Mayor to present revised 'Code of Conduct'

After meeting resistance with his first attempt at introducing a code of conduct for city council members, Mayor Dennis Berry will try again with a revised version.

Berry's new proposal is titled "City of McCook Standards for Civility Among City Council Members and includes five items to be followed by the Council. Discussion on the amended version will be heard during the regular City Council meeting Monday, 7:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers at McCook Auditorium.

The first item of the document calls for council members to "be mindful of our obligation to resolve both individual and societal issues in a rational, peaceful and efficient manner."

The second item states "uncivil, abrasive, abusive, hostile or obstructive conduct impedes the fundamental goal of resolving issues rationally, peacefully and efficiently. Incivility tends to delay or often deny progress."

The third item mandates that council members should be courteous and patient with all council meeting participants and the fourth item encourages council members to meet their obligations with civility and professionalism.

The final item asks that each council member commit to adhering to the standards in dealings they may have with each other and participants in City Council meetings.

A vote on the original document was postponed after a lengthy discussion on the merits of the action.

Before getting down to the business of the city, the council will be presented with a report from Kurt Batsel of the Dextra Group, Consultants for Northrop Grumman, and John Gottula of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality regarding the company's efforts to remove TCE contamination at the TRW remediation site.

The council will also be asked to approve an ordinance allowing for the issuance of $3.8 million in bonds and paving the way for the city to receive State Revolving Loan Funds for the improvements at the McCook Wastewater Treatment Plant. The ordinance also calls for bonds in the amount of $400,000 for the purchase of land associated with the city's new drinking water improvement project.

The council will be asked to approve the resolution under suspension of the Rule of Three in order to begin drawing on the funds.

One of the items on the consent agenda is a request from the McCook Fire Department to authorize the department to submit an application for a FEMA/USFA Fire Act Grant to purchase a new fire department ladder truck.

In the City Manager's report, McCook Fire Chief Marc Harpham said that the department's 1977 Sutphen Aerial Fire Truck has an 85 foot ladder, carries 300 gallons of water and has the capability of pumping 1,500 gallons of water per minute. The cost to refurbish the truck would cost about $500,000. The cost of a new truck with a 500 gallon water tank, a 75-foot ladder and a pumping capacity of 1,500 gallons of water per minute would also cost about 500,000.

Harpham points out there are several advantages to the new truck including requiring less manpower. The new truck would lower the city's Insurance Service Organization rating, would be easier to maneuver than the city's older aerial truck in certain fire situations.

The grant would require the city to match 5 percent of the cost of the truck.

Following the regular meeting, the council will move into executive session to discuss potential and pending litigation and land acquisition.