The City Council held a public hearing on February 23, 2010 to accept input from citizens for capital improvement projects. The suggestions that the City Council received have been published on our website and listed as identified and unfunded. The list has been posted under Special Sales Tax Information listed under the Finance Department.

The Downtown Improvement Board is requesting proposals for façade improvement grant funds totaling $40,000. The Façade Project Grant is designed to encourage historic renovation and preservation efforts for Downtown buildings. Property owners may request funds up to $40,000 to remove inappropriate signage, awnings, lighting, or building surfaces and restore the front façade. In the first four years of the program, the Downtown Improvement Board awarded a total of $150,000 in grant funding for nine Downtown projects.

Proposed projects must be restricted to the front façade and are subject to design guidelines as stated in the Request for Proposals and Application. For questions regarding the guidelines or application process, please contact Suzanne Brodine at (308) 233-3222. Awarded projects will be announced by May 5, 2010 and must be completed within one year. Applications are available at City Hall and must be returned by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31 to Suzanne Brodine, Re: Façade Project Grant, 18 East 22nd Street, P.O. Box 1180, Kearney, NE 68848.

Kids and their Parents are invited to Bug-tastic Stories and Crafts at Kearney Public Library on Saturday, March 13, between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Youth will be celebrating International Bug Day by listening to bug related stories and creating creepy crawly crafts. This program is hosted by UNK Academic Mentors and is free to the public. All ages are welcome and snacks will be provided.

Due to construction starting on the Kearney Public Library addition and renovation project, the south and west parking lots will be closed from March 10, 2010 until the completion of the project.

The bookdrop will be relocated to the east side of the Library for the duration of the project. Patrons will need to exit their vehicles in order to use the bookdrop.

For more information, please call the Library Director’s office at (308) 293-3281 or stop in at the Library.

The Kearney Park & Recreation Department is currently accepting registration for the adult slowpitch summer softball leagues. Leagues include: Coed, Men’s, Women’s, Men’s Master’s, Church, and Coed Church. Entry fees vary per league.

Registration deadline is Thursday, April 1. Please call the Park & Recreation Department at (308) 237-4644 for more information or go to www.cityofkearney.org.

The Kearney Park and Recreation is currently accepting registration for a Spring Coed Kickball League for 16 years of age and older. Games will be played on Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings, from March 28 through the end of April, at Harvey Park. All teams will receive a minimum of five games. The entry fee is $80. The registration deadline is Wednesday, March 18. Please call the Park & Recreation Department at (308) 237-4644 for more information.