Scottsbluff local news summary
Week of October 7 2025
Long-awaited sanitation truck arrives in city
One- and six-year street improvement plan approved
Chip seal street maintenance planned for coming year
Riverside Discovery Center reports fundraising success, $105,000 grant
Reisig appointed new board vice chairman
Commissioners certify tax levies for 2025–26
Public transit faces funding uncertainty, implements new policies
Long-awaited sanitation truck arrives in city
SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. — A new sanitation truck, on order since April 2024, has been delivered to the city, according to a report during the council’s approval of payments. The council approved the $224,000 payment for the vehicle, which is now in the city’s possession and being prepared for service. The arrival marks progress in updating the city’s fleet of heavy equipment, though officials noted that long wait times persist, with a new street sweeper ordered for the transportation department not expected to arrive until 2027.
One- and six-year street improvement plan approved
SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. — The City Council held a public hearing and formally approved the one- and six-year street improvement plan, a state-required document that outlines future road projects. The one-year plan includes development projects on Delta Drive and a cul-de-sac on 36th Street. The longer-term, six-year plan anticipates major work on stretches of West Overland, East Overland and South Beltline Highway East. Officials noted that the inclusion of South Beltline Highway anticipates its potential annexation into the city within that timeframe. The plan serves as a flexible guide, with cost estimates based on current engineering projections that are subject to change.
Chip seal street maintenance planned for coming year
SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. — After a postponement, Scottsbluff plans to resume its chip seal street maintenance program in the upcoming year, officials confirmed during a discussion of the city’s street improvement plan. The program, which uses tar and gravel to resurface streets, aims to cover between one-third and one-half of the town, depending on the budget. Officials are hopeful that the preferred smaller aggregate, or “chips,” will be back in stock. They also noted a new contractor has been identified to perform the work after the previous one went out of business.
Riverside Discovery Center reports fundraising success, $105,000 grant
SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. — The Riverside Discovery Center raised $40,000 at its recent banquet fundraiser, the City Council heard in a report Monday. Council members who attended the event noted it was a major success, with nearly 300 people in attendance and support from 86 local businesses. In addition to the fundraiser, it was announced the zoo received a $105,000 grant from the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, which requires no matching funds and can be used for landscaping and vegetation projects over the next three years. The facility was also officially recertified as a Nebraska Arboretum site.
Reisig appointed new board vice chairman
SCOTS BLUFF, Neb. - Commissioner Russ Reisig was unanimously appointed as the new vice chairman of the Board of Commissioners. Reisig fills the leadership vacancy left by the recent departure of former Commissioner Charlie Knapper. The vice chairman leads meetings in the chairman’s absence and assumes other duties as assigned. The appointment was approved on a 4-0 roll call vote.
Commissioners certify tax levies for 2025–26
SCOTS BLUFF, Neb. - The Scotts Bluff County Board of Commissioners formally certified the tax levies for the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years during its Board of Equalization meeting. After receiving the final budgets from local government entities, the board approved a resolution setting the property tax rates that will generate revenue for schools, municipalities and other taxing districts across the county for the next two years. The final levy sheets were included in the commissioners’ meeting packets and are available for public review.
Public transit faces funding uncertainty, implements new policies
SCOTS BLUFF, Neb. - The county’s public transit system is operating under financial uncertainty while rolling out new technology and service policies, the transit manager reported. With no update on the restoration of key funding, the department warned operating hours could be affected, with a potential shutdown remaining a possibility. Meanwhile, Tri-City Roadrunner launched rider-notification features and implemented a policy requiring trips to be scheduled the day prior to improve efficiency. Four new buses recently entered service.
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