During the April 7 Seward City Council meeting, the board discussed expanding the Civic Center grounds to include the old Jones Bank building.
Councilmember Charles Lieske, who is also the executive director of the Seward Area Chamber of Commerce, spoke to the board about a pre-application for funding to purchase the property.
The board voted to allow Mayor Josh Eickmeier to sign the pre-application for submission.
The Civic Center is located on 6th and Bradford Streets, and the old Jones Bank is just north of that.
“The Civic Center would have the whole block,” Lieske said.
The land is valued at $83,000 and the total property, which includes the building, is assessed at $320,000, according to Lieske.
However, Lieske said the Langworthy Trust, which allows for the purchase of land, but not for the purchase of an existing building, could use $90,000 to put toward the land, and the pre-application Eickmeier signed could provide a matching grant for a total of $180,000.
Lieske also said Jones Bank might consider donating the building, after being paid the $180,000.
Mike Hecker, Jones Bank’s vice president of operations, said a donation is possible, but no commitments have been made yet.
Lieske said if these plans go through, the chamber of commerce’s office, currently located in the west wing of the Civic Center, would move to the Jones Bank building.
A wheelchair-accessible ramp would be added to connect the auditorium to the Civic Center’s original building, Lieske said, adding that now, those who need a ramp have to go outside to switch buildings.
The chamber offices would be made available for meeting space.
Long-term plans include connecting the Civic Center to the Jones Bank building and expanding the parking lot, Lieske said.
Also during the meeting, the council voted to hold the Fourth of July carnival west of the Civic Center on 7th Street.
Lieske said the carnival has been held near the old middle school grounds off Highway 34 and 3rd Street, but since there will be construction on the lot, the carnival cannot be held there.
Lois Kimsey, who lives on 7th Street, spoke at the meeting to object to the carnival’s location.
Kimsey said the carnival, and the port-a-potties it brings, distracts from the aesthetics of the Civic Center.
Kimsey also drives for Arrow Stage Lines and will use a bus to escort World War II veterans around town during the Fourth of July festivities.
She said to do this, she has to park a bus outside her home two nights before the event.
The carnival would make it difficult to get the bus in and out of the area, she said.
The council voted to have the carnival by the Civic Center, as long as Seventh Street can remain open.
