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Sydney council approves December budgets and claims, appoints Brett Kirkman and backs Northside Park grant applications
Summary
At its Jan. 14 meeting, the Sydney City Council approved December 2024 budgets and claims, appointed Brett Kirkman to a vacant council seat, proclaimed January as Radon Action Month and authorized staff to apply for state and federal grants to advance the Northside Park project.
The Sydney City Council on Jan. 14 approved routine year-end financial items, installed a new council member and authorized grant applications aimed at moving forward a long-planned Northside Park project.
Council members voted to approve the city’s December 2024 budgets and claims after a presentation from city staff on revenue trends. A staff presenter said sales and occupation tax receipts were down roughly $95,000 for the month — the largest concern in the report — and attributed much of the month’s decline to a one-time refund tied to an Imagine Nebraska economic development refund program. The presenter said the refund was treated as a timing issue and cautioned the council that similar notices could arrive in the future.
The council appointed Brett Kirkman to fill a vacant city council seat on Mayor Sherman’s recommendation. Kirkman took the oath of office and introduced himself, saying he has lived in Sydney about five years, has a wife and two children and hopes to contribute on budgetary and fee-planning matters. The council approved the appointment by voice vote.
On economic development and parks, staff outlined two uses for Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF) resources: planning for a downtown Hickory Street Square project or advancing the Northside Park project. Staff said the Northside Park scheme already has about 30% design and positioned the park as more “shovel-ready.” The council approved a motion to submit a CCCFF letter of intent for the Northside Park project and also authorized applying for a Bureau of Land Management recreation and visitor-services grant (maximum discussed at $650,000) to help fund elements of the park. Staff said the total Northside Park project budget is approximately $1.5 million and emphasized that some grants require dollar-for-dollar matching funds.
During the meeting the council also proclaimed January 2025 as National Radon Action Month. Melissa Haas of the Panhandle Public Health District told the council that radon is common in the region and said her office provides free radon test kits to residents; she encouraged homeowners to request tests through the district.
Other administrative items included scheduling a council training session (members agreed to target Feb. 12, pending confirmation) and a staff notice that a bid package for the old police department building will be posted with a planned bid opening in March. The meeting concluded after routine reminders and thanks.
Votes and formal actions recorded on the agenda included approval of the Dec. 17, 2024 minutes; approval of December 2024 budgets; approval of December 2024 claims; appointment and swearing-in of Brett Kirkman; authorization to submit a CCCFF letter of intent for Northside Park; and authorization to apply for a BLM recreation/visitor-services grant. The transcript records motions, seconds and verbal assent for these items but does not provide a roll-call tally by named council member in every instance.
