Columbus mayor talks development in 2019, future in 2020 during address

COLUMBUS - Mayor Jim Bulkley did some reflecting on 2019 Monday night.

He talked about the floods in his annual State of the City address at the city council meeting.

“Our levee did its job and the community as a whole was spared," Bulkley said.  "Yes, we had some damage — major to Quail Run — but relatively minor to elsewhere.”

Bulkley said the city’s been working with FEMA to get the public golf course back to its pre-flood conditions.

Flood recovery wasn't all he talked about.  He mentioned work the city put forth since then, such as building the new police and fire stations.  He said growth continues across the town with Great Plains Bank, Loup Power Distict’s maintenance building and the hospital’s expansion.

“Add to all of this what’s happened in the old Walmart with Bomgaars, Hampton Inn, an apartment complex and the new Freddy’s,” Bulkley said.

While he acknowledged the shortage of affordable housing in town, he said new apartments and other housing developments are in the works and he said the city continues to expand the wastewater treatment plant.

“Now in phase four, this $12 million upgrade and expansion will bring the entire facility onto the north side of the levee and it will allow the city to handle continued expected growth for the next 20 to 25 years,” Bulkley said.

He said he sees the city’s progress continuing in 2020.