By Kerri Rempp
New trees, deer deterrent and aquatic center business were all discussed at the Chadron City Council meeting Monday.
Parks Supervisor Scott Schremmer said several new trees were planted in city parks this year, including six from the 10 Free Trees Program. Schremmer said he declined taking 10 trees and asked that four of the trees be donated to eastern Nebraska in the wake of the severe storm that destroyed many of their trees. Two other trees were secured from a recent forestry meeting at Fort Robinson State Park and from the Chadron Garden Club in memory of Betty Staal.
“That’s $3,000-$4,000 in trees,” Schremmer said.
The city’s community garden also will see improvements, Schremmer said. Nebraska Game and Parks donated eight-foot wildlife fencing to put around the garden to protect it from deer. The materials have already arrived, and the city will repurpose old gates from the airport for the enclosure.
In other parks and recreation news, Sidney Hunter was introduced to the City Council as the new full-time supervisor for the aquatic center. Hunter, from Gillette, Wyo., is a senior at Chadron State College.
The aquatic center will host a Chadron Sharks Swim Meet Feb. 1-2, 2025. The Sharks attempted to host its first swim meet earlier this year but was forced to cancel due to an ice storm. The council approved leasing the aquatic center to the Sharks for the meet at a reduced price of $1,500.