A public hearing on a request to open an alley in the southeast portion of Wayne was among the items on the agenda when the Wayne City Council met in regular session on Tuesday.
Jonathan Webb and Nicole Owens came before the council with a request to open the alley behind their property at 319 South Nebraska. They told the council the alley is very rough and they would like to be able to get their camper in and out of the area. They also indicated they only use the alley in the summer and would not need the alley open in the winter.
City Planner Joel Hansen said the alley is presently a grass alley and not open to traffic. He also explained the process the city would go through to level the area and put down rock. He said the city would not have a lot of cost involved if the alley would be opened and after the initial rock it put down, the adjacent property owners would be responsible for additional rock in the future. This would only apply to those property owners who sign a petition asking for the rock.
Following the public hearing, the council voted unanimously to approve the request.
In other action, the council approved a resolution and a request to prohibit parking on a portion of Main Street in connection with Christmas in Wayne/Parade of Lights on Nov. 17.
A resolution is required to comply with the Nebraska Department of Transportation requirements for the temporary use of a state highway for the event.
In addition, parking will be prohibited in the 200 and 300 Blocks of Main Street from 5:30 to 8 p.m. that evening.
Three resolutions regarding the certifying of mowing costs to the Wayne County Clerk and Wayne County Treasurer to become liens on property were approved.
City Administrator Wes Blecke explained the process the city goes through and said during the past summer approximately 70 letters were sent out to property owners in regard to overgrown weeds.
He told the council that most of these situations were taken care of by the property owners.
"We send out letters and give the property owners seven days to comply. After that time, the city employees mow the property at a cost of $300 per hour. We did have to mow five properties this year," Blecke said.
The owner of three of the properties involved has not paid the cost of mowing, which ranges from $375 to $900.
Council members approved the appointment of Amy Bloomquist to the Library Board.
Discussion was held during the meeting on sidewalk installation along the Chicago Street Project.
City Planner Hansen told the council that during the installation of the street, there was some damage done to a sprinkler system on one of the properties. Also, with the installation of the street, there is a gap in getting to the trail.
Council members also discussed which properties in the area would be affected by the need to install sidewalks.
City staff was directed to inform the property owner at 309 South Sherman Street they had until July 1, 2023 to install the sidewalk.
The Wayne City Council will next meet in regular session on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 5:30 p.m.
