New liquor license approved; inmate program discussed

MCCOOK, Neb. -- A Class C liquor license will now be available to businesses selling alcohol, with fees for other liquor licenses staying the same for now.

The council suspended the three-reading rule to unanimously approve the creation of the Class C liquor license, so a request for this type of license can be processed before Feb. 27. Following state statute, the council set the fee for a Class C license at $300. With council approval of the Class C license, a request for that license by a business will be brought to the council for approval at its Feb. 20 meeting, according to the council packet.

Before 2014, those who requested a Class C license (that permits a business to sell beer, wine and distilled spirits on and off sale) had to have the approval of the majority of its citizens. State law changed this in 2014 by allowing businesses to apply for a Class C license without voter approval.

In 2014, an ordinance was introduced to the McCook City Council that would create a Class C license, along with changing alcoholic beverages licensing fees to follow state standards. It was not adopted due to concerns of adopting new licensing fees.

At Monday night's regular council meeting, the council approved unanimously the creation of the Class C license but did not approve changing licensing fees from what they are now. Currently, liquor licenses in McCook are varied, with some higher and some lower than the state-established rates. Instead, Mayor Mike Gonzales said they would take that issue up separately at a future meeting.

In other business, the council heard an update on a two-year-old program in McCook that is teaching prison offenders new trades in the construction business.

Mark Wentz, assistant executive director of the Lincoln-based inmate training program Prairie Gold Homes, told the board that the program plans to continue "as long as we can build."

The program is funded by the Nebraska State Department of Corrections and trains eligible inmates at the McCook Work Ethic Camp, as well as inmates from other communities, construction skills, interview and resume skills and helps them find entry-level jobs in the industry.

Wentz estimated the house on the 400 block of Apollo at 65-70 percent done, with the first house on East I completed. "Local contractors have been amazing to work with," he said. Of the 19 people who have completed the program since July, 18 have found jobs in the construction industry, with one working in another field.

After completing the program here, inmates go to a community correction center in Lincoln, where resume and interview techniques are learned. The program has contacts with construction companies and contractors who are willing to hire the inmates.

The program is unique as it begins when the offender is still incarcerated and gives inmates more than just a certificate but actual skills, Wentz said. In some cases, other help is given as well, such as buying tools necessary for a trade, he said.

WEC offenders eligible for the program must have a record of good behavior and be near the end of their sentences. They also must have either a GED or high school diploma.