BEATRICE – The Beatrice City Council has approved a redevelopment plan for a downtown building, at 323 Court Street. The former Cook Electric Building was acquired by the Hydo family in Beatrice and is being remodeled.


The project is making use of tax increment financing for a building that has largely gone unused under prior ownership except for storage, for several years.
City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer says with council approval, the plan returns to the Community Redevelopment Authority for final action on the redevelopment agreement.


"You'll see a commercial space go on the main floor...two apartments going in the upper living area...is what they're looking at. The only thing that is unique about this TIF project compared to other ones, is in previous projects we've been able to use site acquisition, outside infrastructure and those types of things to use up the TIF dollars that are out there. In this case, site acquisition was one dollar, so that doesn't quite take up much of their TIF money...and it is already a built-up lot. There's not a lot of infrastructure build-out at this point. So, using a different part of the statute allows for code compliance."


Work has been progressing on the property. Mayor Stan Wirth and Councilman Rick Clabaugh said the city is thankful that the Hydo family is taking on the project, avoiding another expensive demolition project for the city.


In other action Monday night, elected officials approved a resolution reappointing Jackie Bornemeier to the Community Redevelopment Authority….and approved a bid for a sewer extension in the city, totaling some $82,000.