e some new signage at Seward intersections.
City Administrator Greg Butcher presented recommendations on new traffic controls and signs on three intersections at the city council’s Feb. 3 meeting based on the recommendations of the city’s Traffic Committee. Butcher is joined on the committee by Street Maintenance Director Bob Miers, City Engineer Mike Oneby, Building, Zoning and Code Enforcement Director Tim Dworak, and Police Chief Brian Peters or another police department representative.
The Traffic Committee is now reviewing intersections for which they have received complaints or have concerns to see if traffic controls should be added or replaced.
“You are probably going to get a few more of these,” Butcher told councilmembers, “because at the end of the day, it is the wild, wild west out there.”
At one time, Seward had too many traffic controls on its streets and several years ago, many of those were deemed unnecessary and removed, Butcher said.
Mayor Josh Eickmeier said the traffic signage pendulum is swinging back.
“What we are trying to do is make it a little safer on some of these intersections but hopefully not putting signs on every intersection,” he said.
People in Nebraska tend to yield to other drivers, Eickmeier said, noting that he has had to have “stare-downs” with other motorists before anyone moves from an unsigned intersection.
Three intersections were approved for changes at the meeting.
Fourth and South streets – Butcher said this is now an uncontrolled intersection in which Nebraska law requires drivers to yield to traffic to their right. But motorists are “doing random weird things” in the intersection in which Fourth Street intersects South Street on the west and a business drive on the east. The council approved putting a stop sign on South Street and requesting the business owner put up a private stop sign on the east to have traffic yield to Fourth Street traffic.
First and Bek streets – During school commute times, this intersection is especially busy because people try to avoid traffic too near the schools, Butcher said. As a result, this intersection can be “a free for all.” The Traffic Committee recommended a yield sign be placed on First Street due to a “hump” in the road, whereas Bek Street is fairly smooth.
First and Bradford streets – Butcher said this intersection has seen significant traffic and two accidents were reported there during 2025. Because of the sightline for eastbound traffic, a yield sign will be installed for east-west drivers, but monitoring will continue to see if a full stop sign is needed.
Substation contract
to be rebid
Also on Feb. 3, the council voted to reject the only bid received for the industrial substation expansion project on Walker Road so the city can re-open bidding in hopes of receiving a lower priced option.
Butcher said the bid received was around $500,000 more than the expected amount for the project – a number available in the bidding information companies receive. This contract is for installation and other work around the arrival of a new transformer that is being constructed in South Korea.
The city will invite the bidder who responded to submit a new bid and will seek out other potential bidders on the project.
Olsson Associates, who is contracted to assist the city on the project, contacted some companies who were originally invited to submit bids but did not, and found the timing of the bidding was an issue for three firms.
“This is a substantial increase on that whole project,” Butcher told the council.
Going out for bids a second time should not impact the project timeline and the current substation is providing enough power even though it is at or near capacity, he said.
Watermain contract OK’d
The council also approved a $396,160 contract with Van Kirk Bros. for the Worthman Boulevard Watermain Phase III project at the meeting, which Oneby said is necessary to “complete the loop” on the work related to DARI LLC construction in the Rail Campus.
The bid was the lowest received and work is expected to be done by April 24.
In other action on Feb. 3, the council:
• pproved a request from the Seward Post-Prom Committee to allow a food truck at the Wellness Center during the Seward Showcase Basketball Event Feb. 7 and 8 as part of a fundraiser.
• pproved a new 56-month lease with Nebraska Golf and Turf for golf carts at the city golf course.
• oted to forward a property damage claim to its insurance carrier.
• et for an hour in closed session to discuss real estate negotiations.
