Hire manager locally

The process is open to anyone to apply. However if they have no previous city manager type experience and/or college training in that field or related field, then the learning curve would be very steep.

People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

Not a good idea. Need someone that comes in here new and owes no one.

In three short paragraphs you manage to slight the current city manager, insult the former city manager and equate running a city to running a bar.

Did I miss anything?

What Dick said is true. Seems like it is the same old thing the city wants to do.... It's been this way for a long time, so why change. Change is good. What did the last managers do for this town? Let's see.... One in particular left quickly, tossing his resignation in the door as he left. Then the city couldn't find @ $149K in funds. That was swept under the carpet. I could say more, but you all know what has happened.

If you want to keep hiring out of town/ state people to be "city managers", then let's do this for all key positions in the city. City manager, police chief, fire chief, city attorney, mayor, etc. It is getting pathetic how this city is doing their business. Spend, spend, spend. As I have seen, read, and talked to many people in town, the money generated by taxes is not being used wisely. The police dept. is in need of more funds for the times for sure. Crime is on an upswing and there is more going into the street dept. than other ones. All the new trucks, snow plows, and equipment. All paid for by our taxes. And are the citizens able to keep up with the taxes the city wants to impose? NO!! Let's face it. This "city" is not a major metropolitan dwelling. We are small town Nebraska.

Some of you would say to leave and find another place to live.. no, not going to happen. I'm with Mr. Trail. Common sense is the key here.

I've read the comments and I should say the least. Pull the blinders off your heads and take a look around. You might see what is happening.

Stones are not being thrown in glass houses. No one is being "slighted". And the education that is supposedly needed is just an education. Sam Walton didn't have all the college in the world to begin his legacy as "WalMart". What is being said here is the plain and simple truth. Deal with it..

ebru, property tax levies have not increased since 2001. Land line phone tax was decreased. the new fire/recue/police/city office building that the citizens voted to approve was built without any increase in taxes. The new park in east McCook, the walking trail, the library and senior center, street improvements all with no tax increase. The independent auditor report yearly says citizens in McCook are taxed less than nearly all other cities the same size in Nebraska. the budget process asks citizens to come and provide input. it appears that your opinion does not match actual facts. again, if qualified locals wish to apply then they are encouraged to do so. not sure what you are talking about with a quick resignation by a city manager and missing money but that may also be an opinion rather than fact. actually your view of the hiring of other city employees is correct. all --except the mayor by state law--could be hired from out of town when a vacancy happens. I am not sure of if you hire anyone ever but I doubt you would hire a person to repair you heart or car or maybe even mow you grass if they were not experienced and or educated in those processes. I believe we need an experienced and educated person to run a multi million dollar city whether that person is local or from another community or state.

What about the Keystone? It's not full of renters like our mayor said it would be. Other ideas on other projects? Look good and cost money. Still costing the taxpayers...

edbru, nice shift of topic when your facts could not be produced on taxing and spending. no apology needed. also the keystone is not a city project but a project of the MEDC which was voted on by the general public to fund. I do believe the mayor supported the idea but in economic development there is no promise of success and at this time it appears the keystone will be a success.

The Keystone was very much a city project. The city committed to this project financially, we voiced public support for it in justifying the use of public funds from sales tax revenues to TIF funds, we put the force of our bonding authority behind this project and the city staff time that was spent to make this project happen over the course of those several months. This was a very complicated process that the city and MEDC worked on over several months, just to work out the details. Especially, with the long process we went through with TIF funds to make the building a reality.

The MEDC was the developer but the city was instrumental in making this project happen and based on the months of research, meetings and hearings I spent on it just to get the project off the ground, it was very much a city project. I supported it then and I support it now 100%. No "ifs", "ands", "buts" or "I do believes" about it.

Aaron I stand by my statement that the Keystone is not a city project. The MEDC's name is in the title and loan. It is an MEDC project not a city project. The city did help the MEDC with it. The citizens voted to fund the MEDC. Just because the city approves TIF funding or city supported it does not make the city the owner. Glad you continue to support the Keystone Aaron, and thanks for your efforts, AND to the other council members AND the city staff that help the MEDC project move ahead. AND thanks to Rex and the MEDC!

Aaron and I are correct on the Keystone. City money is involved in it. Taxpayers are paying for it.

Dennis, you seem well versed on the happenings and function of the city. Why don't you throw your hat in the ring and apply for the city managers position?? And the topic is all in the same. No shifting of topics. They are all together. You have common sense?? Show it.

You and Aaron are correct that taxpayers are paying....but you both were wrong that the city is not the one holding the tab. Thanks for the complement and thanks to both of you for being watchful citizens. We all seem to be on the same page for what the goals are, it is just how we get there.

Dennis, I'm not sure where you're getting this idea that I'm saying the city owns the title to the Keystone or that it is "holding the tab" based on anything I said because I never stated such a thing. I stated that this was a project executed by both the MEDC and the city based on my personal experience in the research I did and the meetings we held during this process.

Each side had a role to play in the project. I could restate the roles again but it's already stated in my original post. I think if you read it again, you'll see that it mentions nothing of the city holding the tab or suggesting the city is on the deed to the property. I think that would clear up a lot of the confusion.

Apologies as I misunderstood when you stated "The keystone is very much a city project...."

Thanks Aaron!