|
The
generator would be located on 5½ acres of land east of New Holland.
The plant itself would take up 2½ to 3 acres, and the tallest part of
the structure, the stack, would be somewhere between 35 to 50 feet
tall—probably about 40 feet, Hortenstine said. The location was
chosen because of its proximity to a major natural gas line and a
power line.
The
company would like to complete the $60 million plant by June 1, 2001,
so it would be in operation during the summer months when air
conditioners create additional demands for electric power. The plant
would run a maximum of 1,500 hours per year, with 750 to 1,000 hours
being a more likely running time, according to Hortenstine.
Spectrum
would like the city of Lincoln to extend its enterprise zone from
Lincoln’s west side to New Holland to take advantage of the 6.25
percent state sales tax waiver on the purchase of equipment and
materials. Hortenstine said the project would have a "positive
impact" on both communities, as Spectrum would not seek a local
real estate tax abatement; the plant would create some jobs, both
permanent and long-term; and it might benefit New Holland in providing
additional water sources.
Grant
Eaton, sewage treatment plant superintendent, said the new plant would
provide a revenue source for Lincoln by having the water used to cool
the turbines processed at the city sewage plant at three cents a
gallon.
In
reply to concerns about noise levels, Hortenstine offered to rent a
van to take city officials to visit similar plants in Illinois, in
particular the one in St. Elmo. He said Illinois has the strictest
noise statutes in the country, and the generators would make less
noise than the grain dryers in the New Holland elevators. He also said
Spectrum was hiring a hydrologist to determine the impact the plant
would have on the aquifer. In a "worst case scenario," the
plant would use 400,000 gallons of water per day.
(To top of second
column in this article)
|
After
the plant is built, Spectrum would sell it to a utility company, which
Hortenstine said would be bound by all the agreements made by the
original builder. A public hearing on the plant will be held in New
Holland this week, he told the council.
In
other business, the sewage and drainage committee declined a request
for the city to take over the maintenance of a drainage ditch on the
west side of town. The ditch crosses Route 10 near the location of
Kentucky Fried Chicken and Taco Bell, runs back of Maverick Steak
House to a retention pond, then goes into Allison Lake
"I
see no reason whatsoever the city would want to take it over,"
Eaton told the council. "You would be buying a headache."
Eaton
was authorized to write a grant proposal for approximately $500,000 to
purchase additional streetlights for the area surrounding the downtown
historic district, similar to those installed downtown two years ago.
The
ordinance and zoning committee agreed to put a request for salary
increases for the city clerk, the city treasurer and the mayor on the
agenda at the next regular meeting Sept. 18. Aldermen also began work
on a priority list for road rehabilitation work for next year.
[Joan
Crabb]
|
|
"Bird-bangers,"
pyrotechnic devices which are shot into the air and explode with a
loud noise, have succeeded in dispersing thousands of grackles that
have been gathering to roost in trees in Mayfair, becoming nuisances
and health hazards, according to Police Chief Richard Ludolph.
For
six evenings, police officers have been shooting the bird-bangers
approximately every five minutes while the birds are gathering to
roost, just before dark. The bird-bangers do not injure or kill the
birds, just frighten them away.
Ludolph
said when he first went to Mayfair, he saw thousands of birds coming
into the subdivision. "Tonight I hardly saw any," he told
the council. He said police will not be shooting any more devices in
Mayfair unless the birds come back.
Although
police aimed the noisemakers to drive the birds east, away from town
and into the countryside, Ludolph said a few are roosting in other
areas of the city, around Rutledge Drive, Wichita Avenue and
Lincolnwood Drive by Heritage Avenue, but not in the huge numbers seen
in Mayfair. These areas will be monitored to see if a problem
develops.
Alderman
Stephen Mesner of the second ward brought up the perennial problem of
disposal of leaves in the city of Lincoln.
"Are
we going to have a program to collect leaves this year, or are we
saying totally, 100 percent residents take care of it all?" he
asked.
(To top of second
column in this article)
|
Alderman
William Melton, who was chairing the session in the absence of Mayor
Joan Ritter, said that unless the streets committee wanted to consider
the issue, there was no change in the city’s policy. Street
Superintendent Donnie Osborne noted that according to the city
ordinance, it is still illegal for homeowners to rake leaves into the
street for the city to pick up.
"We
still prefer they bring their leaves to us at the landfill,"
Osborne said. He said the city would extend the hours the landfill
would be open, and residents could bring in leaves and yard waste at
no charge.
"There
are many residents who are not going to be able to take leaves to the
dump," Mesner replied.
The
present city ordinance allows burning landscape waste only in
locations 50 feet or more from any structure, such as a house, garage
or business. For many areas of Lincoln, this rules out leaf burning
entirely because of the density of buildings, a spokesman for the
Lincoln Fire Department said.
At
a previous meeting, Lincoln resident Charlotte Griffin asked the
council to consider permitting leaf burning three days a week. She
said this would allow people with respiratory ailments to enjoy the
outdoors the other four days.
Alderman
Steve Fuhrer, chairman of sidewalks, forestry and lighting, scheduled
a meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 26 for the committee to discuss
extending landfill hours for leaf disposal.
[Joan
Crabb]
|
