SIDNEY, NE — The Sidney City Council acted on multiple resolutions and heard from other community leaders during its meeting Tuesday night.

The council approved a resolution that’s needed for the Sidney Park Project to apply for a grant from the Nebraska Game and Parks. Park Project member Madi Wilkinson told the council the grants are needed because the project will be more expensive than originally thought.

"It was $656,000, but then we got hit with increases," she said. "Steel keeps going up and up so the new goal is $711,000. We're just waiting on more grants and more fundraising."

The Sidney Park Project has raised just over $500,000 since fundraising started in April. All money raised so far has been through private donations and grants.

Sticking with grants, the council is looking to funding to improve existing trails and create new ones. The council talked with Keep Sidney Beautiful Director Jason Nelke about a potential partnership on the issue.

"Beautification is something that is in our mission so this is a huge project for us to tackle with the city," Nelke said. "Myself, my board, we're all looking pretty forward to moving forward on this."

The council tabled the discussion to continue it at the next meeting. Both Nelke and the council expressed the want to go over contract details further.

Cheyenne County Chamber Director McKailie Carnahan-Kuhns addressed the council on the chamber’s efforts recently. Among them, she highlighted the downtown sounds concert series.

"We're really optimistic about the growth of this event and the opportunity it brings to the community," Carnahan-Kuhns said. "It actually got to the point where vendors are reaching out to us asking if they can participate in events which is really cool."

She also highlighted efforts to increase the chamber's online presence and planning of events for the Fall and Winter seasons.

The next city council meeting is set for Oct. 12