Waterford Trail Engineering Contract

At a glance

What: Supplement No. 4 to the Schemmer Associates preliminary engineering agreement for the Waterford Trail project, adding compensation for additional work.
Where it stands: Approved 7-0 on October 5, 2026 after four Waterford residents spoke against it and asked for a delay and a route comparison.
Next: Residents were told public engagement is still to come; no date is in the minutes. The dollar amount of Supplement No. 4 is not stated in the minutes.

The agreement

Resolution A-95971 approves Supplement No. 4 with The Schemmer Associates, Inc. for preliminary engineering on the Lincoln Waterford Trail project (federal project TAP-55(192)). It was introduced by Washington and seconded by Carlson.
Earlier steps: the original agreement (A-94459, March 4, 2024) and Supplements 1 through 3 (March 3, 2025; August 4, 2025; March 2, 2026).

What residents said (public hearing, October 5)

Anson opposed the added funding. She said the design has changed from the plan of 20 to 25 years ago and now includes a loop behind her street that affects her property on two sides. She cited nearly $600,000 in anticipated engineering costs tied to the dam, vegetation and creek, and suggested a route along 98th Street.
Newton opposed it and asked that action be postponed until a feasibility and cost comparison of the dam-shoreline alignment against a 98th Street, Holdrege and 104th Street alternative is done. He said supplemental work added about $113,000, bringing the agreement above $600,000 against $348,000 originally allocated, and said 25 to 30 households share the concerns and are not represented by HOA leadership. He asked that the trail segment linking Southeast Community College to 98th Street be prioritized and raised a crossing-safety concern at 98th Street and Boathouse Road.
Fireman opposed it, saying his property borders the proposed alignment, no disclosure of a trail came with his purchase, there were more than 20 trespassing incidents in four months, and the half-mile segment already has a public sidewalk.
Wyatt opposed it, noting engineering has passed $600,000 on a $2.9 million project when staff cite 10 to 15 percent as typical. He questioned the timing of public engagement and the maintenance burden, and said the greater connectivity need is along 98th Street toward 84th.
All four said they support trails in general.

Council action

The hearing was taken under advisement; the resolution passed 7-0 later the same meeting (Beckius, Bowers, Carlson, Duden, Shobe, Washington, Weber voting yes). No council discussion is recorded in the minutes.
Newton thanked council members who had visited the proposed trail area.

Sources

City Council regular meeting minutes, October 5, 2026: https://lnklan.granicus.com/MinutesViewer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=430&doc_id=cf8106b5-c679-11f1-89ef-005056a84798

Log

2026-10-05 - City Council

Public hearing with four speakers against (Anson, Newton, Fireman, Wyatt). Resolution A-95971 approving Supplement No. 4 passed 7-0.

Public hearing drew comments on the trail project; correspondence also in the 2026-11-02 - Directors Meeting packet and the November 9 Directors' report. Parks and Recreation holds a virtual open house on Thursday, November 12. Votes not yet recorded.