This is an aerial view of the Grand Island Solid Waste Transfer Station at 5050 W. Old Potash Highway. (Courtesy photo)
GRAND ISLAND – Grand Island’s City Council approved Oct. 14 making improvements to the city’s Solid Waste Transfer Station at 5050 W. Old Potash Highway.
First, the City Council voted 10-0 to approve the bid award for the Transfer Station. The low bid of $7,528,318 was received from RMV Construction of Kearney. Next, the City Council voted 10-0 to approve engineering fees for the project.
The two costs total $775,548.
The current Transfer Station was constructed in 1981 and is no longer large enough to handle the current traffic and waste flows.
According to a memo to the City Council from Jeff Wattier, Sold Waste Superintendent; and Keith Kurz, Public Works Director/City Engineer, customer counts at the Transfer Station have increased by 173 percent, with a tonnage increase of 124 percent, from FY 2000 to FY 2017. In FY 2007, there were 10,345 customers and 28,578 tons of waste. In FY 2017, there were 28,236 customers and 63,910 tons of waste.
“Due to the higher bid prices received, Administration is looking to finance $10 million through bonding, which will cover this project as well as the proposed Cell 4 project at the Landfill,” the memo said.
Kurz said there will be a number of advantages to the new Transfer Station. It will have safety improvements (taller ceilings, more ambient light), have six bays rather than four bays, have better traffic flow, and have a new scale house and inbound and outbound lanes.
Kurz projected annual rate increases of 2.5 percent through 2035. Those rates will be evaluated every three years.
“We have a pretty good cash reserve for projects like this,” Kurz said.
City Council Member Doug Lanfear said that 14 years ago, Hall County could have spent $14 million to build a courthouse addition. Now, that cost is $40 million.
“Let’s go ahead and build it before inflation eats up the budget,” Lanfear said.
City Council Member Chuck Haase said, “I think we need to move forward.”
Kurz said that the city will have the old Transfer Station available in case of an emergency. After the new Transfer Station is constructed, the old Transfer Station would be used for things such as storage.
City Council Member Mitch Nickerson said, “I think we would be foolish not to start the whole project.”
Kurz gave several options for the project:
*Complete Cell 4 and Transfer Station as bid in FY 2026. This was the option approved.
*Complete Cell 4 and initial phase of Transfer Station (scale and entrance) in FY 2026 with final phase completed in FY 2032.
*Complete Cell 4 and only initial phase of Transfer Station (scale and entrances) in FY 2026.
City Council President Jack Sheard said, “Let’s do it all at once.”
The City Council approved the consent agenda by a 10-0 vote. One item in the consent agenda was approving a bid for the Ryder Park Baseball Field improvements.
The natural grass baseball field is the home field for the Grand Island Senior High School baseball team in the spring and the American Legion baseball program in the summer.
A group of supporters including representatives from the American Legion program and local baseball enthusiasts have been working together to develop a plan to renovate the facility and to raise funds with the projects.
In September 2024, the City hired Olsson Associates to provide engineering services for $445,000, according to a memo to the City Council from Parks and Recreation Director Todd McCoy.
On May 2, the Parks and Recreation Department advertised for construction bids to start the project. The lowest bid exceeded estimates for the project. After discussions among city staff, fundraisers, and stakeholders, the decision was made to reduce the scope of the project to make it more affordable.
On June 20, the Parks and Recreation Department rebid the project. The revised design included a new synthetic turf field, dugouts, lights, batting cages, and stadium improvements. Planned improvements for restrooms, concessions, and softball amenities were removed from the project scope with the idea that those items could be constructed at a later date.
The Parks and Recreation Department received bids on July 15. Nemaha Sports Construction of Lincoln was recommended for the project. The company’s bid for the project was $3,745,600. Food and Beverage Funds will be used for the project in the city’s FY 2025-26 budget.
McCoy wrote that additional funding includes $208,000 from funds currently held at the Grand Island Area Community Foundation, more than $750,000 in additional pledges, and $250,000 from Diamond Baseball League.
In another matter, the City Council voted 9-1 to approve an amendment to the agreement between the city and the Central Nebraska Humane Society for sheltering, care, and disposition services. City Council member Chuck Haase voted against the motion.
The city and the Humane Society agreed to amend their agreement to determine a “day” to be changed to “any portion of a day may be used,” rather than the term “a rolling 24 hour clock starting at the time of intake.” The change will help provide easier tracking for billing purposes.
Haase said he could not support the amendment because it could involve paying the Humane Society more money. Haase also noted that pets could be boarded for 20 dollars a day at Pet Island.
“We’re spending a lot of money taking care of domestic animals that just get out of the yard,” Haase said.
The City Council voted 10-0 to approve having the city assess a payment of $2,992 at 928 E. Oklahoma for sidewalk repairs.
The City Council voted 8-0-2 to approve assessments for Parking District No. 3. Property owners within the district will be charged a special assessment based on the square footage of their buildings.
The City Council voted 10-0 to approve assessments for the South Locust Business Improvement District. The South Locust Business Improvement District met and approved the 2025-26 budget which provides for special assessments for $104,617. Assessments are paid by property owners based on the front footage of the property.
