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Surveys
reveal issues with vacant lots
CAMBRIDGE – Candy Kuntz, grant administrator
at Miller & Associates presented the grant application for
an owner occupied housing rehab program the City is applying
for in the amount of $209,500 on Tuesday night at the City Council
meeting.
Kuntz said the community attitude/needs assessment
survey showed that Cambridge has a great need and interest for
funding for a housing rehab program. The City distributed 448
community attitude/needs assessment surveys and received 129
back. The surveys reported 98 residents felt that the selection
and availability of clothing and sundries was poor and 116 felt
that the selection of hardware and lumber was poor.
Almost half
found the condition of the streets in poor condition, and 72
found that vacant lots in the community were not kept mowed and
free of rubbish. 78 felt that local job opportunities were poor.
The majority of people felt that there is not enough suitable
single family homes for sale in the area, not enough suitable
multi-family dwellings for sale in the area, not enough single
family homes for rent in the area, and not enough multi-family
for rent in the area.
87 found problems with substandard and
dilapidated homes in the community. The top two employment related
needs in Cambridge were summarized into the City needs to attract
more businesses and industry to create good paying jobs with
benefits, also need more jobs for entry level or untrained workers
such as teenagers and young adults.
Cambridge needs better housing
choices, both affordable to buy and decent rentals for new residents
to live in when they first come to town and the City needs more
retail stores (clothing) especially downtown; not just services.
The City can best address these needs by market and advertise
to the right type of businesses, possibly provide incentives
and focus on making existing housing stock better instead of
new developments.
The top two largest community betterment needs
were clean up vacant lots and dilapidated homes and hold landlords
accountable for substandard properties. The City needs better
streets/sidewalks and downtown improvements, all City streets
should be paved. The best way to solve or meet those needs is
to provide rehabilitation or demolition services and get rid
of abandoned homes and offer lots to people and seek grants and
utilize financing mechanisms such as TIF strategically.
The grant
money will provide funding in either grant, loan, or combination
grant/loan to individuals who make 80% of the area’s median
income. Mayor Harpst said that residents in the south part of
town will be given priority with these funds since they have
not been able to participate in previous programs since they
were in the flood plain. Cambridge will compete with all the
communities in the State for this funding. Work could begin on
selected homes in November or December. Council approved the
necessary resolutions, procedures, and policies for the program.
Council also approved Miller & Associates for the general
administrator of the grant, Community Development Services for
the Housing Administrator and for the lead based paint testing.
Mower bids tabled Airport Authority Board Member
Eric Eisenhart told the Council that the airport could use the
mower at the airport to mow they wanted to make that decision.
Bids for the mower were
received from Luella Trumble for $1,100, Wayne Hansen for
$712.50 and Bill Mousel for $429.29. No one could be present
from the Cemetery Board so Council tabled the bids until the
Cemetery Board could review the bids and make a decision.
Condemned Property
City Attorney Tom Patterson said that Holdcroft will have
his sentencing on August 30 for his condemned property. He
is also continuing work on the house on Nasby Street, but has
had several legal issues to work out.
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant
Candy Kuntz said she is reviewing the procurement
procedures for the energy efficiency and conservation block
grant that Cambridge received for the City building, Senior
Center, Library, and Hospital. She said that contracts need
signed and sent back in by August 9 and no funds will be
allocated until the contracts are sent in.
Ethanol Plant receives funding
Brian Treborg, Chief Financial officer for Nebraska Corn
Processing informed the Council that the plant received a
maximum of $12 million of available tax-exempt bonds.
Treborg said the program was designed to allow businesses the
ability to utilitze tax-exempt funding to make improvements.
Treborg said the plant will be making improvements to make
the plant run better, and will be adding additional grain storage
to provide more options for farmers especially during harvest
time. Work will begin on the grain storage this year. They will
also be using the funds to upgrade equipment to maximize the
plant. The plant has had some equipment issues and power
interruptions but they are working with the City to rectify that
issue. Treborg said these other projects will provide more
value to the corn.
Electric rate study
City Electrical engineer Ken Fairchild is working on the
electric rate study. Fairchild and city representatives met with
Nebraska Corn Processing owner Cliff Meeuwsen to discuss
power issues. Fairchild is working on the rates and will meet
again to review the study on July 28 at 6:30 p.m. Treborg
later stated in public comment that Nebraska Corn Processing
is very concerned about the electric rate increases as electricity
is one of their top expenses and they would like the rate to
be comparable to what other plants in the state have to pay.
Treborg said it is a unique situation for Cambridge as the plant
is the City’s only industrial user.
Clerk report
Kandra Kinne said they are working on collecting accounts
and having some success with that. Line loss for electricity
was 3.43% and water was 18.7%. Kinne received notice from
attorney Paul Wood that Phyllis Smith named the City as a
contingency in her will. Kinne presented the treasurer’s
report
with $2,032,413.12 in cash and $974,453.50 in investments.
Council approved declaring a 1990 pickup surplus and selling
it through sealed bids.
Site plan and land use permits were approved for Kenneth
Lewis a metal roof, Pinpoint Communications for a sign, Steve
and Eileen Johnson for shingling, Ron Streit for shingling,
Mary Lou Imparato for shingling and repair water damage,
Carolyn O’Brien for shingling, John Johnson for shingling,
and John Ekberg for re-roof and paint garage.
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