Government
Cheyenne County, Nebraska, is led by a three-commissioner board elected from three districts and has five additional elected administrative county officials. The City of Sidney serves as the county seat, hosting the beautifully-landscaped Cheyenne County Courthouse within its historic downtown district. The commissioners meet at the Sidney-based courthouse the first and third Mondays of every month at 8:00 a.m.
The City of Sidney is a full-service governmental agency that adopted a council/city manager form of government in 1950. Leading the city is a five-member city council elected to four-year alternating terms. Every two years, the council chooses its chairman, which, in turn, serves as city mayor. The council exercises all powers which have been or may be conferred upon the city by the constitution and laws of the State of Nebraska. The council meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7:15 p.m. at City Hall, located at 1115 13th Avenue.
Citizens of Sidney are afforded more than 20 varying public services overseen by city government. Among the list of services offered through the city are electric distribution and generation, water, sewer, wastewater, parks and recreation, a golf course, a library, public transportation, an airport, volunteer fire department, police department, a cemetery, sanitation, a landfill, recycling, a swimming pool, economic development and the city administrative offices. A Sidney Housing Authority operates two city owned housing facilities. The city also oversees several boards and commissions, including:
Planning Commission
Meets the third Monday of every month at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. The commission consists of nine members appointed by the mayor with the approval of the city council for terms of three years. It is the duty of the Planning Commission to make and adopt plans for the physical development of the city, to recommend to the appropriate public officials programs for public structures and improvements, and for the financing of the same. A new comprehensive plan was developed and approved in 2011.
Board of Adjustment
Meets the third Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. It consists of five regular members plus one alternate, all of whom are appointed by the city council for a term of three years. One of the regular members must be appointed from the membership of the Planning Commission. This board has the authority in specific cases to authorize variances or to modify the zoning codes of the City of Sidney.
Library Board
Meets the second Monday of every month at 5:15 p.m. at the Sidney Public Library. It consists of five members appointed by majority vote of the city council for terms of four years. The Library Board has exclusive control of the expenditure of all money collected or donated to the library foundation and exclusive control of all library property. The board also controls the supervision, care and custody of the grounds, buildings, etc.
Civil Service Commission
Meets as needed by public notice at City Hall. It consists of three members appointed by the city manager for terms of six years. The commission oversees the enforcement of the civil service rules and regulations; hears and determines appeals and complaints respecting the administrative work of the city, administrative departments, allocation of positions, examinations, rejections, etc.; and establishes and maintains a roster of the police department.
Tree Board
Meets the third Tuesday of every month at 12:00 p.m. or as needed at City Hall. It consists of five members appointed by the mayor for terms of three years. It is the responsibility of this board to study, investigate, counsel and develop a written plan for the care, preservation, trimming, planting, replanting, removal or disposal of trees and shrubs in public ways, streets and alleys.
Airport Authority
Meets the second Wednesday of every month at 8:15 a.m. at Security First Bank. It consists of five members elected by the people for six year terms. They are responsible for the operation of the airport.
Economic Development Advisory Committee
Meets as needed as called for by the city manager at a designated meeting place. It consists of six citizen advisory members, who oversee the use of the LB840 local economic development revolving loan fund first authorized by voters in 1997 and reauthorized in 2007. Advisory member qualifications are outlined by state law. The committee makes recommendations to the city council for use of the economic development funds in job creation activities. The city manager is administrator of the LB840 funds and the City Council has final decision making authority on all proposed funding projects.
Housing Authority
Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at Western Heritage at 6 p.m. It consists of five members appointed by the mayor and city council for five-year terms. The Housing Authority is responsible for the administration of Sioux Villa and Western Heritage, two city-owned housing complexes, and the new Heritage Estates Complex.
Historical Preservation Board
Meets the second Tuesday of each month at 12:00 p.m. at City Hall. It consists of seven members appointed for three-year terms by the city manager and confirmed by the mayor and city council. The board is responsible for the designation, preservation, protection and enhancement and to perpetuate those structures representing the heritage of the city. It also oversees use of a newly created fund for historic restoration projects for commercial buildings over 50 years of age in Sidney.
Board of Appeals
Meets on an as-needed basis and consists of three members appointed by the City Council serving terms of six years. The board hears appeals of decisions and determination of the Chief Building Official relating to building codes and construction.
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