A new idea for the old McCook landfill

I have an idea which I think has a lot of merit and should be pursued. The idea is this: I think McCook should capitalize on its kinship with the American Buffalo. To do this, I believe we need to convert the former city landfill -- between Walmart Super Center and Plains Equipment Group -- into a small buffalo preserve.

To accomplish this, we would need to enclose the former dump site with an extremely secure fencing system, while also assuring that the buffalo placed inside would be easily, but safely, visible to onlookers.

My idea was inspired by three things: 1. McCook was the one-time home of Buffalo Jones, who in my opinion did much more to celebrate and preserve the American Buffalo than did Buffalo Bill; 2. McCook has embraced, more than any other city, the "Buffalo Commons" title popularized by Frank and Deborah Popper; and, 3. Darrell Meister has already embarked on the Buffalo Preserve concept by starting a buffalo herd north of McCook, and, hopefully, could be persuaded to supply the seed stock for the Buffalo Preserve overlooking the busiest intersection in the Golden Plains of America.

On top of all that, I see no other constructive use for the former McCook landfill. Several years ago, I toyed with the idea of turning the ex-landfill into an eternal light display to memorialize George W. Norris and his greatest legislative initiative: the rural electrification of America. That idea is still alive but the memorial site is being moved to another location because the land at the former dump site is too precarious to safely install a lasting monument to Norris and the REA.

So, folks, how about it? What about having McCook host a place to honor the proud heritage of the American Buffalo? It would make use of a highly visible -- but unbuildable -- space, and would solidify McCook's place as the true center of America's Buffalo Commons.

Let me know what you think. Whether or not you agree or disagree with the idea, direct your letters of comment to: Open Forum, McCook Gazette, P.O. Box 1268, McCook, NE 69001.

Of course, I'm curious to see and hear what you think. If there is enough support, we'll take the idea to the McCook Economic Development Corp., the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce and the McCook City Council for their consideration about how to turn the idea into reality. If the idea doesn't fly, we will head back to the drawing board because, in this highly competitive and changing nation of more than 20,000 communities, it is fresh, practical and marketable ideas which are going to make the difference between growth and stagnation.

McCook is on the move, with fresh initiatives for growth launched by the McCook Economic Development Corp., the Marketing Hometown America movement and the Nebraska 150th/McCook 135th planning groups. Let's get involved. There's not time better than the present to learn from the past and get ready for the future.