Alliance Community Redevelopment Authority discusses West 3rd project with Council

By Kalin Krohe
Panhandle Post

Alliance City Council met on Tuesday night, and the topics of discussion included an overview of recent activities of the Community Redevelopment Authority.

Chris Mischnick from the Alliance Community Redevelopment Authority speaks with Alliance City Council.

President of the Community Redevelopment Authority Chris Mischnick told council that one of the main goals they have been looking into is revitalizing the West 3rd street area when entering into Alliance.

“The CRA was trying to decide the new project. We did a lot of brain storming. We decided that the West 3rd street area was starting to look a little old and a little run down,” Mischnick said.

The next question from the CRA was how to get everyone on board with this new project, including businesses.

“We decided the best route to take would be for the CRA to undertake the expense on getting a plan made up. We hired M.C. Schaff and Associates to basically come up with the whole redevelopment plan for 3rd street from the highway to the underpass.”

About one month ago the CRA got a plan back from M.C. Schaff that everyone was happy with. The CRA is currently working on the funding side of things.

Councilman Earl Jones said, “Panhandle Public Health is currently conducting meetings to talk about walkability and bikeability in the community so you may try and get these plans forwarded to them to have a look at. They may be able to help you with some funding.”

Councilwoman Annora Bentley replied saying, “When I went to your CRA meeting I was very impressed with the plan that M.C. Schaff came up with. I hope we can figure out a way to make most of that work. It’s beautiful and I think it would really do a lot to enhance that western gateway.”

There are many highlights to the new CRA plan including landscaping.

“There’s also panels, which would be laser cut steel and plasma cut signs. We’re focusing on the historical aspect of Alliance where you’d get a locomotive, old planes, old pictures from the airbase that are cut into that steel and have it up on the side of the road. People when they go through would look at these different panels,” Mischnick said.

The sidewalks would also link up with the panels from the softball complex, restaurants, and hotels.

“The panels would kind of mask some of the areas that are not extremely seen,” Annora Bentley added.

Mischnick said the CRA is also working with the lighting aspect of the plan with the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

Tyler Trout was introduced as a new employee for the City of Alliance as an Electric Line Apprentice.

Other business before the council included:

A request from The Cardio Connection Fitness Center for a street closure of 5th street between Box Butte and Laramie Avenue’s alley. The closure would be for June 15 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a weight lifting competition.
A resolution that awards the Alliance Sanitary Sewer Relocation Project to K.L. Wood and Company of Alliance. The contract award is $90,969.25 and will resolve the issues with the construction of the new school track.
A resolution to approve an agreement with Alliance Public Schools to continue with the School Resource Officer program. The City and APS will jointly fund this program moving forward as grant funding is no longer available.
A resolution to authorize the use of $70,000 from the City Council’s Contingency Fund for use in the operation of the Golf Course. With the departure of the Golf Professional, the city had to take on additional responsibilities.