Outside of a face covering discussion, the Seward City Council meeting on Oct. 20 alternated its attention between its business sector and its residential sector.
On the business side, the council heard from TIF Attorney Andrew Willis, who informed the council of his findings pertaining to benefits from TIF financing for Levander Auto Body as the second Seward Rail Campus tenant. Willis said the building itself would be 7,000 square feet and construction was planned immediately so the business could open in January 2021.
According to Willis, his complete evaluation would yield $178,000 in revenue, well over the $121,000 financed over 15 years in TIF allocation.
Willis said the business would provide four full-time jobs paying roughly $60,000 per year, which benefited an area that he identified as slightly below average for mechanics.
Willis said it was a straight-forward recommendation to adopt. Company owner Bryan Levander was present. He said he'd been working with the city since 2014 to grow his Grand Island-based operation with a Seward location. He said his track record with sales tax and TIF in the six other cities with Levander Auto Body locations was good.
The council approved a motion for TIF financing for Levander Auto Body.
A neighboring lot was also discussed, with the council discussing the final plat of the rail campus' first lot. City Engineer Mike Oneby broke that into two separate lots in planning with no difference other than a drainage ditch in one, which brings an easement. The council adopted that ordinance with no opposition.
The council also determined it necessary to shorten the amount of time necessary to apply and review a liquor license application. Shortening to 12 days was determined after comparing current policy with similar-sized communities. By shortening the time, it “gives us the ability to move with the punches,” City Administrator Greg Butcher said.
That motion carried unanimously.
Council members also unanimously adopted the first amendment to “project readiness” – the code that Petsource started under – which required the business to release pre-treated wastewater into the city's system at a rate of no more than 1,200 gallons per hour through the hours of 5 a.m. and 10 p.m., and then 3,000 gallons per hour through 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Oneby said the Petsource wastewater process is self-inspected and there's no requirement for testing for e coli at this time.
The council also considered an amendment to the city unified land development ordinance that clarified flood plain and flood fringe. That eliminates manufactured homes from the ordinance and says all recreational vehicles (example, RVs and campers) must be road ready if stored in a flood plain. That amendment needs a second reading and approval before becoming official.
In residential issues, the council approved the ordinance re-zoning 2581 Bluff Road from Ag (agricultural use district) to R-2 (residential use district), which was discussed at the Oct. 6 meeting.
The council also discussed the natural buffer zone and street lighting along Karol Kay Boulevard from Bader Avenue to Hillcrest Drive. No action was taken. Instead they decided to seek feedback from the homeowners association in the area for exact visions of the project.
Council members voted against approving a well permit application for Doug Oberhauser at the recommendation of City Attorney Kelly Hoffschneider. The council was in position to approve the permit, pending the contractor's registration with the city, until Hoffschneider said contingent legislation is illegal, in his legal opinion. The contractor, who may be registered elsewhere, needs registered with the City of Seward before the well can go forward so the council tabled the application.
The council also approved a bid from Van Kirk Bros Contracting for the wastewater outfall relocation project for $283,700.86, the lowest bid among five finalists. That project would divert wastewater from Plum Creek to the Big Blue River.
Ordinances to amend the municipal code to increase electricity and wastewater rates by 3% both failed their third and final readings so those rates will not increase.
