City briefs    

[AUG. 12, 2004]  Mayor Beth Davis presented Police Chief Rich Montcalm with a plaque of appreciation for his 14 years and eight months of service to community. Chief Montcalm began with the Lincoln Police Department on Dec. 15, 1989. He has served as chief since May 1, 2001. His last day will be Sept. 15. He will begin a new job as head of security at Memorial Medical Center on Sept. 16.

Chief Montcalm thanked the mayor and council, saying that he enjoyed working with everybody. "We've done a lot of good things here in town. This is a great community to live in, raise a family in," he said.

He added, "Bob Rawlins will do an excellent job as chief."

He assured the council, "I'll be here if there's anything you guys need from me."

At Mayor Davis' request Chief Montcalm agreed to stay on as a commissioner focusing on youth.

American Water has requested the city to extend use of their sewage treatment plant to them. They would like to have hookup to the system to carry their filter backwash to the city sewer plant for processing. They will pay for the service.

Wastewater treatment plant manager Grant Eaton said that there is plenty of capacity at the plant to provide this service.

City attorney Bill Bates has looked over the request and said that he advises moving forward on this and looking at costs. He sees it as a win-win situation for both the city and American Water.

The only possible drawback is that the city will have to provide an easement for force main access, and that will tie up a little bit of land.

Derrick Crane, chairman of the buildings and grounds committee, said that the old polling place is set to move. Sometime in the next two months the historic building will be moved a couple of blocks and across the street from its present location to Postville Park.

The final intentions are that the building be turned into an information center to assist with local tourism. Materials to do that are estimated at $5,000, and in total the cost will be close to $10,000 with labor. The plans include that the building will be disabled-accessible with restrooms. The budget for that will not be there until next year, Crane said.

The opening of Brainard Landings has facilitated a look into adding stop signs on North Monroe Street at the corner of Monroe and 21st Street. The apartments are now at 50 percent occupancy, and there has been a notable increase in traffic at that corner.

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