BEATRICE – The City of Beatrice has secured engineering services for a reconstruction project on Lincoln Street between 25th and 27th, on an 8-0 city council vote. That section of Lincoln Street is not far from the new Beatrice elementary school. The cost of the contract with J-E-O Consulting will total about $106,000.


"And, they think they can have the road designed and done by January 10th of 2025. So, then you would look to bid in the winter, start construction in spring, summer. Obviously, we would work with the school again, to close the road down as few times as possible."


Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer says the city about about $825,000 for the work. Other options were to use that money for helping to pay for the 33rd and Lincoln work or apply it the Lincoln and Paddock Lane School sites residential streets.  The city is considering bond financing backed by state highway allocation revenue to build the streets within the Lincoln and Paddock Lane area residential developments that are planned.


"We would still look to move forward with the Paddock and Lincoln Streets...those school sites...this upcoming spring."


Councilman Dave Eskra supports going ahead with the Lincoln Street project between 25th and 27th.  "The majority of the traffic that's going to go to the new elementary is going to come down Lincoln Street. It all depends on how easy it is for parents to get their kids in and out of there, and the design is definitely beneficial for that. If we do 25th to 27th, that only leaves 21st to 23rd that needs to be, at sometime, improved. I just think that best use of the money available right now would be the 25th to the 27th. Get it in, get it done...that's going to take a huge amount of traffic, buses and everything. Lets just work our way through with that."


Both Tempelmeyer and Mayor Bob Morgan says progress can be made on all three options for construction since they rely on different financing mechanisms.
In the future, there’s still other Lincoln corridor improvements officials are considering. The city is working on a Safe Streets for All Grant, which could result in an application for grant funding to support improvements.


The city currently is paying a bond issue for the new fire station with sales tax. There is also the state loan for water improvements in the city….and a bond issue for sanitation within the Beatrice Area Solid Waste Agency.


The Beatrice City Council formally approved the master plans for using the Paddock Lane and Lincoln Elementary school sites as new residential areas. The school buildings are obsolete, now that a new prekindergarten to fifth grade building will be operating.  The master plans were developed with the aid of a consulting firm hired by the city. City Administrator Tempelmeyer says the school properties have not officially been transferred to the city.


"The school owns all those sites. We have no control over them. My last communication with the school, they are working toward having an auction...likely at all of the different school sites, is something that they are looking at doing, to help alleviate themselves of desks and everything else. When they are done and turn them over to us which might be in a month or so, we'll take inventory of what's left. At that point, we'll make a determination of what we're going to do with that remaining property...whether that is simply landfill some of it, if it's trying to resell or repurpose some of it."


The council approved hiring J-E-O Consulting Group to provide engineering services for redeveloping the former school sites into single family homes, duplexes and townhomes. Cost of services for Lincoln School is not to exceed $93,000 and on Paddock Lane, $103,000.


"They'll look at traffic analysis, they'll help us with the plat, itself...putting together the paving, design and bid specs. They'll design the water system, the sanitary sewer, the storm sewer, they'll do the storm water prevention pollution plan....and they'll help us with the bidding of those different utility installations."


With the change in use for the two areas, elected officials have also adjusted the traffic speed limit on Lincoln Street between 18th and 22nd,….increasing it from 25 miles-per-hour to 35-miles-per-hour. The traffic light at 19th and Lincoln is being shut down this week and replaced by a four-way stop sign arrangement.


On another parking change, officials have voted to prohibit parking on East Scott Street between 19th and U.S. Highway 136…on both sides of the street. Mayor Bob Morgan says that step arose from some concerns expressed in the area of where a residential development is planned.


"I think there was enough concerns and I think if you look at that street, there's not a people, if any. that park there. So, if we're going to do it, this is the time to do it, so it doesn't cause any heartburn."


Council members Monday night also approved a school zone around the new prekindergarten to fifth grade building that begins operations this year.