City Council Discusses Disaster Response

The O'Neill City Council met on Monday, Nov. 4 for it's regular meeting with all council members present.

The council took action in taking care of making a resolution for a year end certification of City Street Superintendant Greg Walters and renewing the agreement with Olsson and Associates for their services. The company does a majority of the engineering for the city regarding city water and/or paving projects.

The council moved two biding projects to the front of the agenda for city department supervisors to look at before letting the council approve the bids. Water superintendent Jason Baker reviewed the bids on a new pickup for the water department. The bids were from Courtesy Ford of Norfolk and WM. Krotter CO. of O'Neill. After some deliberation by Baker he chose to go with the cheaper bid presented by Courtesy Ford of Norfolk.

The other bid was for the construction of a garage for the police department building. The lone bid was from Sobotka Construction of Page which came in at $136,000.

The council then discussed the city's response in regards to the explosion of the St. Patrick's Parish center. City Emergency Manager Terri Krysl gave a report to the council.

Krysl reported that the explosion was answered by the O'Neill Fire Department and the O'Neill Police Department. The O'Neill Fire Department asked for mutual aide with Atkinson, Ewing and Chambers Fire Departments responding. The number of responders to the scene was 72 personnel with 34 pieces of equipment on scene. The O'Neill Police Department had eight personnel on scene. The Holt County Sheriff's Department as well as the Nebraska State Patrol had several officers on scene. The Holt County Emergency Manager was on scene as well. The O'Neill Water Department as well as the Street Department responded to help with any potential water issues as well as the street department to assist in setting up a perimeter for safety.

City administrative staff helped in opening up the community center and with the transition of the hospital to the community center.

"The scene went well and there were some room for improvements but the incident was handled well by the city," said Krysl.

The council approved the bills before adjourning for the evening.

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