City studies water funding

The McCook City Council will be looking at ways to fund the solution to McCook's water problems and beginning the process of filling a three month term of office left open following the resignation of Councilman Chris Overman at a special meeting and study session Monday night.

A new McCook City Council member could be appointed and seated as soon as Monday night if at least three of the four present council members agree on Mayor Linda Taylor's choice.

The newly appointed Council Member would serve on the Council from the date he or she is seated until Dec. 2, 2002, when the seat will be filled by a candidate running in the Nov. 5, general election.

If the council does not approve of the first choice, the Mayor will be asked to continue making appointments until a majority vote of three is reached.

The special meeting is Monday in the Council Chambers of Memorial Auditorium and will begin at 6:30 p.m.

In addition to appointing an interim Council member, the Council will also be asked to approve a resolution providing for the application for a grant with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality through Nebraska Environmental Partnerships to off-set costs incurred during the test-hole drilling and completion of the water study. The deadline for the application to be submitted is Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Following the special meeting, at 7 p.m., the Council will hear from a group of representatives from several agencies to discuss and answer questions about funding assistance programs for McCook's water solution.

The representatives will be working closely with the city in coming months in preparing applications for assistance in financing the water solution.

Tim Rutledge of the Rural Development Specialists of the Midwest Assistance Program will be attending the meeting. "Mr. Rutledge and the other agency representatives are providing this presentation at no cost to the city," said City Manager John Bingham.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend both meetings.