City budget discussion turns to Schroeder Park upgrades

    As the city of Imperial finalizes its 2021-22 budget, discussion of one expenditure came up at the council’s Aug. 16 meeting.
    At last week’s meeting, the county valuations were not out yet. Once they were released Aug. 20, the budget will be sent to the auditor, Clerk/Administrator Jo Leyland said.
    One of the topics that came up last week was the $500,000 plugged into the ‘21-22 city budget for capital improvements, which council member Doug Gaswick said might be spent on upgrades at the Schroeder Park ballfields.
    Gaswick, who is liaison to the city’s park board, called the board’s Aug. 9 meeting “controversial” during the discussion on Schroeder Park and the budgeted dollars.
    According to the Aug. 9 park board minutes, “There was significant discussion regarding public opinion and some park board members indicated they believe the city officials are giving a negative face to the project.”
    When asked at the Aug. 16 council meeting who that was directed toward, Leyland said she believed the city officials included her and Public Works Supt. Pat Davison.
    At this point, the park board continues to discuss direction on the field upgrades—whether to improve the parks at Schroeder or plan for an entire new complex that would include soccer fields.
    Estimates on a new complex range from $2 to $5 million.
    Davison said $500,000 in upgrades at Schroeder would replace the concession stand and restrooms, as well as put in new lights on the south field.
    Leyland reminded the council that two to three years ago, Davison had put money in the park budget for new fencing, but park board members wanted to look at more long-term plans, she said.
    Davison noted the street work planned this fall includes a new sidewalk along Holland Street bordering Schroeder Park, as well as handicap-accessible parking spaces.
    No change in the budget’s $500,000 was directed. There was little support offered when Gaswick said he’d “throw out” $1 million for the expenditure versus $500,000.
    It’s expected the council will hold its budget hearing at the  Tuesday, Sept. 7 meeting.
    The budget must be filed with the state by Sept. 20.
Subordination agreement
sent back to committees
    A subordination agreement with Waypoint Bank will be sent to the city’s Loan Review Committee and Citizens Advisory Committee for review.
    The agreement was first considered at the council’s Aug. 2 meeting, but was tabled then on a 4-0 vote. It was back on the agenda last week.
    Waypoint Bank is refinancing a note for Gigabit, which is moving its loan funds from another bank. Because the city is the second lien holder, the agreement came before the council.
    Gigabit received a $700,000 no-interest loan from LB 840 Imperial city sales tax funds and has received all of those funds. Both the city’s Loan Review Committee and Citizens Advisory Committee originally recommended the $700,000 loan to the council in July 2019.
    The council then approved the loan in August 2019.
    An issue brought up at the Aug. 2 council meeting was free internet and phone service to the city as a loan condition. That service is not being received without charge, according to Leyland.
    Minutes of the July 15, 2019 Loan Review Committee meeting, when the loan was recommended, state as a loan condition that “Gibagit will provide local phone service and internet service to the city offices, Imperial Theatre and city shop at no charge for the life of the loan. This includes 11 phone lines and internet service to three locations.”
    Leyland said at the Aug. 2 meeting she’s been told the city is getting the service at a 50% discount.
    At last week’s meeting, City Attorney Josh Wendell again discussed the agreement’s paragraph 2 section dealing with collection and loan foreclosure. He said it “was a little better” than the original document provided at the Aug. 2 meeting, when he expressed some concern on how it was written.
    Wendell said he couldn’t say it was wrong to send the subordination agreement back to the LRC and CAC. Jan Elliott, a CAC member at the meeting, said the city has made some poor decisions in the past. Council member Chad Yaw added, “I’m a little gun-shy after the Scott’s Pump deal.”