At its June 21 meeting, the Seward City Council:
• heard from Scott Dinslage, owner of The Alps Bark Park in Seward, who requested a change to a city ordinance that would require a special permit to have dogs off-leash within the central business district. Dinslage hopes to create a supervised outdoor exercise yard in the vacant lot next to the Bark Park. The matter will go before the Planning Commission before returning to the council for a decision.
• tabled a decision on whether to bill insurance companies and individuals for rescue calls, pending a discussion with a prospective billing company.
• approved the E-911 budget request for fiscal year 2022-23 of just over $1.1 million, with an overall increase of 11.5%, mostly for dispatcher salaries. Non-salary items saw an increase of .6%.
• approved a special use permit for Cottonwood Rentals to build new housing at 317 South Third Street, south of The Rock church, for a single-family detached home. The permit is contingent upon the garage facing Third Street to avoid having to access it through a business parking lot.
• approved the final plat for the 170-lot Prairie View Subdivision to be built east of Valley View Estates on the east side of Seward. Dirt work has already begun for the new lots.
• accepted a letter of engagement from AMGL CPAs and Advisors for audit and budget services.
• authorized a professional service agreement with the Southeast Nebraska Development District for construction management services related to Community Development Block Grants. This will allow SENDD to be reimbursed for meeting with contractors, verifying wages and other tasks associated with downtown revitalization projects.
• awarded a CDBG grant to Shannon Meyer in the amount of $33,203.25 for downtown revitalization efforts at 612 Seward Street (Aspyr Professional Group/The Forge) for structural and cosmetic alterations.
