Architect on board, city awaits fire station grant

The McCook City Council will be asked to receive and file a contract with an architectural firm for the design of a new fire station and approve expansion plans at Community Hospital, at its regular meeting Monday night, 7:30 in City Council Chambers at Memorial Auditorium.

City staff and representatives from Prochaska & Associates of Omaha met May 8 and toured the current fire station along with the proposed site on West Fourth/West Fifth, the former West Ward school property.

Phase I of the preliminary design, according to the city council packet, includes preparing a floor plan; incorporating plan review feedback from the city into a revised site and floor plan; assist the city in developing a project budget per grant requirements; provide project schedule for final design and construction, contingent on grant approval; and present the preliminary design to the city, including the city council, if desired.

The design for a new city fire station is contingent on whether the city is awarded a grant from a Firefighters Assistance grant.

Also at Monday nights' meeting, the council will conduct an open hearing for a special request that will allow Community Hospital to expand at its current location.

The original hospital building was built before zoning ordinances and was grandfathered in to meet current laws. The special exception is needed to allow medical uses in areas zoned residential.

The special exception was approved unanimously by the McCook Planning Commission on May 11.

Other items slated for the council at Monday's meeting include:

* the council will meet as the McCook Community Development Agency prior to the regular council meeting and be asked to approve a Redevelopment plan for the city, including a redevelopment contract, that approves the Keystone Hotel as a redevelopment project. The redevelopment contract states that the project fits into the comprehensive plan of the city and allows the agency to issue $320,000 worth of bonds, paid for and secured by tax increment financing funds.

* on the regular agenda, receive and discuss the recommendations from the McCook Animal Control Review Committee that recommends the city employ an animal control officer, with expenses partially offset by license fees and fines;

* as a consent agenda item, award the bid for new playground equipment at Norris Park to Outdoor Recreation for $99,864, the lowest responsible bidder. City sales money revenue will pay for the equipment

* consent agenda item: approve the drawings and specifications for the water and sewer extension for the Guard and Reserve Readiness Center south of McCook Regional Airport and set date to receive bids for June 10 at 2 p.m.

* offer the contract to Dandee Concrete Inc. for the bid of $136,304.62 as the lowest bid, for furnishing and installing Phase II of the Kelley Creek Walking Trail. The trail will begin by the lower shelter house at Kelley Park and loop up to Kelley Park Drive and down through Bolles Canyon to M Street. The council is also being asked that if the bid is not accepted, that the city award the bid to the next lowest bidder at $154,427 or rebid the project according to specifications.

* deny the claim by Elk Creek Backhoe of Arapahoe that requests payment of sales tax at $16,107, based on terms of a contract that states the contractor shall pay all sales tax;

* hear a presentation by Trenton Klimper, who will outline plans to construct a war memorial in Norris Park as his Eagle Scout project.