Lincoln voters on Tuesday approved a $10 million bond issue intended to minimize flooding and improve the quality of water in streams and lakes.

The city now has permission to issue general obligation bonds and raise taxes to finance 18 storm drain and stream rehabilitation projects and do preliminary engineering and work in six watersheds.

It was good news for the city's Public Works and Utilities Departments.

Acting Director Karl Fredrickson said his department is prepared to begin the repairs and replacements immediately.

"We are ready to go," said Nicole Fleck-Tooze, special projects administrator for the department.

The bond issue will  cost the owner of a $125,000 home another $7.21 per year, at current interest rates.

Most of the $10 million will be used for stream rehabilitation and urban storm drains to prevent the flooding of homes, streets and structural failure of sewers.

The goal of the city's 19 proposed projects is to:

n Protect property from stormwater runoff and flooding during major rains.

n Improve water quality by, for example, creating wetlands to filter pollutants from stormwater runoff.

n Repair eroding stream channels, some of which are cutting into streets and other structures. Near Antelope Park, for example, the channel has eroded to the point where it's just a couple of feet away from a street.

A group of local contractors, material suppliers and engineers called the Lincoln Contractor Liaison Committee spent more than $17,600 on TV, radio and newspaper ads promoting the bond issue.

The work will be done in the next two to three years.

Other than general funds, bonds are the only financing mechanism Lincoln has to improve its storm water sewer system.

Said Fredrickson: "I'm happy the voters recognized that, and recognized the need."

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com. Reach Leah Thorsen at 473-7246 or lthorsen@journalstar.com.

Storm sewer bond issue

Unofficial final results

For   22,982

Against  17,089