County turns down housing pledge, tower rental contract

McCOOK, Neb. -- With the county essentially borrowing money from itself to balance this year’s budget, and with unexpected expenses that could result from two murder trials, Red Willow County Commissioners declined Monday to commit $25,000 toward a low-interest workforce housing grant.

McCook Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Andy Long asked for the commitment toward matching funds if the MEDC is successful in obtaining state grants to create a $750,000 fund for new mid-priced housing or major rehabilitation.

A similar request will be considered by the McCook City Council at its meeting Monday, Dec. 21.

The MEDC already has commitments from the McCook Community Development Corp., MNB Bank, Pinnacle Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, McCook Community Builders, First Central Bank, and Warren Jones.

Long said the grant program was last available in 2017, and while it is unlikely to be offered next year, could be offered again in a few years, especially if it proves to be a success this year.

In September, commissioners were able to balance the budget by transferring or arranging to transfer, if needed, money between the general, self-insurance, road and bridge and inheritance tax funds.

Also creating the potential for county expense are the case of a woman who allegedly shot her husband to death and a man who allegedly shot another man to death.

Commissioners also turned down an offer from Parallel Towers III LLC to rent a 100-by-100-foot piece of county property in the southwest corner of the county’s Household Hazardous Waste property in south McCook, for $6,000 a year, payable at $500 a month, for a communications tower.

Commission Chairman Earl McNutt said he was concerned the tower would crowd the HHW building, making it difficult to load semi-trucks.