City park plans may be dropped

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook City Council will consider a local couple's request to purchase two city-owned lots for a total of $5,000, Monday evening. The couple, Robert and Sharon Harvey, own a manufactured home in the West Q Village, which they must vacate by May 1, 2014.

They hope to purchase the nearby city owned lots which were designated by the 1995 City Council as a future city park location.

According to city staff the area has been set aside as future park space for nearly 20 years and there are no plans in place for development of the area.

The property is located along East Fair Acres Drive, lots one and two of the Fair Acres Addition, which is one block west of the Red Willow County Fairgrounds and just south of West Q Street.

The Harvey's plan would be in compliance with residential zoning for the property and mesh well with homes already located to the south and across the street of the property, according to the meeting agenda.

City staff indicated the sale of property has historically been authorized via three council readings but hinted the third reading could be bypassed if no other interest in the property was expressed during the first or second readings, which would help expedite the process for the potential buyers.

Also during Monday's regularly scheduled meeting, 7:30 p.m. at the McCook Municipal Center, council will consider increasing the allowable size of political signage. The changes would allow signs up to 32 sq. ft. in Industrial Light, Highway Commercial and Business Commercial zones, along U.S. Highways 6-34 and U.S. Highway 83.

City staff indicated the recently updated zoning ordinances have been reported to be very limited on the size of political signs allowed in city limits. They intend a more thorough review of the sign ordinance in the near future but have asked for this change given upcoming elections.

Other items on the consent and regular agenda:

* Council members will consider entering executive session to discuss city manager applicants.

* Chief of Police Isaac Brown will be considered for approval as the city's representative for the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network that FirstNet is tasked with building as part of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. FirstNet is coordinating nationwide effort to install a wireless broadband system dedicated to public safety.

* A resolution granting a Waiver of Payment in Lieu of Taxes to the McCook Housing Agency will be considered for approval. The waiver is a HUD requirement and is requested on an annual basis. It does not include the newly constructed East Ward Village, according to the meeting agenda.

* Goodwill Industries has requested permission to park a collection trailer in McCook to collect donations of clothing, small housewares and residential computer equipment. The trailer is estimated to be available every eight weeks, depending on the need.

* Council will consider proclamations designating the month of April as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" and April 13-19 as "National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week."

* The Work Ethic Camp Employee Activity Committee has requested to utilize city streets for a 5K/1 mile run/walk on Saturday May 10, 2014, from 9 a.m. to noon.

* Great Plains Communications of Blair, Nebraska, is requesting permission to occupy city right-of-way to install an underground cable. The request includes locations on West A Street and West Second Street, a combined distance of approximately 700 ft.

* A request from Terry Sitzman to close West C Street between Norris Avenue and West First Street, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, will be considered. Sitzman is coordinating an annual car show.

* Bid plans and specifications for the annual armor coating maintenance of city streets will be considered for approval.

* Loop Brewing Co. has requested special liquor licenses for a receptions on May 3 and June 28 at Memorial Auditorium and another at Kiplinger Arena on May 12.