A Dearborn resident talked to the board of aldermen about the possibility of applying for grants to help the city.
Chris Shove, who owns a winery near town, talked with the board members during the monthly meeting held on Monday, Nov. 11.
CODY THORN/Citizen photo
Dearborn resident Chris Shove talks to the Dearborn board of aldermen during a meeting earlier this month. Shove suggested applying for grants, one which could include a new park.
Shove suggested the board apply for a community block development grant and a Platte County parks and recreation grant.
He said the CBDG could be used to help move forward with the sanitary sewer lines at Paradise Lake, a proposed development north of town that has seemingly been stuck in slow motion.
The CBDG grants are given out every month but Shove noted if a grant is not approved, a loan could be.
There was discussion since the Paradise Lake project already had money earmarked, but Shove noted since the work hasn’t started the city can still apply and put money — if received — toward that project.
A request for proposals for grants from parks and recreation is due on Jan. 5 and can be put toward any kind of park. The county has $285,000 they will award to various towns.
Shove suggested the city apply and consider making a wilderness camp/park on city property – 10.7 acres – south of town.
The property, he noted, could be like Weston Bend State Park in Weston. That park welcomes more than 11,000 campers a year and a majority are within an hour’s drive, Shove said.
“There is a market out there for that,” said Shove, who is a former dean at Missouri Western.
He noted the location has a natural spring that could attract people. Part of his idea is to request signage off the highway to promote the wilderness camp, the Switch Track Antique Mall, Dearborn Cafe and wine tasting.
Mayor Jamey Morey noted the location has access now through a gentleman’s agreement with the property owner nearby. Shove noted getting a legal document approved to grant access.
“I would feel comfortable if we purchased the land and asphalted it and made it nice to get up there,” Morey said. “Right now, I don’t think you will attract a whole bunch with the trash piles.”
Later in the meeting a discussion was held if the grant the city should apply for would be improving the city park.
Other notes
A lot of people at the meeting, board members and those in the crowd, voiced displeasure in absences of city attorney Dan Fowler, who had commitments in Kansas City on Veteran’s Day. Board member Steve Wilson was miffed that Fowler didn’t contact him over the Paradise Lake situation like Fowler said he would. The city is looking for ways to get sewer lines extended to the housing development but has run into issues with nearby property owners.
Aldermen Don Kerns brought up numerous issues around town from items at the park to the condition of street sign poles. “There are maintenance things around town,” he said. “Just seems like a certain amount of maintenance to keep up so the place doesn’t look run down.”
Christmas in Dearborn is Dec. 1 from noon to 4 p.m. Cookies with Santa is 1 to 3 p.m. and a soft opening is planned for the North Platte Museum and Cultural Arts Center at 210 Main at 5 to 7 p.m. Lu Durham, the oldest citizen in Dearborn, will be honored.
The board approved to renew its workers compensation membership. The fee was $150, while premium will be due in April 2019.
Morey talked about renumbering houses as some houses had multiple addresses, noting his neighbor’s address is in the 500 block but the home is actually in the 600 block. There were talks about the city zoning and mapping, providing an up-to-date map for city hall that was lost in the move to its current location.
The filing for two at-large board of aldermen spots opens on Dec. 11 and closes on Jan. 15.