Council ponders next step for offices

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook City Council will be asked what the next step should be in developing a complex to house the fire, police and city offices, at its regular meeting Monday, 7:30 p.m., at City Council Chambers in Memorial Auditorium.

Locations the council have considered have been the city-owned West Ward site on West Fifth and the National Guard Armory on West Seventh.

At the direction of the council, city staff hired the Omaha-based architectural firm Prochaska and Associates to do several studies on the proposed municipal facility, such as: preliminary estimates to renovate the West Ward and the National Guard Armory, construction costs of a new fire facility and space needed for the police department and city offices.

The council also will be asked Monday night to approve the recommendation from the McCook Airport Advisory Commission for essential airline service at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport. The current essential air service contract runs out May 31 and the Commission was to choose its recommendation at its noon meeting Friday. To be considered, the council must submit its recommendation to the Department of the Transportation no later than April 23.

At the end of the meeting, the council will convene in closed session for a strategy session concerning collective bargaining with the McCook Professional Firefighters Association Local 2100.

Other items the council will be asked to approve include:

* an amended city law on second reading that allows the use of alcohol at the city auditorium with approval by the city council of a special designated liquor license

* the request from Mark Friehe for a wedding reception in June at the city auditorium. The reception will include the serving of alcohol. Approving the request now, before the ordinance goes into effect, will allow the Friehe's to make the necessary plans for the wedding.

* an amended city law on second reading that increases the damage/cleaning deposits at the city auditorium

* the license for McCook Pawn, operated by Larry Bass and Adam Johnson, at 615 West B

* an amended city law on third and final reading that exempts lawn sprinkler systems that do not apply chemicals, from a yearly backflow device inspection

The council also will be asked to approve as a consent agenda item, a contract between the city and Berggren Architects for architectural services on the renovation of the Norris Park Bandshell.

Berggren has already analyzed the condition of the bandshell and the if the contract is approved, the firm can begin work on the preliminary drawings in order to get the project bid by July with construction beginning in August.

The work will be funded by revenue from the city sales tax, Keno funds and ACE proceeds.

Other consent agenda items include:

* receive and file the financial report for the quarter ending March 31, 2010. Total ending cash is $10, 368,082

* approve a grant of license for a garage at No. 10 South Street, owned by Jason and Anne Kennedy, that extends onto city property about five feet. The easement is necessary for the property to be sold.

* approve drawings and specifications for the force main replacement at the Karrer Park lift station and set the date to receive bids as May 27 at 2 p.m. The new main, paid for with city sales tax funds, will allow for growth of the facility, the ability to handle heavy loads that occur during thunderstorms, and increase of efficiency due to switching from steel to PVC pipe.

* approve the application for a special designated liquor license submitted by the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce, for a beer garden at Norris Avenue and D Street, during the 2010 All Class Reunion on July 3, from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight.

* approve a resolution that adopts the Nebraska Department of Roads Local Public Agency guidelines and identifies Kyle Potthoff as the responsible person in charge for federally funded projects.

Two proclamations will be designated Monday night: one for April 30, 2010 as "Arbor Day" for the City of McCook and another that proclaims the week of May 2-8, 2010 as "National Drinking Water Week 2010."