SIDNEY — The 2021 Sidney Waterpark rates were established during the Sidney City Council Monday evening teleconference meeting.
City Council adopted the resolution Sidney Parks and Recreation Director Duane Gaier presented on the waterpark fees. The Sidney Waterpark did not open in 2020, but council approved some rate increases before the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the city pool from opening. SwimSafe Management will run pool operations this year, and some rates were adjusted due to the new contract with the company.
For 2021, the daily admission for preschool children is set at $4.50, up from $4 in 2019, and for adults, seniors and youth it will remain at $4.50. The individual-only season pass will cost $35, up from $34 in 2019. Replacement photo season passes will remain at $15. Training rentals will increase to $80 per hour, versus $15 per hour per guard as in the past. The two-hour pool rental will increase to $360, up from $300.
All active military personnel on leave who show proper identification will continue to be admitted for free.
Council also adopted four other resolutions Monday, and they are:
• To authorize City Manager Mark Cundiff to enter into a cost sharing agreement with the Board of Education (BOE) of the Sidney City Schools for the construction of crosswalk improvements at Campbell Road and the Sidney High and Emerson Elementary Schools.
Jon Crusey, public works director, said the school district reached out to city staff to discuss the possibility of installing a school crossing because of safety concerns for students crossing Campbell Road.
The BOE approved a cost sharing agreement at its Feb. 23, 2021, meeting. The terms of the agreement are for the school district to reimburse the city a third of the cost for constructing the school crossing. The school crossing will consist of a solar powered rectangular rapid flashing beacon, signage, striping, and walkway improvements at an estimated cost of $19,302.
The school district will pay approximately $6,434 and the city of Sidney will be responsible for $12,868.
Council members Jenny VanMatre, who had a family reach out to her, and Steve Wagner both thanked all those involved with making the school crossing happen. Crusey told VanMatre, the crosswalk had to be placed 150 away from any access point or street, when she asked why it couldn’t be closer for the elementary students.
At the end of the meeting, Wagner again thanked the school board and city for helping to make the area safer for kids. He said after being a 4th Ward representative and living in the 4th Ward for over 34 years, he has been waiting for a school crossing in front of the high and elementary schools for a long time.
• To authorize Cundiff to file an application for state capital improvement program funds and to enter into any contracts necessary to obtain said funds.
Eligible projects, Crusey said, are for improvements to roads, bridges, culverts, water supply systems, wastewater systems, storm water collection systems, and solid waste disposal facilities. Grants are available for up to 90% of the total project costs for repair/replacement and up to 50% for new/expansion.
• To authorize Cundiff to execute a contract with the Orange Township trustees for fire and EMS services in 2021. The Sidney Department of Fire and Emergency Services currently provides coverage for 15.6 squares miles of Orange Township. Upon the request of the Orange Township trustees, Fire Chief Chad Hollinger said, Sidney Fire will now provide an additional 6.6 square miles in the southwest corner of township EMS coverage.
• To waive assessment and collection fees for utility services totalling $2,149.02 at 614 East Ave., which is property owned by the Shelby County Land Reutilization Corporation (the Land Bank).
Council passed legislation in 2018 to waive fees for past due city utilities on a property owned by the Land Bank on a case-by-case basis upon review of the circumstances involved. The Land Bank intends to sell this property to a neighboring property owner for $2,000.
