Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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The Village of Clearwater received good news Thursday. Nebraska Department of Economic Development notified officials it will be the recipient of a Community Development Block Grant to spearhead downtown revitalization planning. Up to $53,000 will be awarded, with a $5,000 commitment from the village. Five Rule Rural Planning, of Kearney, will work with community members and village officials to complete the plan. Phase one of the project is expected to take place this month during an...
In 2024, NASA will send a small surgical robot from Nebraska to the International Space Station. The tiny, two-pound robot will be able to perform surgeries on the space station that would normally require a surgeon’s expertise and much larger equipment. The surgical robot can operate more or less on its own, performing complex procedures at the flip of a switch. The device, developed by Nebraska-based Virtual Incision, is a significant step toward making it possible for surgeons to operate r...
A program incentivizing microentrepreneurship, by encouraging business investment, is seeing renewed interest after updates made last year. Established in 2005, the Nebraska Advantage Microenterprise Tax Credit experienced strong usage from 2008 to 2014 but saw a decline to only 75 applicants in 2019 and 81 in 2020. These dwindling participation rates encouraged a small group of senators to propose canceling the program. Understanding its value to rural communities, the Center for Rural Affairs...
Nebraska is a land of pioneers. Our state was settled by hardy homesteaders who ventured across windswept prairies in search of opportunity. While we often celebrate the grit and determination of these early Nebraskans, they deserve equal credit for their ingenuity. Their inventiveness helped transform the Great Plains into some of the most productive agricultural land in the world. This spirit of innovation remains a driving force behind our state's global leadership in agriculture. Nebraskans...
The Village of Ewing will receive $431,640 from the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund, for construction of a two-unit duplex. The award was announced Wednesday by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. A total of 40 projects will receive funding statewide. In April, the Ewing village trustees reviewed guidelines with Judy Petersen, executive director of the Central Nebraska Economic Development District. At that time, Petersen said the village will provide a $100,000 match. The...
REGULAR PROCEEDINGS Village of Clearwater BOARD OF TRUSTEES August 8, 2022 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met in regular session Monday, August 8, at 8 p.m., in the fire hall meeting room. Meeting opened at 8:01 p.m. Notice of meeting was given in advance by publication in Summerland Advocate-Messenger and notice was given to board members prior to meeting. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster. Present: Kevin Filsinger, Steve Hankla, Kelly Kerkman, Jeff Schlecht. Others present: Kate Ahlers, Kyle...
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON AN APPLICATION FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Aug. 24, 2022, in the Ewing Village board room, the Village of Ewing will hold a public hearing concerning an application to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development for a Community Development Block Grant.This grant is available to local governments for community/ economic development activities. The Village of Ewing is requesting $433,000 for the Village of Ewing, Holt County, Nebraska, to implement the addition...
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON AN APPLICATION FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Aug. 24, 2022, in the Ewing Village board room, the Village of Ewing will hold a public hearing concerning an application to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development for a Community Development Block Grant.This grant is available to local governments for community/ economic development activities. The Village of Ewing is requesting $433,000 for the Village of Ewing, Holt County, Nebraska, to implement the addition...
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PLANNING GRANT VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER The Village of Clearwater is applying for planning funds through the Community Development Block Grant Program from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and is seeking request for proposals from experienced and well-qualified planning firms to provide professional services for an evaluation of the village. A qualified professional planning firm shall be a professional firm that has experience in projects of similar scope and size as described in the scope of services...
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER The Village of Clearwater is applying for a Downtown Revitalization grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Proposals will not be considered if the intended services your firm wishes to provide are not clearly expressed. Contingent upon notice of grant award, the selected firm will create a Downtown Revitalization Plan for Clearwater to develop realistic short-term and long-term goals and objectives. The plan will provide Clearwater the guidance to create a revitalized downtown...
The public hearing on LB 1023 was held Thursday, Feb. 10 before the Natural Resources Committee. It reflects the work of the Statewide Tourism and Recreational Water Access and Resource Sustainability Special Committee and proposes to adopt the Lake Development Act and the Water Recreation Enhancement Act. I was appointed to serve on the STAR WARS Committee, stemming from the passage of LB 406, last year. In addition to recommendations to construct a 3,600-acre lake in or near Sarpy County and...
For Nebraska’s small business owners, the past two years have been anything but easy. From forced closures to supply chain disruptions, entrepreneurs are seeing a new challenge at every turn. The Nebraska Legislature will have an opportunity to provide some much needed stability with two bills scheduled to appear in front of the Appropriations Committee in February. Legislative Bill 1090, introduced by Sen. Myron Dorn, would allow lawmakers to increase funding for the Business Innovation A...
The Village of Clearwater will receive $221,000 from the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund to develop a housing project. Notification was received Sept. 9, from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Approximately $12.8 million in awards will be presented in the 2021 cycle. CORE Development, Inc., will receive $315,000 in funds. Clearwater's application, for construction of a duplex, was submitted in April. The CORE project will be used for owner-occupied rehabilitation of 12...
The Village of Clearwater will receive $221,000 from the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund to develop a housing project. Notification was received Thursday from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Approximately $12.8 million in awards will be presented in the 2021 cycle. CORE Development, Inc., will receive $315,000 in funds. According to the DED, "The NAHTF was established in 1996 as a financial resource to help communities tackle local housing needs. The presence of quality...
PROCEEDINGS VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER BOARD OF TRUSTEES August 9, 2021 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met in regularsession Monday, Aug. 9, at 7:30 p.m., in the fire hall meeting room. Meeting opened at 7:30 p.m. Notice of meeting was given in advance by publication in Summerland Advocate- Messenger and notice was given to board members prior to meeting. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster. Present: Kelly Kerkman, Steve Hankla, Steve Stearns, Kevin Filsinger, Mike Klabenes. Others present: Lauren...
Small business development is important in rural areas of our nation, where access to employment opportunities are limited and where jobs pay less. Microbusinesses (businesses with 10 or fewer employees) provide all or most of the income for many rural households. In our home state of Nebraska, self-employment provides up to 90% of all jobs in most rural counties. For others, it is part of a patching strategy to make ends meet. However, access to capital is a challenge for many rural business...
The speaker of the Legislature has announced that senators will complete their work a few days early, adjourning sine die on May 27 rather than June 10. This is partially due to the many late nights that were worked in order to complete our business and knowing we will be meeting again in a couple months. Every 10 years, the Legislature must complete the redistricting process to reflect population changes after the U.S. Census is complete. Due to the pandemic, states didn’t get the census d...
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met in regular session, Monday, April 12, at 7 p.m., in the fire hall meeting room. Meeting opened at 7:02 p.m. Notice of meeting was given in advance by publication in Summerland Advocate-Messenger and notice was given to council persons prior to meeting. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster. Present: Kevin Filsinger, Steve Stearns, Kelly Kerkman, Mike Klabenes, Steve Hankla. Others present: Lauren Sheridan-Simonson, Kate Ahlers, LuAnn Schindler, Sheriff Bob Moore,...
The Appropriations Committee advanced their finalized recommendations for the Fiscal Year 2021-22 and 2022-23 biennial budget to the full Legislature. First-round debate took place this past week and all bills were advanced unanimously except LB383, dealing with capital construction. Under the $9.7 billion biennial budget proposal, the two-year average estimated revenue growth is 3.0%, whereas the two-year average growth in spending is just 1.6%. The committee was able to control the growth of spending due to a higher federal match for...
Clearwater Village Board of Trustees reviewed results of a recent housing survey during the board's March 8 meeting. According to Clearwater Economic Development Director Lauren Sheridan-Simonsen, survey results identify the need for affordable housing as a priority for the village. "The housing shortage has been identified as a priorty for the ED office," she said. The survey evaluated current housing quality, while identifying needs. Included in the results is public comment about housing stoc...
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS GENERAL ADMINISTRATOR VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER The Village of Clearwater, hereinafter referred to as village, is applying for Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Funds from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. The village is contemplating the awarding of a contract for certain technical and professional services for the administration of its project. Therefore, this is a request for proposals from your firm, if interested, in performing these technical and professional services. The selected administrator will...
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS HOUSING MANAGEMENT VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER The Village of Clearwater, hereinafter referred to as the village, is applying for Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Funds from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development for the construction of a duplex for persons 60 and older. The village is contemplating the awarding of a contract for certain technical and professional services for housing management of its project. Therefore, this is a request for an expression of interest and statement of qualifications from your firm,...
PROCEEDINGS VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER BOARD OF TRUSTEES DECEMBER 2020 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met in regular session Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, at 7 p.m., in the Fire Hall meeting room. Regular meeting was opened at 7:02 p.m. Notice of meeting was given in advance by publication in Summerland Advocate-Messenger and notice was given to chairman and village board members prior to meeting. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster. Present: Jay Snider, Kevin Filsinger, Steve Stearns and Paul Horman. Absent:...
While the apprenticeship model has been instrumental for decades, the current system applies to more than the typical occupations that often come to mind - plumbers, electricians and linemen, among others. Apprenticeships have greatly expanded in the last decade to include more non-traditional occupations in areas that include healthcare, information technology (IT), advanced manufacturing, and engineering. The United States Department of Labor currently has 1,349 approved occupations that...
The Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts released results of Holt County’s annual audit late last month. The report covers July 2019 through June 2020 and includes numerous areas of concern for internal control that were listed in a letter sent to the county board of supervisors Sept. 25. The report is a matter of public record and is posted on the APA’s website. Deann Haeffner, APA assistant deputy auditor, noted in the letter that the report is “critical in nature” as it addresses areas noted for improvement and does not include observa...
