City Councilman Garry Gernandt was back in his chair at Tuesday’s council meeting, less than a week after he had a heart attack just after arriving at a press conference.
“My whole life passed in front of me with this health crisis I had,” he said.
Budget cuts could mean library closures
Budget cuts could mean library closures
Library branches could be closed or hours reduced as a result of new budget cuts proposed by Mayor Jean Stothert.
That’s the word from the Omaha Public Library’s board of trustees, which says the mayor’s plans come with a $393,000 cut for the rest of 2013 and all of 2014. A reduction of that size, the board said in a letter, “will require reductions in both services and resources.”
Cost-saving considerations including closing the W. Clark Swanson branch and the Florence branch completely, and closing the W. Dale Clark Library and Millard branch locations one day each week.
The library proposal is the latest bit of city finance news to trickle out in the first weeks of the Stothert administration.
Officer resigns amid investigation
Officer resigns amid investigation
An Omaha Police officer has left the force, amid an investigation into his involvement with a controversial March arrest.
Officer Christopher J. Olson’s last day was June 2, said Steve Kerrigan, the city’s interim human resources director.
Olson had five years on the force. Kerrigan declined to give a reason for the resignation.
The March 21 arrests of Octavious, Juaquez and Demetrius Johnson caused a public outcry and resulted in the firing of four officers — two of whom have been criminally charged. The charges grew out of alleged evidence tampering inside the Johnson home.
A person familiar with the investigation into the arrests of three brothers said Thursday that authorities were seeking to question Olson about whether he had turned off a cruiser camera or cameras that were taping during the incident.
Gernandt on the mend
Gernandt on the mend
Nearly 24 hours after he left a press conference in an ambulance, Councilman Garry Gernandt has been upgraded to “stable” condition and told he can likely leave the hospital tomorrow.
Gernandt had just arrived at a media event at Spring Lake Park on Wednesday when he complained of serious chest pains and bystanders called 9-1-1. The councilman was reportedly pale, sweating and struggling to breathe.
At Gernandt’s request, Creighton University Medical Center has not released specifics about Gernandt’s medical issues. But a hospital spokeswoman said Thursday afternoon that Gernandt had undergone tests on his heart and would remain at the hospital overnight for observation.
She said Gernandt will not need surgery.
Stothert’s media directive
Stothert’s media directive
In Wednesday memo to city department heads, new Mayor Jean Stothert ordered that no “department directors or any staff member of any city department” speak to the news media without prior review or approval from Stothert’s chief of staff or spokeswoman.
“There should never be confusion or uncertainty regarding city policies and procedures,” said Stothert’s memo, titled “Directive — Media Interaction.”
Read more – Stothert tells city employees: Clear all news media comments through Mayor’s Office first
Mayor Stothert: Day 1
Mayor Stothert: Day 1
Omaha’s 51st mayor is officially on the job.
After an inauguration Monday evening, attended by Gov. Dave Heineman, former mayors Mike Boyle and Hal Daub and other city officials, Mayor Jean Stothert started work Tuesday.
The mayor and her staff spent much of the day getting settled into their third-floor offices at City Hall. But Stothert also held a news conference where she told reporters she was busy making good on campaign promises — including reducing staff in the Mayor’s Office — and met with city officials.
Meanwhile, Stothert said she plans to ask the City Council to return authority for negotiating labor contracts to the mayor’s office. Council President Pete Festersen said the council has unanimous support for that plan.
New administration takes hold
New administration takes hold
Omaha officially gets its new mayor tonight.
Mayor(-elect ) Jean Stothert, on the eve of her inauguration, told us that she wants to shake up the Fire Department, without its current chief, and maybe preserve the aging Civic Auditorium. She’s also hired just about all of her staff, though most top city positions are being held by interim directors.
The updated City Council (and its new president) also will take the oath of office this evening. Former State Sen. Rich Pahls will represent the southwest Omaha district vacated by Stothert’s mayoral bid. Aimee Melton, a former county prosecutor and a political newcomer, will represent District 7.
Should be fun times tonight at City Hall. Gov. Dave Heineman is expected to attend.
Got any advice for the new mayor? Tell it to her on Twitter with #DearMayorStothert.
You should also check out World-Herald columnist Matthew Hansen’s look at an outgoing figure in Mayor Jim Suttle’s administration.
Omaha’s sewer burden: “medium”
Omaha’s sewer burden: “medium”
A new study of Omaha’s huge sewer project provides both good and bad news.
The good: Helped in part by Omaha’s strong economy, the overall burden of the $2 billion (and growing) project is classified as “medium.”
The bad: That’s probably not good enough to lobby for more time or assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Omaha officials have been watching as some of the other cities working on similar projects have tried to catch a break. And while the University of Cincinnati Economics Center researcher hired by the city didn’t think the problem here was dire, he did say he expects things to get worse.
Your guide to parking meters
Your guide to parking meters
Looking for a parking spot?
The city’s just-unveiled Public Works website upgrade includes a handy guide to all of your downtown parking meter options. They’re color coded based on the amount of time allowed (10-hour meters are red dots, 2-hour meters are purple.) Click on a dot and it will tell you how long you can park, how much it will cost you and what hours meters are enforced.
P. J. Seminara:
Will the shelters be available to the public for personal use? 
Facts:
Fireman who put is in debt and calls himself "Fire Jean." Your bloated cont 
Torsten Adair:
311 works great here in NYC.
If I see something that needs fixing, I mak 
Fire Jean:
Way to go Jean Stothert! Your shortsighted decision to commandeer the fire 
Jenny:
I think it's a logical idea. Putting tax on tobacco which causes cancer is 
Tom Coffey:
Will gov't ever have enough of our money? When does it stop? 
Paul Taylor:
Ed, Good to shake your hand at Dundee Days. Just a brief note that we need 
