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Broken Bow council approves sewer payment, CD authority and ambulance equipment lease
Summary
The council approved Change Order #3 and Payment #1 for the Highway 2 sanitary sewer extension, authorized city staff to adjust certificates of deposit for better yield, and leased ambulance equipment — including a ventilator system — to expand transport capability.
The Broken Bow City Council on April 8 approved a series of routine but consequential actions, including progress payment for a sewer extension project, additional financial authority for the city administrator and a lease to outfit a new ambulance with ventilator capability.
Mayor Rod Sonnichsen called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the council first approved the consent agenda, including the March 25 meeting minutes and bills to date.
The council approved Change Order #3 for the Highway 2 Sanitary Sewer Extension (project #211489), removing the bid item to "remove and replace" a fire hydrant and reducing the contract by $2,815.29 while extending substantial completion to April 15, 2025. City Administrator David Schmidt said the change order reduces project cost and that the work completed connects two previously unconnected sewer mains, noting the project's descriptive label ("15th to Webster") can be misleading about the exact connection point.
Council then passed Resolution 2025-02, authorizing Payment #1 of $159,561.90 to Myers Construction Inc. for work completed through March 25, 2025, and signed a Certificate of Substantial Completion for the same sewer project. The vote on both the change order and the payment was recorded as aye: Russ Smith, Travis Kleeb and Paul Holland; Joe Wamsley abstained.
Separately, the council unanimously approved Resolution 2025-03, authorizing City Administrator David Schmidt to make changes to certificates of deposit or similar interest-bearing accounts to obtain the best financial opportunities available to the city.
The council also approved a lease with Community First National Bank totaling $50,801.66 to acquire one LUCAS chest compression device, one ventilator system and five wireless radios to outfit a new ambulance. Emergency Services Department Head David Baltz said most major ambulance purchases were funded previously and that the ventilator system will allow the city's ambulances to transport patients who require ventilatory support; the ventilator can be moved between units as needed. Mayor Sonnichsen said he strongly recommended approving the lease because each piece of equipment improves service to residents. The lease motion passed unanimously.
The meeting concluded with a public comment from Tom Ecker about affordable housing and several council reminders about road construction safety. The council adjourned at 6:22 p.m.
The council's approvals secure the next contractor payment and finalize equipment needed to expand emergency transport capabilities; staff indicated one sewer project completion milestone and the new financial flexibility can affect short-term cash management.
