The City of Kearney Utilities Department and Johnson Service, Inc. announce that beginning Wednesday, March 17, they will be performing maintenance work on the sanitary sewer main located in 11th Street from Avenue M west. 11th Street will be reduced to two lanes of traffic during the maintenance work.

Motorists are asked to use caution in the area and to watch for construction workers and equipment. Motorists are encouraged to use an alternate route, if possible.

The City of Kearney Utilities Department and Midlands Contracting, Inc. announce that construction of the Southwest Kearney Water and Sanitary Sewer Improvements will begin on Monday, March 15, 2010.

The work will begin with the closure of 11th Street on the east side of the 30th Avenue intersection. The purpose of this closure is to install culverts to take groundwater out of the area. The closure of 11th Street will be for one day beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 15. 11th Street will be reopened to traffic by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, March 15.

On Tuesday, March 16 30th Avenue be closed from 11th Street north to La Crosse Drive, weather permitting. This closure is required for the construction of the water and sanitary sewer. The water and sanitary sewer construction is divided into three phases, 16th Street and 30th Avenue north of 16th Street, 30th Avenue south of 16th Street, and 11th Street from Kea West Avenue to 30th Street. It is anticipated that all phases of the water and sanitary sewer work will be completed by mid July. Paving of the streets will follow after each phase of the water and sewer work has been completed. 30th Avenue will be paved as a four-lane concrete roadway.

Motorists are asked to use an alternate route during the closure.

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.

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.