By Kerri Rempp
The Chadron City Council Thursday approved a grant application for $75,000 to make improvements at the Downtown Plaza at Second and Main streets.
If awarded, the grant from the Walter Scott Family Foundation will aid the city in constructing public restrooms at the plaza.
Dawes County has committed $128,000 of Community Development Block Grant Funds to the project, and the city has allocated $47,000 from its general fund as well.
Janet Johnson, the city’s zoning and planning administrator, noted that the utilities for the restrooms are already in place, and all of the fixtures and radiant heaters were purchased with previous grant funding and are in storage.
“The restrooms at the plaza have been a long time coming,” she said.
Construction drawings are 98% complete, and the city plans to go out to bid for construction in 2025 if the funding can be secured. When completed, the restroom will be located where the storage shed currently sits.
“It’s come a long way already,” said City Councilman Miles Bannan of the plaza, remarking on the shade sails, tables, electric charging station, bottle filler, bike rack repair and information kiosk already in place.