square-foot centralized building, about $240 per square foot based on the estimate. The council also approved Resolution R25-51, a $33,500 design-phase agreement with BD Construction for a cemetery maintenance shop addition; staff estimated the overall project at about $250,000, roughly $210 per square foot for an approximately 1,200-square-foot addition.

The council awarded a contract (Resolution R25-52) to Midlands Contracting (doing business as Johnson Service Company) for sanitary sewer rehabilitation, $168,208 (CIP 20-94), and approved an agency agreement (Resolution R25-53) with the Nebraska Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics for FAA-related work at Columbus Municipal Airport (CIP 23-30). The council also adopted Resolution R25-54 to raise the cost of meals for eligible diners at the senior center and Resolution R25-55 to add an amendment for Vanburg Golf Course simulator management and compensation.

Council members approved several procurement quotes during the new-business portion of the meeting: renewal of a Cisco Hyperflex subscription from Sirius Computer Solutions LLC for $22,196.94; Microsoft Office and Access licenses from CDW Government for $11,466.94; annual fire pump, ladder and hose testing from Danco Emergency Equipment and Firecat Precision Service Testing for $16,956.05; test well drilling and data collection from Downey Drilling Inc. for $29,306.50 (CIP 25-67); and an emergency backup generator for well No. 16 from High Plains Power Systems for $27,700 (CIP 25-58). One mechanical sales quote for the Aquatic Center air handling unit (CIP 24-17) was removed from the agenda after staff identified a less expensive repair option.

The council also adopted Resolution R25-56, calling a special election June 10, 2025, to ask voters to continue the city's 1% sales and use tax (Proposition A) for property tax relief, public safety, capital improvements and related operating costs and to allow an amendment (Proposition B) to the city's economic development program if Proposition A passes. Council members discussed the city's practice of setting low-interest economic development loans and noted that the advisory review committee (CARC) considers interest rates on applications; one council member observed regional programs sometimes charge higher rates and asked staff to relay that feedback to CARC.

All motions recorded in the transcript were adopted by voice vote with "aye" recorded and no recorded "nay" votes.

Items approved on the consent agenda (minutes, Resolution R25-47 authorizing payments for improvement projects, payroll and bills) were adopted by a single motion at the outset of the meeting.