Stimulus could fund demolition

The former West Ward Elementary school building could be demolished with stimulus funds, if the McCook City Council approves the proposal to apply for the money at the regular council meeting Monday, 7:30 p.m., at City Council Chambers at Memorial Auditorium.

Together with the McCook Economic Development Corp., city staff is thinking about applying for Neighborhood Stabilization Funds from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. The funds are part of the American Recovery Reinvestment Act and about $2.5 million will be available, said McCook City Manager Kurt Fritsch.

If the council approves, the city would request proposals for a project administrator if awarded the funds, contingent upon release of those funds from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

The money would be used to demolish abandoned buildings in the city, Fritsch said, including the West Ward school. The city purchased the property and building in January 2008 for $100,000.

Fritsch said other structures that could be demolished include the Romanoff building on the corner of Norris Avenue and West B and selected single-family residences that have been abandoned.

The proposal is a consent agenda item, that can be approved in one motion with other consent items or pulled for discussion.

Regular agenda items the council will be asked to approve include:

* authorize the mayor to sign the Certificate of Substantial completion for Industrial Process Technology, Inc. for work completed at the Class I injection well at the sewer.

* direct city staff to hire Liquid Waste Management Inc., of Longmont, Colo., to clean sludge from the primary and secondary digesters at the waste water treatment plant, for $36,680.

* the third and final reading of an amended ordinance that adds standards in determining when an unsafe building shall be repaired, altered or removed

* the second reading an amended ordinance that allows school districts to have their own tower or antenna on school property

* promote and recognize Public Alliance for Community Energy (ACE) and the Choice Gas selection period this year from April 17-30

* adopt a resolution certifying the city is considered capable of providing public transportation for its citizens

* the application for Public Transportation Assistance for the city

Consent agenda items up for approval are:

* authorize the mayor to sign a Lease Addendum between the city and the State of Nebraska. The agreement is for additional land needed for the construction of an access road, for the joint military facility to be built between U.S. Highway 6-34 and McCook Regional Airport.

* drawings and specifications for the Kelley Creek Walking Trail Phase II, that loops around Kelley Park up to M Street and set the date to receive bids for May 7

* award the bid for $38,446 to Danko Emergency Equipment Company, representing Federal Signal Corp., the lowest acceptable bid, for two outdoor warning sirens

* receive and file a $239 claim filed from a city resident whose pickup windshield was damaged around 1 p.m., Feb. 13, by a dislodged rock thrown up by a city snowplow

* the request from the Red Willow County Fair Board for the use of four sets of bleachers for the bull riding event scheduled April 10-11, and for the mayor to sign an indemnification agreement

* adopt a resolution granting a Waiver of Payment in Lieu of Taxes to the McCook Housing Authority

A public hearing will start off the meeting, required by state law, for the application from Schmick's Market for off-sale and on-sale liquor licenses.

The council has also been asked to officially designate the month of April 2009 as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" and "Child Abuse Prevention Month" and April 12-18, 2009 as "National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week."