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Next phase of walking trail on the horizon
McCOOK, Nebraska -- City staff will present the McCook City Council with a grant application that requests assistance from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Recreational Trails Program, for the third phase of the McCook walking trail. Approval to proceed with the grant request will be considered during their semi-monthly meeting, Monday evening, 7:30 p.m., at Memorial Auditorium.
The next phase of the walking trail will begin on East H Street and move in a southeast direction to East 11th Street. Total cost of the phase is estimated at $142,000 with 80 percent of that picked up by the grant. The city's 20 percent portion will be $28,400, which has already been budgeted for in the 2011-12 budget.
The collective bargaining agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding between the city and the McCook Police officers union will also be considered for approval.
Changes to the collective bargaining agreement have already been adopted into the 2011-12 budget and include:
* Police officers will no longer be required to maintain a separate professional license with the state as either an EMS provider, EMT or First Responder. The union has agreed to continue to respond to ambulance calls and be trained in CPR and basic first aid.
Specific language was added to clarify the role of a 32 hour per week employee.
"Field Training Officer" will be added to the list of employee duties that qualify for 5 percent premium pay, when actual field training is taking place.
The lodge will be allowed to use Police department facilities for its meetings.
Language will be included that sets the rate for health insurance premiums for the length of the contract.
An addendum that modifies the agreement between the city and the McCook Humane Society will be presented for approval. The addendum authorizes the $1,000 annual increase for the McCook Humane Society, which was approved during the Sept. 6, City Council meeting.
The annual increase was less than the $3,000 the McCook Humane Society had requested.
The request for an increase sparked comments from Mayor Dennis Berry that he would rather put the funds toward payroll increases for city employees. The recently approved 2011-12 Fiscal Year Employee Classification Pay Plan, which includes cost of living, merit and longevity increases, are calculated to result in approximately a 6.2 percent annual pay increase from prior year.
If approval for the addendum is granted, the cost to the City of McCook for the McCook Humane Society will be $44,000 for 2011-12. The North Platte animal shelter, which has a strict 3-day euthanasia policy, is budgeted to cost the City of North Platte $258,772 during that same time-period.
The third and final reading required for proposed water and sewer rate increases will be considered. The increases are projected to be an average of $14 annually on residential sewer bills and an average of $13 annually on residential water bills. The new rates will be effective Oct. 1, 2011, if they receive final approval during meeting.
The West Central Nebraska Area Agency on Aging has approved an increase to the eligible meal reimbursement for the McCook Heritage Senior Center. The increase is estimated to bring the reimbursement amount for congregate and home delivered meals to $65,541, which is an increase of $3,241.
Councilors will consider granting approval to modify the 2012 contract to allow for the increase.
Changes to the application for public transportation assistance will be considered for approval. The total cost to fund the McCook Public Transit System, for fiscal year 2011-12, is $106,610. The City of McCook will be responsible for $23,753 of that amount, which is a decrease from the prior years $25,452.
The public transit system is a Monday through Friday dial-a-ride system available to anyone, regardless of age, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a $1 fee for each one-way trip. For more information, or to make an appointment, call 308-345-6098.
Other items on the consent and regular agenda:
Council members will consider the third and final reading pertaining to the donation of a city owned lot to the McCook Economic Development Corp. The lot is located at the corner of East Second and C streets.
The McCook Library Foundation intends to gift property located at 806 Norris Avenue to the City of McCook. The gift is contingent upon the closing of a sale of the property between Paul L. Orvis, personal representative of the estate of Lawrence L. Orvis, and the McCook Library Foundation.
A progress report detailing the preliminary phasing plan for a project that focuses on improvements to East H Street will be presented to city council members for approval. The report focuses on details that will be distributed during an Oct. 10 public meeting at the Heritage Senior Center.
A change order that will increase the cost of the East O Street paving project by $7,500 will be considered. The change order was necessary to remove saturated soils that were discovered once asphalt was removed.
A resolution setting the property tax request for 2011-12 at a different amount than it was for prior year will be considered. It is the final step in the required budget process and follows a public hearing on the matter, which city staff coordinated in August. The levy amount will remain at the same $.319044, which is less than the $.45 maximum allowed levy for the city.
The McCook Chamber of Commerce has applied for a special liquor license for a mixer at Wagner Chevrolet on Oct. 19, 2011.
AmFirst Bank has requested to use portions of Kelley Park and the walking trail for a 5K cross country road race on Oct. 22, 2011.
United Way has requested to use city streets for their 11th annual United Way Fun Run and 5K Race on Sept. 24, 2011.
Sehnert's Bakery and Bieroc Cafe has requested a special liquor license for an Oct. 15 reception at the Keystone Business Center.
Sept. 9, 2011 story
"Berry's comments reference the 2 percent wage increase to city employees, which references the 2 percent across the board cost of living adjustment that council approved for the 2011-12 employee pay plan. That number in itself drew some criticism because it was higher than 1.4 percent national consumer price index cost of living increase, prompting Kircher to casually suggest during an August city council meeting that reducing it to match the 1.4 would free up dollars to fund a Humane Society increase. With no support for the suggestion Kircher did not make an official motion.
Berry's 2 percent wage increase reference also does not take into consideration longevity and merit increases. The two percent cost of living adjustment equated to $61,086 across all departments, merit increases came in even higher at $76,487 and longevity increases totaled $52,388. The actual increase in payroll, including cost of living, merit and longevity, calculates to approximately 6.2 percent annually."
Numbers pulled from 2011-12 Fiscal Year City of McCook budget and confirmed with City Clerk, prior to story being published.
Thanks for you interest and comments.
Bruce Baker -City Editor