by Stephanie Croston

    The Seward City Council and Seward School District are still trying to reach a solution on paving the parking lot south of Seward High.
     The city council discussed the lot again at its Jan. 16 meeting. School district officials were unable to attend. Dr. Marlene Uhing, district superintendent, sent a letter telling the council that the lot would be included in the board's facilities planning discussion at the Monday, Feb. 12, board meeting.
     City ordinances require that parking lots be paved. When the district built the high school addition, board members requested an additional five years to pave the parking lot, which is currently a rock-covered surface. The city council agreed to the five-year extension, which expired at the end of 2006.
     Dan Berlowitz, city administrator, recommended giving the district until Thursday, March 1, to finalize its intentions for the lot.
     Councilmember Tony Vrana disagreed with setting a deadline for the district's response.
     "Let's look at the whole question from a practicality standpoint," he said.
     Councilmember Brett Smith agreed, saying that he thought the school district knew what the city wanted and that the school board would make the right decision.
     After discussion, the council voted 8-0 to request an answer from the district by March 1.
     In a related matter, Councilmember Mark Eilers discussed possible solutions to traffic-flow problems at the high school. Northern Heights, the street running along the south side of the high school, is a busy street, he said. When there are activities, parking becomes an issue, as does pedestrian safety.
     He suggested only allowing cars to park on the north side of Northern Heights, moving buses and other high-profile vehicles to another location.
     Seward Police Chief Alan Baldwin said there had been no vehicle/pedestrian accidents reported on Northern Heights in the last five years.
     Mayor Roger Glawatz reminded the council that the original plan when the high school expanded was to close Northern Heights. He said part of the problem in the area is the limited lighting.
     "Right now we don't have a very safe situation," he said.
     Councilmember John Singleton said he didn't want to see a parking ban set but agreed that improving the lighting might be the council's first option.
     The council took no action on the matter.
     In other business, the council:
     - heard a report from Gary Petersen, county emergency manager, about the hazard mitigation plan and updates on training and other activities;
     - approved the report from the Citizen Advisory Review Committee on the Seward economic development program;
     - adopted an ordinance issuing $200,000 in electric system revenue bond anticipation notes for engineering and construction on the Ash Street substation;
     - adopted resolutions setting no parking zones 30 feet to the north and south of the sheriff's department driveway on Eighth Street, 30 feet north and south of the parking lot entrance to MetroGroup on the west side of Progressive Road and the east side of Progressive Road from the Super 8 Motel entrance to Cottonwood Street;
     - authorized signs stating the city's ban on concealed weapons to be placed on the same posts as the engine braking signs; and
     - approved the consent agenda.