BEATRICE – Each year, public works departments in Beatrice provide municipal services like electric and water service to city facilities, at no compensation.
The past budget year, those services totaled over $400,000… the lowest amount since 2009.

The amount spent by the electric department has declined for seven of the past eight years. Board of Public Works Manager Tobias Tempelmeyer says one major factor is the use of more efficient L-E-D street lights.
There was an increase in the cost of municipal services when it comes to the water department. The reason, involved the 3.4 million gallons of water used by a new splash pad this summer at Sertoma-Astro Park. That water is recycled for a secondary use...to irrigate the grass at the northeast Beatrice park.

Tempelmeyer said although 3.4 million gallons seems like a lot, the cost is less than $7,400….and the splash pad was a hit with families this summer, from a recreation perspective. In the coming budget year, plans are to install a restroom facility and make other improvements at Sertoma-Astro Park, located in east Beatrice.

Also at a Wednesday meeting, the Board of Public Works recommended city approval of an agreement with a consulting engineer, for design work on a permanent generator for a sewer lift station, located in flood-prone area.
The agreement is with JEO Consulting Group, at a cost of $18,000. The project involves lift station number five near 1st and Herbert Streets.

City Engineer James Burroughs says the project would involve elevating controls of the station and making sure the permanent generator is not threatened by flood water from the Big Blue River and Indian Creek.
The generator would be powered by natural gas…since there is a gas main located nearby. That means during flooding, a constant source of fuel will provide uninterrupted operation of the lift station.

The BPW received two bids for the design work and approved the lowest bid.