A Minute with Lyons Mayor Andy Fuston

February 26, 2016 Leave a comment


The Lyons city council meeting was held two weeks late this month due to the snow storm we had at the beginning of the month. It practically took that long for me to dig out of my driveway with all the snow we had! I can’t praise the city crew enough on the outstanding job they did keeping and getting the streets cleared during that storm. They put in a couple of really long days to allow the public the ability to get out and about after the storm. When you have that much snow it makes it hard on everyone. The city’s main objective is to get the streets cleared in those situations. I know there were concerns about being able to get to mailboxes due to the excessive amount of snow but unfortunately the city crew’s focus is again on street clearing. Homeowners are responsible for clearing out in front of their mailboxes and their driveway entrances. It is just the way it has to be in these situations. So again, I want to shout out a big thank you to the street crew for taking such good care of our community.

February was a busy month but it always is. Thoughts begin to turn to warmer days and all the items that need to be accomplished in the coming year. We had a nice discussion regarding the one and six year plan for street improvement during the public hearing. We have some streets around town that need some TLC but like everything else finding the money to do it can be daunting. There are no grants available for fixing streets unfortunately! We will continue to chip away at the fixing areas of concern. Some will require more financial support from property owners than other areas but we will work together to make appropriate improvements. The council continues to have preliminary conversations regarding adding solar power to our electrical output. We are at a point where we need feedback from the community to see if you feel it is something you feel will be beneficial. In the next couple of months, a short survey will be coming your way regarding solar energy that we would like you to take some time to tell us what you think. The idea of utilizing some solar power to supplement the purchase of electrical power through a community solar garden is intriguing to me but ultimately the decision to move forward will be based on community need, desire, project cost and site placement. The council gave approval to add a couple more horseshoe pits down at Brink Park after working through some space issues. Hopefully the horseshoe league continues to grow and become even more popular and bring people down to the park for entertainment. The recycling baler has been repaired and a couple of light plant pumps are being replaced. We continue to talk to the company that built and installed the water tower. We have some long-term maintenance issues with the tank that we need to get cleared up to the council’s satisfaction. A representative from the company will be at our next council meeting to talk about them. We are currently advertising for pool managers and lifeguards for the upcoming pool season. Please get your applications in soon so we can plan accordingly. We also continue the waiting game on the street lighting grant we applied for last fall. At this point in the game we have to say that no news is good news but it sure is tough waiting for the phone to ring. Again, if we receiving the grant, it will fund the majority of the lighting project we would like to do on Main Street. I know I say it often but keep your fingers crossed!

Lastly, we received our financial report from the city auditor. It is always fascinating to me to see the breakdown of where our money comes from and where it all goes. The city has two components to it generation and disbursement system; the first is the governmental (or general) side and the other is the proprietary (or utility) side. The general side is where all our tax dollars go and out of that account we pay for the expenses of the community center, police, streets, recycling, landfill, parks, pool and library. The utility side pays for everything utility related.   Due to pool and community center capital costs, we had to transfer money from the utility fund to cover on-going expenses as we waited for our grant and tax money to come in. Thank goodness we have the ability to do that to help us cash flow these kinds of big money projects. Once we get the money owed to us we transfer the money back to the utility fund and make it all right with the world. I can tell your life isn’t getting any less expensive but we continue to be good stewards of our tax and utility dollars.

Lastly, I just wanted to mention that you have to the 1st of March to sign-up to run for public office.   So if you have a desire to run, please do so. Every two years you have the opportunity to help shape the future of your city government. This election year is no exception. The Lyons city government needs more good people to lead it into the future! Don’t be afraid to take the leap. It is very rewarding so sign-up today. Enjoy the warming weather! Take care and talk to you soon.

Mayor Andy Fuston

Mayor Andy Fuston

 

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A Minute with Lyons Mayor Andy Fuston

July 29, 2015 Leave a comment


Happy Hot July everyone! I hope everyone is staying as cool as possible. I know if you’ve been going to the pool, you’ve been able to do that. It has been a great first season. Attendance is up and the smiles are large. I know there have been some hiccups this season but we are working through those. We expected some growing pains with all the new things to do down there. We have been working on being consistent with rules and regulations that are posted. We are figuring out the best practice with the life guard stands; balancing swimmer and life guard safety. It is all feedback we appreciate because we hadn’t been through it yet with this pool. The season is winding down and as we get closer to school starting our pool hours are going to be more limited. Lifeguards are also going back to school and their availability will dictate how long and how often the pool will remain open the last two weeks of August.   Any changes to the schedule will be posted at the pool.

The community center is, for all intensive purpose, completed. We continue to wait on the exterior signage to be installed. The council will be setting an open house/dedication date. The council approved another building permit to Three Rivers Housing Development Corp for a new ranch house with a basement at the corner of 5th and Pearl. Three Rivers has been a fantastic community partner and we look forward to this property being developed along with future projects they are involved with. We also have a new house being built on the north side of town. People are investing in Lyons. It is good for our school system and good for the community. We continue to have issues with vehicles driving faster than the posted speed limit, especially on Diamond Street and Main Street. Main Street, particularly as you are coming into town from the west, is even a bigger concern now that we have the pool open and lots of kids out and about in that area. The council is looking at different options because the speed limit signs aren’t working very well. We are looking at possibly putting in speed bumps, writing more tickets for speeding or adding additional signage/signaling to those areas. We would prefer people just slow down and then we wouldn’t have to do any of these things but until that happens, we will need to do something.

It sounds like progress is being made on the byway outdoor theater art project on Main Street.   It will really be a neat way to bring the community together for some fun. We have received all the information needed to submit our grant proposal for the Main Street lighting project. This is another big grant that if awarded, will allow us to improve and upgrade a much needed infrastructure issue. The railroad crossing on Main St. has also been upgraded. It makes going over the tracks there so much nicer. It is usually the little things that make the biggest difference in quality life and that certainly is one of those areas that you don’t really notice when it is nice but really notice with it’s not. Finally, I just have to say, as I do every year, how great the 4th of July was. The weather was great. All of the events were fun and the fireworks were absolutely terrific! I tend to forget the fire and rescue departments when thanking everyone involved with making the day a great one right before the fireworks show begins. Chalk it off to nerves and not writing down all I need to say I guess! That doesn’t mean however that all of their hard work isn’t appreciated. I am always so proud of our community when that first fireworks explosion lightens up the dark sky. To think our display rivals any other community around just make me proud to live in Lyons. That couldn’t pride wouldn’t be there if it weren’t for other volunteers who take the time to set them up and shoot them off. My hat is always off to Lyons Community Club and the Lyons Volunteer Fire Department for carrying the torch, year after year, for making the July 4th celebration one of Lyons’ crowning jewels. That’s all I got for now. Enjoy the rest of the summer. School is coming parents so hand in there! Stay cool and we’ll talk to you soon.

 

 

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A Minute With the Mayor

February 3, 2015 Leave a comment


Happy 2015! Hope the New Year has started off well for you. Hard to believe Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Although the calendar seems to be going by rather quickly, the winter months are usually the slower part of the year for things going on with the city. That means there hasn’t been a whole lot to update you on lately. But because it has been a while since we last spoke, I thought I could bring you up to speed on a couple of things.

The community center is taking shape. We finally have something that you can see from the outside. What do you think of those big, beautiful windows on the east side of the building! You can also see what the front of the building windows are going to look like with the windows to the west of the main entrance. It really gives the community center a modern feel; from the inside and outside. The rest is moving a little slow but progress is being made. The big steel beam is in place where the interior divider wall once stood. It will support the new retractable partition wall that will be installed. The old concrete floor in the fire hall was removed and with new poured level. The new bathrooms and coat room are framed and ready for drywall. The new heating and cooling systems are installed.   We are at that point in construction where you really want to see the finished product now! I can’t wait for all of you to see it.

As it was reported in the newspaper a couple of weeks ago, the city is looking at some funding opportunities so we can keep moving forward with new city projects. Tax Increment Financing or T.I.F. allows a city to take future tax money it would receive from the increase in property evaluation of new construction and lump several years’ worth to use now on certain types of municipal projects. Say someone in town buildings a new building or adds on to an existing building. The tax revenue the city would receive over the next fifteen years from the increased evaluation on that new construction or addition can be bundled into one lump sum. That money can then be used to improve the area around that construction, say infrastructure within an industrial park, or to make improvements within designated parts of town. It is difficult to explain but it is a mechanism we can use to help fund certain projects. We have been working with Burt County Economic Development to develop a plan. More progress on this should be made at the February council meeting.

Not much else is happening. The school is graciously giving some of the old school playground equipment to the city. The plan as of right now is to install it up at Burlington Park by the water tower to give kids some things to do up there. We are having some issues with the sewer plant grinder right now. We have to decide if we can afford to replace it now or wait to budget the amount. We had to do some repair work to one of the emergency generators. Water got in the oil pan and did something bad. I’m not mechanical enough to explain exactly what but it has or is getting fixed now. We are still working on submitting a grant for new lighting on Main Street. We need to gather more technical information before submitting our proposal. Finally I just wanted to say a big “thank you” to the city guys for getting the city streets cleaned off so quickly. It’s tough with all that snow and with the wind blowing. I really appreciate having a city crew does such a good job! That’s it for now. Take care and stay warm. We’ll talk soon.

Mayor Andy Fuston

Mayor Andy Fuston

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A Minute With The Mayor

June 2, 2014 Leave a comment


Mayor Andy Fuston

Mayor Andy Fuston

I’ve been thinking recently about first impressions. It is said that first impressions are lasting impressions. I believe that. I think you really only get one chance to make that first impression. Whether positive or negative, it will always be there. Now, can someone’s impression be changed over time – sure it can. But isn’t it easier to start out with a positive first impression than a negative one? A positive first impression starts you out on the right foot. You can quickly build on that impression with more positive experiences. It can also provide you with more time to correct negative perceptions that might follow the initial impression. On the other hand, a negative first impression starts you off in a hole. It can take even longer to positively change a negative impression into a positive one. That is why first impressions are lasting impressions. Because they set the expectation for everything at comes next.

As a community we’ve been working on our first impressions. The new pool, some relative new buildings and homes dot our landscape as a community. However, I will be the first to admit that Lyons’ first impression is hampered by age. The entrance into Lyons from the highway is non-descript. Main Street is a bumpy ride. We have some houses, buildings and lots that need some TLC. We are not unlike most small rural communities when it comes to issues like this and that’s ok. We are making progress which is different from some of those same communities. We are a work in progress and I’m proud to be able to say that. Because progress is the key.

I bring this up because Lyons has a great opportunity in showcase that progress on June 13th. BRAN (Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska) will be spending the last night of their journey in our little community. Folks, we are talking over seven hundred people plus coming to spend the day and night in Lyons.   That’s like three quarters of the total population of our community!   They will be walking around town, eating in our restaurants and at our food vendor locations. They will be at the school, down at the park, walking and riding up and down Main Street and everywhere in-between. Think about the first impression we are going to be making on all these people as a community.

The town infrastructure will help us some but not enough to “wow” anybody. It is a reality that we must live with. But there is something that can be done to really make a great and lasting first impression: WE show those seven hundred plus people just how friendly, kind and helpful Lyons really is. WE can go out of our way to be hospitable and friendly. WE can open our hearts and treat them like family. WE can mingle and ask what we can do to make their brief stay with us the best it possibly can be. WE can join them for lunch and supper, eating with them at all the great locations around town that will be set up for meals. PLEASE feel free to join in the fun and partake in what is going on that day and next morning. Lots of people have been organizing for months to pull this off. The Lyons Community Club has taken this challenge and run with it. Different organizations around town have stepped up to the plate to offer meals (yes they are all fundraisers for those organizations but they didn’t have to do it). Vendors are coming in to sell their wares. What we need now is community participation. So consider yourselves all invited to this giant outdoor celebration of a 470 mile journey. I hope you decide to participate.

We have a great opportunity to make a great first impression here. Lyons will be on display to people who might have never even heard of Lyons before. Let’s do the very best we can to make a positive first impression. Make sure yards are mowed and weeds are pulled. Be nice to strangers. Better yet turn those strangers into friends! Be an active participant in the day’s festivities. This this a great chance for us to make a positive and lasting first impression.   I know we can do it. We’ve had lots of practice and have succeeded many times at it in the past. Let’s just not let our guard down with this one. Let’s hit this one out of the ballpark! Thanks in advance for all your efforts. Talk to you soon.

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A Minute With the Mayor

March 17, 2014 Leave a comment


 

Happy St. Patty’s Day!  Hope the luck of the Irish was with you.  I tell you it sure feels like Lyons is being blessed with a little Irish luck these days.  We are a busy little community with lots of wonderful things going on.  The pool is coming along.  They are still a little behind schedule but with the warm weather they should be able to kick it into high gear.  The roof line is taking shape on both the bath and pump house.  It is going to be a very different looking skyline down that way that will really make the pool and park a public draw.

We’ve made it to the second round for the auditorium grant from the Department of Economic Development.  We will be submitting a grant proposal for $375,000.00 to help with the auditorium renovation.  If we were to be awarded the full amount, it would effectively allow us to complete all phases of the remodel right away.  We have the matching funds, the architectural and engineering designs and the numbers to make for a compelling application.  The application has to be in by March 29th and a final decision will be made by the 30th of April.  Because this is such a big financial opportunity, we decided to delay the remodeling until after the award date.  Any money spent on the project before the award date couldn’t be used as matching funds for the DED grant.  I know this has put some kinks into renting out the auditorium for spring and summer events but we felt it was the financially prudent thing to do with such a large sum of money on the line.  The one thing that will be started before the award date is the asbestos removal around some pipes and that found in the glue holding the tile floors down.  We wanted all that done before the May 1st so the general contractor, Faust Construction, could get started right after the award date.  I would ask everyone to draw on their “Irish” luck so this pot at the end of the rainbow comes true for us the end of April!

We are also feeling quite lucky these days as Steiny’s General Store is expanding by building a new building on Main Street.  It will be on the two empty lots at 2nd and Main.  Steiny and Kay Steinmeyer have owned the lot next to the street for some time and has recently acquired the lot of the old accountant building from the city that was demolished last year.  Construction on that new building will be taking place in the near future.  Folks, this is such exciting news for our downtown Main Street!  This is a huge shot in the arm for building up our downtown corridor.  We are also expecting some additional new businesses that will soon be coming to downtown.  Keeping our commercial buildings occupied helps keep our buildings in good repair.  A full downtown also keeps people full of hope for our future.  I know we recently learned that the L&M dress shop is closing its doors but I am confident that that building will attract a new business to take its place.  Lyons is moving in the right direction and the private and public investment that is going on is proving that.

Mayor Andy Fuston

Mayor Andy Fuston

We are even seeing the positive momentum from the county wide housing survey that was recently completed.  Lyons is the place folks want to live.  By the way, I want to thank you as community members for taking the time to fill these types of surveys out when we need you to.  Lyons consistently has the highest return rate.  That says to folks in town and outside of town that Lyons as a community is committed to participating in the process.  You get it and understand that providing your feedback is a vital step in the process of continually trying to improve ourselves.  So thank you for taking the time to fill those out when you are asked to do so.  Anyway, the housing study results show we could really benefit from rental houses and moderate income affordable housing.  This isn’t really new for us but it again tells us that our partnership with Three Rivers Housing is on the right track for providing this type of housing as is our program for giving city owned lots free and clear to folks who plan to build new construction on them.  We are all in this together and together we make good things happen.  This all makes me think that we should be looking into building a new school instead of talking about consolidation.  I think we should be dreaming big.  What about you?

We can talk about the other less exciting things happening around the city but the list is kind of short these days.  We will be filling cracks in some of the streets shortly.  We donated the old auditorium chairs (the metal ones) to the fire department.  We are in the process of a water, sewer and natural gas study.  All will require some adjustments to keep up with rising costs and infrastructure improvements and up-keep.  The Center for Rural Affairs is working on their own grant that will involve Lyons and a few surrounding towns.  It will place public works of art in each community that is designed and constructed in that community.  Should be a fun project to participate in.  All of these things are resulting in making Lyons a better place to live.  I know this doesn’t happening without a lot of hard work by a lot of good and dedicated people.  Some would even say you make your own luck by putting effort into whatever you are trying to accomplish.  I would say those folks are right.  You shouldn’t depend on the lottery for your retirement savings, right!  However, I do think good luck makes more good luck and minimizes any bad luck you might have along the way.  So we’ll continue to work hard making Lyons a strong community but we’ll also take a little “luck of the Irish” along the way as well!  Every little bit helps!  That’s it for now.  We’ll talk to you soon.  Enjoy the warmer weather!

 

 

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