2023 marked by major infrastructure improvements in Beatrice
BEATRICE – 2023 may well go down as the Year of the Pipe….in Beatrice.
"We did a number of projects that I really think will benefit the city in the future. We know the water main through downtown was a pain, to be honest...for everybody.....but that won't have to be done for another one hundred years."
Infrastructure may go unnoticed by citizens on a day-to-day basis, but Mayor Bob Morgan says such facilities are critical to a city like Beatrice. "We took care of a number of items on that project that we really needed to do, so we wouldn't have to disrupt that whole process over again. Having a redundant line...coming in with water from the wellfields we have is also another really strong plus for the city."
Morgan said in becoming mayor, the value of good infrastructure was a real eye opener. "It's really like the heart and the veins in your body. That's what keeps the city working. Without water, without electricity and sewer...it would not be a very pleasant experience if we were out of those for a week or two, based on some natural disaster."
Morgan give some of the credit to former Mayor Stan Wirth….for playing key role in tackling some of the larger projects. "Because we had the opportunity for that SRF loan, to do a lot of this infrastructure. Yes, they were costly, but when you look at the interest rate today...we got in there doing these projects at zero percent or one percent. In the long run, that's a huge financial savings...rather than having bonds at four percent to do a project. Thinking ahead and planning has really been worthwhile. That started a couple of years ago....and that's one of the things I really have come to appreciate with our city administrator....is that he is always planning, hopefully two to four years ahead."
Morgan said the city remained in good shape from a financial standpoint. One challenge….also experienced in the private sector…..were long delays in delivery of equipment and vehicles. He says that’s beginning to ease….but still causes some operational headaches.
This past year, the city also faced staffing shortage issues in public safety departments like police and fire.