By Clara Osten,
clara@wayneherald.com
The need for housing, the possibility of developing a city-owned parcel of land, how a lake could be developed in the city and options for naming a park in the city took up the majority of the Wayne City Council meeting on Tuesday.
Representatives of Hanna:Keelan Associates, PC spoke to the council, via Zoom on the results of the Community Housing Study.
City Administrator Wes Blecke told the council the city's last housing study was completed approximately five years ago and due to changes in regulations regarding TIF financing, a study needs to be less than 24 months old to qualify for grant funding.
Discussion centered on how numbers were calculated for Wayne State students living off-campus and three scenarios for the number of housing units needed in the city in the next five years.
The Hanna:Keelan representatives told the council that they plan on having a community meeting in the next 30-45 days to allow for public input on the demand for and types of housing needed in the community.
On a related note, the council voted to move forward with discussion with R. Perry Construction of Sioux City, Iowa on a housing proposal for land along Fourth Street.
Last fall, the city went out for proposals for the 7.94 acre parcel of land located south of Fourth Street and Jaxon Street. The land was formerly the Community Garden/Upper Soccer field.
Two proposals were received. One was from R. Perry Construction and the other from Heritage Homes in Wayne. Both would result in projects valued at approximately $21 million when completed. However, there were differences in the housing units that would be constructed and the number of phases in which the building would take place.
Council members discussed some of the requests of each proposal and felt there were fewer unknowns with the R. Perry proposal.
Additional details will be worked out between the city and the developer and council members encouraged interested citizens to contact them or city officials with questions and concerns.
Matthew Smith and Carter Hubard with Olsson spoke to the council on the findings of a "Lake Feasibility Study" recently completed in regard to the area in the southeast portion of Wayne known as "the old lagoon."
Information from the geo-technical report showed that the soil is compatible with holding water for a lake. In addition, the study looked at the driest year in the last 20 years (2012) as a model for the amount of water that would be lost due to evaporation.
"We don't think a secondary source of water is necessary, but it is a good idea to have a backup plan," Smith told the council.
Discussion also involved the depth of the proposed 2-3 acre lake, ways to keep vegetation at a minimum and maintenance of the lake.
Preliminary cost estimates indicate construction could cost approximately $1.2 million.
Following a presentation by members of the Voices for Vision Coalition, council members voted to name the park located in the area of the former swimming pool "Freedom Park."
Karen Granberg and Sherry Dorman, members of the group, said that they were aware of all the work that has already gone into turning the old bathhouse into a building to be used by the community.
They suggested the park be named Freedom Park, as freedom is "a core value in the community and also implies responsibility."
"The building could host activities for the community and could be used to provide information about the history of Wayne and the opportunities available," Granberg said.
Council members approved a resolution that would create an interlocal agreement between the City of Wayne and Wayne Community School District 90-0017.
This agreement is necessary to move forward with a ballot issue involving additional sales tax asking.
The requirements for the agreement would be for representatives from the city and school to form a committee to meet at least once a year.
The agreement is for what has been labeled "Wayne Community Activity Center Project and Improvement." Actual ballot language for the proposed sales tax would still need to be determined after the agreement has been approved by both parties.
The Wayne Community Schools' Board of Education will consider the agreement at the Monday, Jan. 10 meeting.
In other action, council members approved Resolution 2022-3, directing the city to certify mowing costs to the Wayne County Clerk and the Wayne County Treasurer to become a lien on Tax Lot 74.
Ordinance 2022-1 was passed and the three readings waived. It involves amending Exhibit B to the transmission substation service agreement between the City of Wayne and Nebraska Public Power District.
Approval was given on the contractor's application for payment (final) in the amount of $36,303.98 to Myers Construction, Inc., for the Pine Heights Road & Utility Improvements Project.
The Wayne City Council will next meet in regular session on Tuesday, Jan. 18 at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers.
