City of Wahoo

      SURVEY LINK:  SENDD/Wahoo/Saunders County Broadband Speed Test

The City of Wahoo is asking for your help.  Over the past year sufficient internet connection speed has played a huge role in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. Children learning from home, parents working from home, health care happening at home, and social connections with family and friends are happening from home. Fingers crossed, this pandemic will be coming to an end soon, but it has emphasized the role rural communities play in the success of this state and in this country.  On top of that reliable internet with sufficient speed needs to be affordable.  For all our residents. Our future is dependent on our connection to the rest of the world... and that is very dependent on affordable high-speed internet connections.  

The City of Wahoo is a member of Southeast Nebraska Economic Development District (SENDD) and partners with them on many projects. SENDD was successful in securing grant funding for a data collection project of internet speeds across the state of Nebraska. Currently, the only way a community knows how fast connections and at what price is by asking residents or relying on the third-party internet providers (Windstream, Spectrum, etc.) to answer that question.  This project will provide REAL data at REAL locations in our community - and it comes straight from the user who pays the bill - YOU.  The more participation we have, the better the data set will be when this project is complete.  

So why is this important to Wahoo and Saunders County?  First and foremost, this survey will give us accurate data, and as the old saying goes... knowledge is power. We can use this data to plan for our future and gives us power to negotiate with providers and apply for grant funding to possibly make installation of upgrades more affordable. Second, there are hundreds of articles available through numerous sources that talk of the importance and connection between rural vitality and affordable broadband connection.  Rural Nebraska needs affordable connections.. not to survive, but to thrive.  And lastly, across the state it is a bit of a competition to see who can get the best data set.  Competition?  Wahoo?  This is a no-brainer.  We are winners in this community, so let's get this done.

The following link will take you to a link on SENDD's website.  Once on this website you can enter either your full address or partial address - whichever you are comfortable with - enter the amount you pay for your connection per month (no TV, no land line) and then once you click go, it will conduct an internet speed test and document your results.  This information is recorded on the map below the survey.  (NOTE:  To see your result once you've completed the speed test, just click refresh on your internet browser and you will see your dot show up on the map).  

   SURVEY LINK:  SENDD/Wahoo/Saunders County Broadband Speed Test

Please share this link with family, neighbors, friends, business owners, etc. to help us in this data collection process. We'd love to have all our 1,600+ addresses show up on this map! Any questions about this can be directed to City Hall (402-443-3222) or the Chamber/Economic Development Office (402-443-4001).  Thanks again!!!

The City of Wahoo Parks and Recreation Department is looking to fill the following position: Parks Maintenance Worker

For the complete job description and job application form, please visit the Wahoo Civic Center website at  www.wahooparksandrec.com   and click on the Resources>Employment tab to learn more.

This position is slotted on the City of Wahoo pay scale as a Grade C position which begins at $16.61 and tops at $21.05 over nine steps.

Completed applications should be returned to City Hall, 605 North Broadway Street, or the Wahoo Civic Center, or mailed to Wahoo Civic Center, Attn: Parks Maintenance Worker Application, 310 North Linden, Wahoo, NE  68066.  The position will remain open until filled. Questions should be directed to Kevin Stuhr at 402-443-4174.

In 2019 the City of Wahoo received a CDBG grant to provide assistance to qualified homeowners in Wahoo to make improvements to their home. During our grant application process we requested pre-applications to be submitted and we received many! This summer all individuals who submitted pre-applications were give the opportunity to submit a full application for consideration. All applications received were reviewed and grants of up to $25,000 are being made to qualified homeowners. The good news is that we still have grant funds available! So, if you believe you may qualify, you own your home, and you need improvements, please consider submitting an application. If you previously submitted a pre-application and would like to submit a full application, please let us know (contact info listed below).

Information on the specifics of the program is available in the brochure (link below), but are generally described below:

Eligible expenses include:

• Structural - foundation, roof, etc.
• Mechanical - furnace, water heater, etc.
• Electrical - wiring, fuse boxes
• Plumbing
• Weatherization - windows, doors, insulation, siding, etc.
• General Maintenance - kitchens, bathrooms, etc.
• Handicapped Accessibility - ramps, bathrooms, etc.
• Safety and Code deficiencies

Expenses that are NOT generally eligible:

• Garages and outbuildings
• Window AC units
• Fireplaces
• Landscape and fencing
• Jacuzzis, hot tubs, spas
• Kitchen appliances
• Any costs for repairs not completed in the program

If you are interested please consider applying by completing this application (Click HERE for application form).  This should be submitted directly to SENDD (Southeast Nebraska Development District).  SENDD is an organization located in Lincoln, NE that assists communities with application for and administration of grants such as this.  If you have questions or concerns about this program or the application, please contact Ryan Bauman rbauman@sendd.org or Jim Warrelmann at SENDD - jwarrelmann@sendd.org or 402-475-2560.  If you would like to visit with City staff, please contact Melissa Harrell - harrell@wahoo.ne.us or 402-443-3222.

Program Details
Application Form

Please note:  The link with program details suggests this is a county-wide program.  It is not, as only those within Wahoo would be considered eligible applicants.