West Ward demolition hearing set

Friday, September 17, 2010
A hearing on the proposed demolition of the old West Ward building is set for Monday. (McCook Daily Gazette)

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook City Council will host a public hearing at its semi-monthly meeting Monday, 7:30 p.m., at Council Chambers. The hearing is scheduled to discuss any adverse effects resulting from the scheduled demolition of the West Ward Elementary building and is in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.

City administration has been presented with a petition containing 77 signatures with the statement that the signers felt that rehabilitation of the West Ward School into a police department and city offices was the best option for a new public safety center and desired that it be brought to a vote of McCook citizens.

The City Council will also consider approval of an addendum authorizing payment of the $3,000 that Council voted to provide the McCook Humane Society at its Sept. 7, meeting. The addendum states the City shall continue to pay for utilities not to exceed $8,180 per year, as well as for services rendered, paid in the amount of $31,281 annually. The annual services are adjusted yearly to reflect actual cost for the percentage of McCook animals handled the prior year.

Other items on the consent and regular agenda;

* An ordinance authorizing the sale of two city owned lots, 206 W. Seventh to Howard and Barbara Musgrave and 410 South Street to Paul Monzon will be read. This will be the second of three required readings needed for approval.

* The proposed sewer rate increase will be presented for its third and final reading required for approval. The $1 per month increase will go into effect Oct. 1, 2010, if approved.

* The 2010-11 City employee pay plan for 2010-11 will be presented for its third and final reading required for approval.

* An executive session may be held to for the annual evaluation of the job performance of City Manager Kurt Fritsch. His employment agreement as well as salary and compensation plan with the City will be subsequently reviewed.

n City Council will review a recommendation from City staff to award CTE Construction the roof replacement project for the Heritage Senior Center. The project was estimated to cost in the $50,000 to $75,000 range. City administration was able to secure several bids under $50,000, with CTE bidding at $38,491.

* SourceGas gas requested an easement in order to supply the new National Guard Army Reserve facility with natural gas.

* City Council will review the grant application requesting federal assistance for the third phase of the McCook walking trail.

* Approval of a contract authorizing $20,868 in tax credits in support of the Keystone Business Center Project.

* An air ambulance provider, LifeTeam Critical Care Transport, will introduce themselves and review services they will provide.

* Review of a bid for rehabilitation work on the east clarifier at the sewer plant.

* An application for Intercity Bus Assistance for Dashabout Shuttle will be reviewed.

* The Council will review a resolution setting the property tax request at a different amount than was set for prior year.

* Review of a bid received for a new loader for the transfer station.

* Review of a Waste Management Plan as part of a $84,000 grant the City was awarded for City Shop lighting, insulation, windows and for a boiler and chiller at the Library.

* McCook National Bank has requested to close a section of the alley between Norris and W. First Street on Oct. 30, 3 p.m. to midnight, for their annual Halloween Haunted Bank Tour.

* The McCook Chamber of Commerce has requested a special liquor license for the October mixer at Wagner Chevrolet scheduled for Oct. 13.

* The Council will review a resolution ratifying its collective bargaining agreement between the city and the McCook firefighters union and subsequently approve a new five-year contract.

* The Council will also consider adoption of a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of McCook and McCook Police union setting the cost of living increase and increasing medical contributions by union members beginning Oct. 1.

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  • A petition from 77 citizens wishing to rehabilitate the West Ward Building? Where were these citizens a few years back when we did get a chance to vote on this and it was defeated? Long enough time has passed, enough money spent on plans, let's just get it over with and start new. The only thing I hope is that some of the bricks can be used to memorialize West Ward either in a fountain or even an entrance sign to the new City Building.

    -- Posted by LOAL4USA on Fri, Sep 17, 2010, at 1:17 PM
  • Nuff said and his followers of anti- improve McCook is trying all its tricks to get some attention on the West Ward issue...They could have bought west ward themselves for years at 50k and made it a shrine to their grade school years and play cards daily.They failed aand no money and support for there backward movement so now they try anything to move mccook backwards vs forward.......They want to turn McCook into a ghost town of no improvements and all young families leave ...and low taxes for old farts

    -- Posted by Cornwhisperer on Sat, Sep 18, 2010, at 12:58 PM
  • I hope people who are on BOTH sides of this issue will show-up at the meeting. Maybe citizens want to spend tens of thousands of more local dollars to try to make the old building fit current needs. If that is the wish of the citizens I bet the council would go along.

    -- Posted by dennis on Mon, Sep 20, 2010, at 7:49 AM
  • Citizens don't want to spend more money. Sure, the council will go for it as long as it has to do with other's money. This issue on West Ward has been going on for years since the school closed. The city had a chance to purchase it at a low price. No, they looked the other way and now they spend lots of money for it?? Some people need to get their heads on straight in the council. Especially when using taxpayers money...

    -- Posted by edbru on Tue, Sep 21, 2010, at 7:15 AM
  • Repeatedly the council said if the voters--and they are asking the people to vote---vote No then NO facility will be built. Also taxes will NOT increase to pay the bond, money already collected from sales tax will be used. No member of this council was on the council when the building first became available. The council members live and work and pay taxes in McCook also. I doubt any of them are communists. Several probably are much closer to Tea Party supporters.

    -- Posted by dennis on Wed, Sep 22, 2010, at 10:51 AM
  • Ironcat..... if you would please, what are you referring to in your posting? Has the City Council NOT put the public safety center on as a voting issue? And please clarify what "property rights" have been violated? I would like to get a bit more involved if an iron fist is truly being wielded.

    Could you please give some examples?

    -- Posted by PensiveObserver on Wed, Sep 22, 2010, at 10:47 PM
  • No facility will be built if there is a no vote...I would hope that it sticks. Or will it be like it was a few years ago, when the citizens were asked to conserve on water to save money....not enough water was used, claims the city and the rates raised anyway. Who should we believe?????? Too many stories with too many excuses from too many people.

    -- Posted by edbru on Fri, Sep 24, 2010, at 2:30 PM
  • God ole ebru. We can always count on you to find a dark cloud behind every silver lining.

    -- Posted by dennis on Fri, Sep 24, 2010, at 3:42 PM
  • ENOUGH!!!!!! Tear the building down, save some bricks for some type of remembrance and build the new facitilities that are desperately needed!!!!!

    -- Posted by susanne_1989 on Fri, Sep 24, 2010, at 8:47 PM
  • Their you heard it, we all need to shut up because susanne said "ENOUGH". Oh wait we still live in AMERICA!

    -- Posted by remington81 on Sat, Sep 25, 2010, at 8:26 AM
  • There's been far too much time and way too much money spent on this subject. Enough is enough.

    -- Posted by susanne_1989 on Sat, Sep 25, 2010, at 9:49 PM
  • remington, you are right, we all live in America. That gives me the right to tell you to SHUT UP and get over it! West Ward is coming down1

    -- Posted by McCook Supporter on Sun, Sep 26, 2010, at 11:41 AM
  • Wow good come back mccook supporter, how long did it take to think that one up?

    -- Posted by remington81 on Mon, Sep 27, 2010, at 8:13 AM
  • You McCookites are so good at fighting with each other and wasting money in large perportions over frivolus nonsense. And I thought my home town was bad!!!!!!

    If I ever want to get a loan to do nothing and not ever pay it back I now know where to go!!!!

    People get your poop in a scoop OR get over it!!!!

    -- Posted by kaygee on Tue, Sep 28, 2010, at 8:14 PM
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