Well drilling business moving to new home after decades in current spot

McCOOK, Neb. -- A commercial well service business operating south of McCook since the 1930s is moving to a new home just north of town.

Richard and Lisa Wilcox with Wilcox Well Drilling were granted a special exception Monday evening allowing their business to operate in an agricultural district north of McCook. City staff indicated the request wasn't unusual and the only questions remaining pertained to highway visibility and whether ingress or egress issues existed.

Richard Wilcox attended Monday's City Council meeting and said the property would be accessed via nearby county road 719 and therefore wouldn't present entrance or exit issues related to the highway.

He also indicated he preferred to keep as much of the operation as possible out-of-sight from nearby travelers for security reasons.

"We really don't have no intentions of putting anything out close to the highway," said Wilcox.

He said he planned to someday put up a bigger building east of the existing building on the new property, which would utilize existing trees to serve as a buffer from the highway.

Wilcox said he had visited with neighboring property owners to address concerns and indicated he didn't want to do anything that would create problems for them.

Wilcox Well Drilling is currently located south of McCook on U.S. Highway 83, southeast of Common Scents Greenhouses & Nursery. The business plans to purchase property north of McCook from Joe and Julie Gillespie of Gillespie Veterinary Service. The Gillespie property is located just to the southeast of the intersection between U.S. Highway 83 and Road 719.

City Council members thanked Wilcox for answering questions on the issue and unanimously approved granting the special exception.