Deena Winter: What we know about 48th and O

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No, the city still hasn’t sold its property near the intersection of 48th and O streets.

About a month ago, Urban Development Director David Landis said the city received an offer from a local developer to buy the property for $1.34 million and bring a bank and national retailer to the high-traffic corner. The city paid $2.77 million for the property to make way for the O Street widening.

News of the offer sparked the interest of two other local developers who have long been interested in the corner and said they would make offers, too.

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Landis recently confirmed three parties have expressed interest in the property, but some legal issues need to be addressed before a sale. Since O Street is a state highway, the state has oversight over things such as access points and wants a traffic study to be done. The unnamed developer who made the initial offer wants an access driveway off O Street.

“Even though our opinion matters, we probably are not the last say,” Landis told the council.

Mayor Chris Beutler has said the other two offers involve a request for the city to use its condemnation power and substantial tax increment financing — which he’s not interested in doing.

Mayor can be ‘bizarre and too liberal’

Before giving his annual “state of the city” speech earlier this month, Mayor Beutler acknowledged the presence of his parents, Jack and Dorothy of Omaha — whom he said have always supported him even when they thought his policies were “bizarre and too liberal.”

Man on a mission

At least one Lincoln man is so angry about the city’s new porch couch ban that he’s turning in every violation he can find.

The man — who didn’t leave his name — left me a voicemail last week saying he hopes to swamp the city with complaints, to make his point. He said he was recruiting others to join his campaign against the new ordinance, which bans indoor furniture from being used outdoors.

That’s probably why the number of reported violations began increasing quickly last week, when the ban went into effect.

Mike Merwick, head of the Building & Safety Department, which must enforce the ban, said his office also heard from the man, who said he was walking neighborhoods, reporting couches on porches.

As of Tuesday, the department had received 43 complaints. Once a complaint is received, inspectors verify the violation and then send a letter to the property owner. Generally you get three notices before prosecution is considered.

City losing veteran employees

A total 33 city employees took the city up on its incentives to retire early this year.

They had a combined total of 918 years of experience working for the city, or an average of 28 years each.

The mayor has said this is the last year the early retirement incentive program will be offered.

Among those who took years of experience with them when they walked out the door: Antelope Valley Project Manager Wayne Teten, Library Director Carol Connor and the chief financial officer for public works, Margaret Remmenga.

Firefighter remaps apartment buildings

Every month, the mayor awards a city employee for going above and beyond the call of duty.

September’s winner is firefighter Tod Sehnert, who decided the old hand-drawn maps of apartment complexes — used to guide firefighters in emergencies — could stand some improvement. In January 2006, he began using his down time at the fire station to convert aerial photos of apartment complexes into maps that are more readable and accurate.

Using computer software that cost $40, he has finished mapping 52 complexes, and he plans to do every complex in the city. The updated site plans are integrated into the mobile data terminals on firetrucks.

For his efforts, he won a $500 U.S. savings bond, two paid days off and a plaque.

He said it

“I’m a Halfbright Scholar.” — Councilman Doug Emery, after someone mentioned a Fulbright Scholar was visiting local officials.

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.