Camp Augustine is located just north of the South Locust Interstate 80 interchange, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – It’s been two years since the city of Grand Island purchased Camp Augustine.
The most recent development is passage of a Legislative bill that transfers Camp Augustine into the State Parks system, City Administrator Laura McAloon told Grand Island’s City Council Aug 19.
Tim McCoy, director of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, gave the City Council an update about the Camp Augustine area. He said the City Council had a good vision to plan out use of the property thoughtfully.
He said that developing state parks in Central Nebraska is a top priority.
“There is substantial population here,” he said.
Having an outdoor education center at the site “would be a real keystone for us.”
McCoy said that the Game and Parks Commission is going to raise the money needed to make the area a state park, approaching public and private donors.
“This has to go forward,” McCoy said.
Mayor Roger Steele said, “It’s important for people to get connected with nature.”
One of the things that will be developed at the site is a full-service campground.
There are currently eight state parks.
“This community would have a huge feather in its cap” for developing the area as a state park, Steele said. He said that the park could benefit Grand Island for generations. “I believe this is an historic opportunity.”
Council President Jack Sheard said he didn’t know if people realized “how exciting this is. This is huge.”
Sheard asked when the park would be completed. That depends on how long it takes to raise the funds needed for the park.
Council member Ryan O’Neill said that when he was growing up in Grand Island, he spent a lot of time at Camp Augustine as a Boy Scout.
The City Council received another update about a recreation-related project when Grand Island/Hall County Convention and Visitors Bureau Director gave a presentation about the proposed trail along South Locust Street that ends at Camp Augustine.
“It’s not a trail to nowhere,” Mellema said.
“It is a destination. People have an opportunity to come here for multiple days,” Mellema said. “This is a generational opportunity to build an amazing thing.”
He noted that Grand Island is growing.
“We are on an upward trajection,” he said.
Mellema said the idea of having a trail along South Locust Street, ending at Camp Augustine, is not new.
Mellema said that John McFarland of Pedego bikes and John Wayne, former owner of Wayne Cyclery, were in the audience.
Mellema said that a number of people buy bikes because they have transportation needs.
Roger Bullington of Chief Industries said that Grand Island is a more valuable place to live with the trail system.
It was mentioned that Grand Island developer Scott Rief, who wasn’t at the meeting, wants to expand the city’s trail system.
Mellema said that organizations such as Grow Grand Island and the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation are partners in the project.
Mellema said that the Camp Augustine area is a large place, 16 times larger than Stolley Park.
He said that people staying in RVs will ride into Grand Island on the trail.
Mayor Roger Steele talked about plans for the trail dating back to 2001. He said that he and his wife use Grand Island trails year around.
“Our community is growing. That is why we need to seize the moment,” Steele said.
If people don’t think that trails aren’t used, they’re wrong, Steele said.
Council member Mitch Nickerson said he was concerned about the project’s cost, noting that the cost per mile for the trail was $2.5 million.
He projected that a few dozen people would use the trail.
Nickerson said that money should go toward projects that will serve thousands of people. He questioned whether the project was cost effective and needed this year.
The mayor said, “I think there’s a lot of enthusiasm for this.”
Council member Doug Lanfear said, “It is a trail to nowhere if we build it this year.” He said it could take a year or two before the property is developed.
Council President Jack Sheard said he has been a little torn on the project.
“Is this the right time?” he said.
Sheard said there is a meeting Thursday to see how to more forward with the project.
John Wayne, retired owner of Wayne Cyclery, said he and his wife vacation in towns that have bike trails.
He said that riding on a trail “is the experience as you’re going there.”
Wayne said he moved to Grand Island in 1981. At that time, there were few trails in Grand Island. He said that bicycling is a low impact sport and is fun for everyone.
Chris Kotulak, chief executive officer at Fonner Park, said, “I’m an advocate for these trails.” He said that he is also an advocate for horse trails. He said that the city could use money it receives from the casino for trails.
Next, Emergency Management Director Jon Rosenlund gave a report about the June 25 weather event where Grand Island received 6.8 inches to 7.8 inches of rain. He said at 11 p.m. that night, Grand Island was receiving nearly two inches of rain per hour. A flash flood warning was issued. After 11:45 p.m, a catastrophic flash flood warning was issued. People received notification on their cell phones about that warning.
Rosenlund said that flooding was significant in northwest Grand Island along Moore’s Creek. The city was fortunate because there were no injuries or deaths that occurred.
In the morning on June 26, drones shot videos of affected areas, and relevant agencies met. A local emergency declaration was made. A tool was available online for residents to report damage. Of the damage that occurred, these were the types of structures affected: residential (82.6 percent) and business and public infrastructure (17.5 percent).
By Friday afternoon, water from the event was gone.
City Administrator Laura McAloon said that with detention cells, the hope was that water would recede in three to four days. She said that major improvements have been made regarding flooding impact since the 1967 flood in Grand Island.
Grand Island knew fairly quickly that it would not receive help from FEMA. However, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has loans available.
Rosenlund said the SBA had an outreach office in his office. As of Aug. 13, 25 business contacts and 260 residential contacts had been made.
Stanley Steele of the Grand Island Police Department was recognized for 35 years of service to the Police Department.
The City Council approved the consent agenda by an 8-0 vote. Council members Jason Conley and Mike Paulick were absent. One consent agenda item was purchasing an HVAC chiller for the Heartland Events Center. The city made an emergency procurement to rent a chiller for use during the State Fair. At a future meeting, the replacement of the current chiller(s) will be presented to City Council. The HVAC chiller replacement cost of $1.225 million has FY2025 budget authority.
The City Council approved by an 8-0 vote the FY2025-26 annual budget for the Fonner Park Business Improvement District. The budgeted assessments of $53,202 will be charged to property owners in the district based on their front footage.
The City Council voted 8-0 to approve a contract involving the Grand Island Police Department and Central Nebraska Humane Society. Recently, it has been switched so that the Police Department provides animal control officers. The Human Society then houses the animals and works to find temporary and permanent homes for them.
Spencer Schubert, communications manager for the City of Grand Island, said in the morning on Aug. 20 that under the contract, the Humane Society gets $300,000 for the first year plus $45 /per diem per animal brought to them by animal control officers. The city is “on the hook” for a maximum of 3 days per animal unless rabies observation which is maximum of10 days.
The Police Department will receive 2.5 animal control officer/ community service officer positions costing about $250,000 salary and benefits. Cost is not included for one extra vehicle a year, training, or equipment.
Greg Geis, Humane Society Board President, said the organization was spending too much of its assets on animal control officers.
City Council member Mark Stelk asked Police Chief Kevin Denney how the two organizations were working together. Denney responded that the two organizations have had monthly meetings.
Police officers have attended training at the Humane Society regarding animal control officer duties. The Police Department has hired a person who formerly was an animal control officer for the Humane Society. Denney was asked about what vehicles could be used to haul animals. Denney named several types of vehicles that could be used for hauling animals that had space in them for animal crates.
In another matter, the City Council discussed the transfer station for the City of Grand Island Solid Waste Division. The city took over operation of the facility in the early 1990s. A proposed facility would cost up to $9 million, financed by bonds.
In a memo to City Council, Chief Financial Officer Patrick Brown wrote that during “peak operations, vehicles queue onto Old Potash Highway, at times over one-fourth mile long, waiting their turn to enter into the facility.”
Gerald Poels of Grand Island said that the Transfer Station is open during work hours during the week, and people don’t go to the Transfer Station until Saturday. He said the Transfer Station is only open in the mornings on Saturday. He suggested that the Transfer Station also be open in the afternoon, and that would reduce the traffic to the location. The City Council voted 8-0 to authorize financing for the expansion.
