(City of Grand Island, Courtesy)
GRAND ISLAND – Grand Island’s City Council approved on Oct. 28 awarding a bid for $13,196,820 for improvements to Island Oasis Water Park.
The city received two bids for the project, according to a memo to the City Council from Todd McCoy, Parks and Recreation Director.
The low bid was submitted by Scheele-Kayton Construction of Lincoln.
Food and Beverage funds will be used to fund the project, McCoy wrote.
Renovations include separation of the wave pool from other water spaces, improvement of the lazy river, new youth play structures, added spray areas for toddlers, renovated restrooms and staff areas, a new splash pad that can operate independently from the pool, more seating and shade, and an all-new miniature golf course, McCoy wrote.
In another matter, the City Council approved a new golf management contract for JackRabbit Run Golf Course. Landscape Unlimited is completing its five-year agreement with the city which was signed in November 2020.
The city sent out a request for proposals and only received one proposal, according to a memo to the City Council from Todd McCoy.
Landscape Unlimited would like to manage JackRabbit Run Golf Course for another five years. According to the contract, the base management fee will be $6,955 per month. The fee will increase by 3 percent per year.
The City Council also approved a Heartland Public Shooting Park Capital Project for Hornady Manufacturing reimbursement. The City Council previously approved having Hornady Manufacturing operate Heartland Public Shooting Park.
Four capital projects were approved for this year: completion of a new sporting clay loop ($97,000), drainage solution for trap and skeet field ($47,000), FY2025 capital improvement rollover ($161,924), and storage building rehabilitation ($390,000), according to a memo from Todd McCoy to the City Council.
The four capital projects total $695,924, McCoy wrote.
The City Council approved a funding request from VenuWorks to operate the Heartland Events Center. For FY2026, VenuWorks is requesting $200,000 per the contractual agreement.
On Oct. 8, 2024, the City Council approved the Heartland Events Center management contract with VenuWorks. It is a five-year contract. The city provided $500,000 for funding operations in FY2025.
What was approved was funding $200,000 immediately with 10 additional monthly payments of $30,000 for a total of $500,000 for FY2026, being paid out of the Hotel Occupation Tax account, according to a memo to the City Council from City Administrator Patrick Brown.
In another matter the City Council approved increasing the annual compensation for City Council members. The current compensation is $7,800 per year, payable monthly. City administration recommended increasing the compensation to $10,390, plus a 3 percent cost of living adjustment. Human Resources Director Aaron Schmid wrote in a memo to the City Council that as part of a 2025 wage survey, City Council compensation was compared to similar municipalities. The survey results indicate that the midpoint compensation level should be adjusted to $10,390 annually. With the cost of living adjustment, the recommended compensation is $10,701 annually.
“Because elected officials are typically reticent to address their own pay on a routine basis, but the City needs to provide adequate review of their compensation to ensure interested citizens are willing and financially able to serve the public,” Schmid wrote.
