Budget hearing moved to Wednesday

McCOOK, Neb. -- City leaders are busy crunching numbers ahead of next week's public review of the proposed 2016-17 City of McCook budget. Citizens with priority items or ideas they believe warrant budget consideration should contact city department heads this week, City Manager Nate Schneider advised this morning. "It's a good time to come in and discuss those things," he said during a visit with the Gazette.

City department heads will recap each department's proposed budget during a public review meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 10, at City Council chambers. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. and should provide the most in-depth discussion around upcoming budget priorities, including forecasted revenue and expenditures, sales tax allocations and any proposed staffing changes.

The public review meeting was originally scheduled earlier in the week.

The 2016-17 budget is scheduled for first reading approval on Aug. 15, with discussion at-that-time likely to focus on revisions to the proposed budget made after the public review meeting. Second reading approval is scheduled during a special meeting on Aug. 29 and final reading approval is planned for Sept. 6.

City Council convened in executive session Monday evening for the annual review of Schneider's job performance.

Also during Monday's meeting, Schmick's Market was granted a special liquor license for a dance/reception at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds on Aug. 13. Changes to the city code presented on second reading were approved and included increasing the fee for requesting a zoning variance from $25 to $75, among others.

A pair of proposed ordinances implementing new construction contractor permit requirements, and repealing conflicting or duplicate language, was also approved on third and final reading.

Leigh Farrell and Mary Pate were reappointed to the Tree Advisory Board and Dave McCarty was appointed to fill the remaining term for Greg Pennington expiring in 2018.

McCook Christian Church was also authorized to close West C Street, from West 4th Street to West 5th Street, on Aug. 21 from 2-8 p.m. for a "Big Back Yard Party" event.