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Airport

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1. Which airline serves the Alliance Municipal Airport?

Daily service to and from Denver International Airport is provided by Denver Air Connection. Denver Air Connection

2. Is shuttle service available?

Arrangements for transportation to and from the Alliance Municipal Airport may be made with Public Transit by calling 308-762-RIDE (7433) for a cost of $5.00 each way. Further transformation information can be found here. 

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Boards and Commissions

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1. How do I apply for a position on a City Board?

Fill out the board application and send it to the City Clerk's Office at:
City of Alliance
324 Laramie Ave.
P.O. Box D
Alliance, NE 69301

2. How do I apply to run for City Council?

Applicants must go to the Box Butte County Clerk's Office to file for the position and pay the registration fee. The receipt for the registration fee must be returned to the City Clerk's Office.

3. How can I be on the City Council agenda?

Anyone requesting to be on the Council agenda must submit a written request to the City Clerk at least one week prior to the meeting.

Agenda items must be submitted in writing and must pertain to City government issues. Agenda Request Form

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City Clerk

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1. How can I contact a City Council member?

The council members do not have designated offices at the Municipal Building. You can direct questions or concerns by sending an e-mail to the general delivery box at: Email or by mailing them a letter addressed to PO Box D, Alliance NE 69301.

2. Where can I find an ordinance or Municipal Code?

The Municipal Code is available for public viewing in the City Clerk's Office or at online Municipal Code.

3. How do I get an item on the City Council Agenda?

Items can be placed on the Council agenda by completing the form below. The request must be submitted to the City Clerk no later than seven business days prior to the City Council meeting. Items submitted after the deadline will be scheduled for the following meeting. City Council Agenda Request Form

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Community Development

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1. What is the purpose of zoning?

To protect the health, safety, general welfare, and morals of the community by seperating incompatible land uses.

2. What can I do if I receive a nuisance violation notice?

Abate the nuisance as detailed in the nuisance notice.  If you have questions about the notice, please contact the Police Department at 762-4955 or for dangerous structure abate contact the Community Development Department at 762-5400.

3. When do I need a building permit?

A Building Permit is required for anything which is built or constructed with the following exceptions as listed in the 2018 IBC: 

Building: 

1. One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the overall height is less than ten feet and the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet (200 ft² for residential lots).* (Zoning Permit Required) 

2. Fences not over 6 feet (1829 mm) high. (Zoning Permit Required) 

3. Oil derricks. (Zoning Permit Required) 

4. Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet (1219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or IIIA liquids. 

5. Water tanks supported directly on grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons (18 925 L) and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2:1. 

6. Sidewalks that are internal to the property and do not connect to the public sidewalk or public right-of-way.* 

7. Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work. 

8. Temporary motion picture, television and theater stage sets and scenery. 

9. Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy that are less than 24 inches (610 mm) deep, do not exceed 5,000 gallons (18 925 L) and are installed entirely above ground. 

10. Shade cloth structures constructed for nursery or agricultural purposes, not including service systems. 

11. Swings and other playground equipment accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings. 

12. Window awnings supported by an exterior wall that do not project more than 54 inches (1372 mm) from the exterior wall and do not require additional support of Groups R-3 and U occupancies. 

13. Nonfixed and movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches (1753 mm) in height. 

*Amended by Section 105-42 of the City of Alliance Municipal Code. 

Electrical: 

All electrical work shall be regulated, permitted, and inspected by the State of Nebraska Electrical Division.  You may contact them at electrical.nebraska.gov or (308) 631-1828.

Gas: 

1. Portable heating appliance. 

2. Replacement of any minor part that does not alter approval of equipment or make such equipment unsafe. 

Mechanical:

1. Portable heating appliance. 

2. Portable ventilation equipment. 

3. Portable cooling unit. 

4. Steam, hot or chilled water piping within any heating or cooling equipment regulated by this code. 

5. Replacement of any part that does not alter its approval or make it unsafe. 

6. Portable evaporative cooler. 

7. Self-contained refrigeration system containing 10 pounds (5 kg) or less of refrigerant and actuated by motors of 1 horsepower (746 W) or less. 

Plumbing:

1. The stopping of leaks in drains, water, soil, waste or vent pipe, provided, however, that if any concealed trap, drain pipe, water, soil, waste or vent pipe becomes defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material, such work shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be obtained and inspection made as provided in this code. 

2. The clearing of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures and the removal and reinstallation of water closets, provided such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures.

4. What type of work requires drawings?

Most projects require drawings for building permit approval including a site plan and technical specifications.  Projects such as same size window replacement, siding, and roofing most likely won't require drawings but just the submittal of a set of specifications from the manufacturer to ensure they meet code.

5. What projects require an engineer or architects stamp on the drawings?

The State of Nebraska Engineers and Architects Act provides the guidelines as to which projects requires professionally prepared and stamped drawings.  To determine whether or not the project requires stamped drawings, the Occupancy Classification and square footage of the project need to be established. There are different types of occupancy which are determined by what the space will be used for. Each Occupancy Classification has a different allowable square footage that may be constructed, reconstructed, or impacted before engineered or architectural drawings are required. 

For example, a convenience store is a Class M (Mercantile) occupancy and would not require stamped drawings if it is under 3000ft². A restaurant is a Class A-2 (Assembly) occupancy and does not require stamped drawings if it is under 1000ft². The Building Official may require professionally prepared and stamped drawings even if the project is exempted by the Act.  Other than the requirement for stamped drawings, the other details that change with different occupancy categories are items such as the number of bathrooms, the number of exits, ADA requirements, etc. A copy of the Engineers and Architects Act may be found here:

Engineers and Architects Handbook

6. What is the difference between an architect and an engineer?

A professional engineer will specialize in building and structural design whereas an architect will specialize in things like building design and ambience. It is hard to nail down in a nutshell what each of them does, but an architect would work to design a building concept and then the engineer would design the structural and mechanical details to support the architect’s concept.

7. How does the City do inspections of permitted work?

The City employs a Building Inspector to go on site and inspect your work. It is the permit holders responsibility to call the City and schedule an inspection. Failure to call for inspections when required may necessitate the removal of finished building components, such as drywall or concrete, to ensure conformance with code.  Please call (308) 762-5400 to schedule an inspection.

8. What type of inspections are required?

Inspections are required at a minimum for building site-in after the location has been staked out to make sure it meets setbacks, footing depth, rebar and forms before pouring concrete, wall framing, fire and smoke penetrations, and any HVAC, plumbing, or electrical work before enclosing any walls, filling any trenches, or pouring any concrete that may conceal any of these components.  The Building Inspector may require additional inspections depending on the project.  Failure to call for inspections may result in the removal of finished portions of the project to ensure the components covered up meet code.

9. If I wanted an inspection of a building before purchasing it, who would I contact to have that done?

There are inspectors that specialize in this type of work. Some of them have an engineering background whereas some might be trained using similar criteria as a Building Inspector. You may also hire a Professional Engineer to do a walkthrough and evaluate the building.

10. Does the City require an inspection of an existing building before doing work to it?

Whether or not you want to have an inspection is up to you. There may be consequences for not having a professional inspection before occupying the building or doing work. If during the construction process we notice anything such as soft floors, holes in walls, loose or falling bricks, spalling concrete, etc., we would require an inspection by a professional engineer to either show that the structure is sound as is, or provide a report of items you must fix before you can continue with your build out. Should the City find that the building meets the definition of an unsafe structure, you must stop work immediately and may even require vacating the structure until an inspection is done to prove it is sound and not putting anyone in danger.

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Electric Department

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1. What is a power surge?

Most so-called power surges are really something called transient voltages. They can be caused by anything from lightning in the area to static electricity in your body. Some transient voltages can also be caused by solar flares. Such occurrences are well beyond the control of the electric department.

2. Do you have to set that pole or electrical box there?

Usually, yes. The Electric Department staff does everything they can to avoid interfering with the looks or aesthetics of an area, but sometimes crews have to place electrical equipment in a place that isn’t pleasing to everyone.

3. Why do you have to trim my tree?

Trees in lines can cause costly outage. Alliance Electric has to trim trees to keep the power flowing. The Department closely adheres to its tree trimming policy.

4. What should I do if a tree is in the electric lines?

Contact the Electric Department for assistance in making a determination as to what needs to be done.

5. Can you raise my wires?

Probably. Sometimes there are changes that need to be made to the way your service entrance is installed on your home or building. There is a possibility that you might have to contact an electrical contractor to alter your service entrance.

6. What if I build a new deck under electric lines?

Building a deck requires a permit from the Community Development Department. In many cases if wires are too low it is because the deck has been built without getting a permit and having the plans inspected by Community Development. City of Alliance Electric crews can usually move the service wires, but it may be at some expense to the homeowner. If you have built a deck without a permit you should contact Community Development at (308) 762-5400.

7. When can you fix my street light?

The City of Alliance Electric Department tries to repair street lights and dusk-to-dawn lights as quickly as possible. However, such repairs are sometimes delayed due to activities of a higher priority.

8. Can you turn off a street light shining in my window?

The City of Alliance Electric Department can usually shield the light so it isn't so intrusive. Unless it is dusk-to-dawn light that you are paying for, the Electric Department cannot remove it.

9. Can I switch from an overhead service to an underground service?

Yes, the City of Alliance Electric Department converts many overhead services to underground. You will have to hire an electrical contractor to bury a conduit run and modify your house service.

10. Can I get all the poles removed from my yard?

Probably not. Power lines that run through your yard are usually serving electricity to your neighbors. Occasionally, wires can be buried, but it is done at cost to the requester.

11. What is an outage?

An outage is a sudden loss of power due to forces or events outside of our system, such as storms, vehicle collisions, animal interference, etc.

12. How do I report an outage?

During regular business hours call (308) 762-5075. After regular business hours call APD dispatch at (308) 762-4955.

13. What are some common causes of power outages?

• Trees and limbs being blown into lines by high wind
• Trees and limbs falling on lines due to snow
• Lines being broken by ice buildup
• Poles being broken by high winds
• Poles being broken by vehicle accidents
• Wildlife coming in contact with energized lines
• Lightning
• Equipment failure

14. In what order does Alliance Electric Department restore power?

1. Substations
2. Main feeder lines
3. Other three phase lines
4. Single phase lines
5. Single phase transformers
6. Single customers

15. Can I use a portable generator during an outage?

Most portable generators are only powerful enough to run a few necessary appliances in your home. You should never plug your generator into an outlet in your home. If a generator is connected to an outlet in your home, the electricity can travel out to the Electric Departments' lines and through transformers creating a life-threatening situation for Electric Department employees working to restore power.

16. Why do neighbors have power and mine is still off?

Your neighbor could be served off a different transformer or main line. For instance, your service could come from a line in the back of your house, and your neighbor across the street could be served from a line running along the street in front of your home. In the event that your power hasn't been restored but your neighbors has, please call (308) 762-1907.

17. What is the telephone number for the Digger's Hotline to call before I dig?

Call 1-800-331-5666

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Finance

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1. Who should I contact about an ambulance bill?

EMS Billing Services

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Fire Department

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1. What should I do after a fire?

For information on what to do after a fire, view After the Fire.

2. Where can I get a burn permit?

Obtain a burn permit at the fire station.

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Golf

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1. What are the daily rates and membership fees?

Fee Schedule

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Police Department

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1. How do I license my ATV?

ATV's must be brought to the Alliance Police Department for inspection and insurance documentation is required. ATV's must have headlights, tail lights and must be equipped with a bicycle safety flag which extends no less than six feet above ground. ATV licensing stickers may be purchased seven days a week at the Law Enforcement Center located at 512 Niobrara for a fee of $25.00.

2. Where can I find out about Nebraska road conditions?

Please access the following webpages:
Nebraska Road Conditions

3. Where can I find a weather forecast?

National Weather Service Cheyenne

4. How can I adopt a pet from the Animal Shelter?

Call the Police Department at 762-4955 to schedule an appointment with the Animal Control Officer to visit the shelter and arrange an adoption.

5. Does the Animal Shelter have a Facebook page to see dogs and cats available for adoption?

Yes. Follow them at: ATown Animal Shelter Facebook page

6. How do I apply for an alarm permit?

Applications are available at the Police Department.

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Public Transit

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1. Is Public Transit open to the public?

Yes. Public Transit is for everyone! Call 762-7433 (RIDE) to make arrangements. The fee is $1.00 each way for a destination in town.

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Utility Customer Service

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1. How do I sign up for online bill payment for my utilities?

An online bill pay button is available on the home page. Payment Service Network PSN

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Water / Sewer

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1. What are the black specks in my drinking water?

This is a harmless mineral that exists naturally in our drinking water and becomes visible the longer it is exposed to oxygen. Watering your lawn is the quickest and easiest way of flushing your water pipes. Occasionally, the City will flush neighborhood fire hydrants to reduce this nuisance.

2. What are the white floating specks or flakes in my water?

White flakes are typically a naturally occurring, harmless mineral called calcium. As water is exposed to oxygen, minerals precipitate and become visible. Home water filters are a typical way to get rid of these nuisance minerals.

3. Who is responsible for unplugging a sewage clog?

If your sewer is backing up only when you flush a toilet, run water down a sink drain, do laundry, or wash dishes; the plug would be in the house plumbing or the sewer service line that connects to the City’s main. In this case, you should call a plumber or rent a machine to unplug the line.

On the other hand, you can recognize a plugged City main because sewage will continually backup and not stop until the City responds by unplugging the City main. Contact the Police Department at (308) 762-4955 to report a plugged sewer and the on call person can assist in determining the location of a plugged line.

4. Why is my water bill so high?

Water rates have been increasing in part to promote conservation as well as to pay for recently mandated treatment costs. The most common problem for high water bills are hidden leaks. The most common is a leaking toilet. This can be detected by putting food coloring in the toilet tank or dye tabs provided for free by the Water Department. Without flushing, observe if the toilet water in the bowl is changing color, if so, you have a leaking flapper valve. This should be replaced. If you own a water softener, pay particular attention to when and how long the softener recharges to waste. Occasionally these units stick in a permanent recharge mode and waste a tremendous amount of water. Have your unit checked often.