Nebraska City officials are giving some juice to a program promoting the use of electric vehicles throughout the state.
On Monday night, the Nebraska City City Council approved the purchase and installation of a charging station, and the leasing of a Nissan Leaf electric vehicle. Nebraska City Administrator Joe Johnson tells KMA News the program is made possible through funding from the Nebraska Community Electronic Alliance and the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund. Johnson says the program is part of an effort by nine communities to spur the use of electric-powered vehicles.
“Annually, we’ll go back and apply for different sources of grant funding,” said Johnson, “to continue to promote and pursue the availability of charging stations across the state of Nebraska, to safely allow a person to drive an electric vehicle across the state.”
In other business, the council authorized Johnson to draft a letter requesting a specific design of panels and pedestrian sidewalks for the Highway 2-Highway 75 bypass bridge. He says the city wants the bridge to blend in with the surroundings.
“We’re requesting that special consideration be given to the construction material that’s used for that interchange,” he said. “What we don’t want to see is a concrete jungle or a concrete structure out there. We want something that blends in with the esthetics of the community, and promotes us as being the home of Arbor Day, and a structure that resembles that.”
Council members also approved an engineering agreement with JEO Consulting Firm of Omaha for improvements at Nuckolls Square Park, designed to make the park handicapped accessible. The project includes installing handicapped-accessible approaches, and removing and replacing curbs and gutters in the square, as well deteriorating sidewalks.
In other action Monday night, the council…
—approved the final plat for three acres in the North Industrial Park.
—approved the location and size for the St. Mary’s Hospital sign on South 11th Street and Grunman Boulevard.
—approved a request from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to hold a Family Trout Fishing Night at Steinhart Park Pond October 28th from 4:30-to-6:30 p.m.
—rejected an offer of $30,000 to purchase two lots in the Deer Trail Subdivision. The council approved the counter offer of $54,415 for both lots, and to take the counter proposal back to the interested purchaser.
—approved City Building Inspector Alan Viox’s request to declare structures located at 411 1st Corso as unsafe for human occupancy, and directed him to notify the owner to repair or demolish the nuisance structures, and authorize staff to advertise for bids to demolish the structures.
—approved a request to close 11th Street between 1st Corso and Central Avenue October 11th at 10 a.m. for unveiling and rededication of the Otoe County War Memorial.
The council also appointed Chuck Stoner, Jolene Block, Scooter Edmisten, Dan Giittinger, Tim Pendrell, Street Commissioner Leroy Frana, Stephanie Shrader and Dan Swanson to the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. The committee holds a public hearing on the plan Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at the Rowe Public Safety Center.
source: http://www.kmaland.com/news/nebraska-city-council-powers-electric-car-program/article_bee22a1c-4e20-11e4-b3ad-0017a43b2370.html
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