City of Beatrice chooses consultant for Paddock Lane and Lincoln Elementary School sites

BEATRICE – A consulting agreement has been reached involving two elementary school sites that will no longer be used by the Beatrice Public Schools when a new prekindergarten to fifth grade facility opens this fall.

The Beatrice City Council approved an agreement with JEO Consultants for developing a master plan, at a cost of up to $50,000. The city will acquire the properties from the school district. The agreement involves the Paddock Lane and Lincoln Elementary sites.

City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer said the city received five proposals for the design work. "Lots, blocks, utilities, where they should put water mains, where should streets be extended, recreational facilities, how that all ties into these particular sites. When the city does acquire them, we can then start working on the re-platting process and utility extensions and all those things that come with it as we look to develop those particular parcels."

Mayor Bob Morgan talked about the factors in choosing JEO.  "If you looked at the two that rose to the top...they were Olsson's and JEO. One of the things we always look at is what we feel is the best plan at the lowest dollar. JEO came in 15 or 20-thousand dollars lower. They rose to the top."

JEO would complete the work by mid-September of this year. Tempelmeyer said JEO and one other firm included a public input component of the work. One public meeting would be held for both sites.

In other development actions, elected officials released Midwest Housing from LB 840 loan requirements, following completion of residential development at the former Beatrice Community Hospital site. A certificate of occupancy was recently issued for senior living duplexes at 10th and Arthur Streets. Midwest utilized an economic development loan for the project. The area where the hospital once stood, now includes about seven senior living units and six single family homes.