Blackmon joins Council

by Nathan Arneal
published 9/09/09

Tim Blackmon was sworn in as North Bend’s newest councilman at the end of the Sept. 1 City Council meeting.

Blackmon fills the vacancy created when Jeff Kluthe assumed the mayorship of the city last month. Blackmon was also appointed chairman of North Bend’s water and sewer department.

Kevin Ferguson was elected Council president.

In other Council business:
• Ron Sadler with Exact RTK attended the meeting to answer the Council’s question about his company’s proposal to place a small antenna on the city’s water plant.
The antenna would be part of a global positioning network in eastern Nebraska for use by farmers in the fields. An Internet connection would have to be installed at the water plant for the system to use. Sadler said his company would pay the Internet bill both at the water plant and at city hall in return for permission to erect the antenna on the water plant. Sadler also said the city would be given a yearly scholarship to cover the cost of one subscription to the service, which would be worth between $1,000 and $1,200. The city could give out the free subscription however it sees fit.
The Council agreed to the plan and the antenna should be up within a week.
• Henry Rahlfs, Sr. attended the meeting to discuss the city’s required setbacks for fences.
Currently the city requires a fence to be set back 65 feet from the middle of the street or at least as far back as the front of the house, whichever is closer to the street. Rahlfs wants to build a chain link fence closer to the street than permitted.
Mayor Jeff Kluthe said he agrees that the setbacks are too far and said the Council will look into changing the ordinance.
• The Council reviewed a proposal from Sawyer Construction to remove, repair and reinstall portions of the North Bend’s brick streets.
• The Council reviewed a letter sent out to 41 residents of the east side of town asking them to trim tree branches hanging over the street. A list of houses on the west side of town requiring the same letter is being compiled.
• A meeting of the Council and City Planning Commission to discuss North Bend’s comprehensive plan and zoning is set for 6 p.m. Sept. 30 at the auditorium. The public is welcome to attend..

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