Imperial awarded grant to develop ‘city square’ site
Developing the block that includes the city offices and Lied Imperial Public Library has been a goal of city officials for a number of years.
Now, with a matching $14,000 planning grant received from the state, city officials are moving forward with development of “city square” between 7th and 8th Streets off Broadway.
At this point, city officials would like to repave the entire parking area between the city offices and library with concrete, as well as add shade structures and a small stage.
But, other ideas are being sought for the city-owned block of property.
Community Development Director Tyler Pribbeno said an important part of moving forward with the project is input from residents.
“I can’t undersell how important it is for people to come out and let us know what they want for that space for those who come to our town and those who live here,” he said.
City officials want to see the space used more, he said.
There will be public input community meetings and an online survey for residents to express those thoughts, he said.
One of the biggest events held at city square now is the Chamber’s Smokin’ on Broadway in June. It’s also been the site for mobile pantry drive-throughs.
Previous cost estimates for the new concrete, shade structures and stage, when the development was looked at before, was more than $600,000.
Other ideas for the block include a flower garden and seating areas where people could enjoy lunch.
But they want other suggestions from residents, he added.
“If the community has ideas, we definitely want to hear them. We want things there the community will get behind,” he said.
The first public input meeting will likely be in June or July, with the online survey available in July and August, he said.
Miller & Associates, the city’s engineer, will then develop conceptual drawings after input is received, which will be shown at a second community meeting in September or October.
December would be the goal for final drawings to be completed. After possible tweaking, they would be submitted in early 2022 with the construction grant application.
Local dollar match
Nebraska’s Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF) is the source for these grant funds, Pribbeno said, and administered through the NE Department of Economic Development.
Money accumulates in the CCCFF from fees charged at some of the state’s largest event centers in Omaha, Lincoln and Ralston, including the CHI Health Center in Omaha and Lincoln’s Pinnacle Bank Arena.
The $14,000 grant award from CCCFF must be matched with $14,000 locally.
Pribbeno said the local match dollars were not budgeted this year. There is the possibility of using sales tax dollars for that match, he said.
Once the planning process is done and conceptual drawings completed, he expects it to come before the council for approval, possibly in January 2022.
Then, the city will apply for the construction grant from the CCCFF for the actual work. If that is awarded, matching local dollars will also be required, he said.
At this time, Pribbeno said it’s unknown what the grant maximum for cities Imperial’s size would be for the actual project. In the past, Imperial could apply for as much as a $375,000 construction grant.
However, due to COVID-19, there were fewer events at the state’s large event centers the past year. That means less dollars in the fund and why only CCCFF planning grants are being awarded in 2021, Pribbeno said.
Development ideas for city square started when Jason Tuller was Community Development Director here.
There was a grant application made for the actual project then, but the city was denied. State officials cited the lack of community input and prior planning.
Pribbeno believes having the community meetings and survey this time around will help get the grant for the actual work.
At its meeting Monday night, the city council will discuss the agreement with the state on receiving the CCCFF planning grant.