Sidewalk to Walmart to take longer

The McCook City Council Monday night extended the time to have a construction contract in place for the sidewalk to Walmart.

The supplemental agreement the council approved with the Nebraska Department of Roads will extend the contract until April 1, 2009.

The sidewalk project is being funded by the city and grants from the Nebraska Department of Roads.

The sidewalk, along West B Street, is called the "Inner Loop Phase" and part of the McCook Walking Trial. Made of concrete 8 feet wide and 6inches thick, it will begin at West 11th Street and continue to Wedgewood Drive.

The extension was a consent agenda item and was not pulled for discussion by the council.

Other consent agenda items that the council approved Monday night unanimously without discussion included:

* the bid specifications for one new police patrol car for the City Police Department and to receive bids at Nov. 12

* two applications from Schmick's Market for special designated liquor licenses for wine tasting events Nov. 14

The council also approved two ordinances, one on its second reading and another that will go into effect immediately. Council members suspended the usual three readings required for ordinances and approved an easement agreement requested by Qwest to install an underground fiber optic cable by Memorial Auditorium.

Qwest is installing a cable from the Nebraska Department of Roads office to its downtown location and would like the easement so the cable can run behind the sidewalk on the south and east sides of Memorial Auditorium.

Qwest also would like to place a splice point on the southeast corner of Memorial Auditorium, where city offices are, for future use.

That would give a nearby connection point for Memorial Auditorium.

Another connector point has also been considered for the old West Ward property for future use.

In response to a question by Councilman Aaron Kircher, City Clerk Lea Ann Doak said suspending the three-reading rule in these type of easements is typical and has been done in the past.

The council also approved an amendment to a city ordinance on its second reading, that will cap the amount the city can spend on employee "Years of Service" pins.

The "Miscellaneous Expenditures" ordinance will limit the dollar amount to $300, and will have one more reading before the council before it can be adopted.