Dump truck, Habitat house on city agenda

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council will be asked to confirm an emergency purchase, bypassing the usual bidding process, at its regular meeting Monday, 5:30 p.m. at the City Municipal Building.

Council members will also discuss the request to use abandoned property on West Fourth for a Habitat for Humanity home.

The council normally votes on accepting the lowest responsible bid for city equipment that costs more than $30,000, but it hasn’t worked out that way for a water department dump truck. In 2020, city staff requested, and the City Council approved, $60,000 in the 2020-21 budget to purchase a used, mid-sized dump truck. In 2019, the water department’s 1984 Ford dump truck developed engine problems and had to be removed from service, with the repairs deemed more costly than the truck itself. City staff said the truck is needed almost every day and is used to pull trailers, haul equipment to the worksite, remove concrete and mud away from a leak and transport dry dirt for backfill.

A search began for a used truck and city staff found the mid-size truck is extremely popular with contractors and other cities, as they are more adaptable to city traffic and narrow streets, yet can still have a load capacity of 10 tons or more and can tow a trailer. The search included not only in Nebraska but in bordering states as well, with none of the dealers willing to hold the trucks while staff worked through the city’s bidding process. Staff was told by dealers it was “first come, first served,” according to the city’s manager report.

A 2016 Freightliner was located in Hastings, Neb., in good condition that had all the specifications the city is looking for but was told by the dealer in Hastings that he would not hold the truck while the city worked through the bid process. Based on the $39,000 price, city staff determined it was the best chance of getting a truck for a reasonable price and not having to travel too far to get it.

The other next best prospect was in Texas.

An emergency purchase is allowed under the city’s code of ordinances if it is an event that interrupts the normal administration of city services, thereby jeopardizing the life, health and convenience of the citizens. City staff has determined the inability to purchase a used dump truck with the traditional bidding process falls under the emergency purchase clause.

The ordinance also requires a report of the circumstance of an emergency purchase to be filed with the council if the amount is more than $30,000.

The council will also hear from Kent Been Monday night, who is the local coordinator for Habitat for Humanity.The non-profit would like to use the property at 1107 W. Fourth for a future home.

The property was badly damaged in 2018 when a fire occurred. City staff took all the legal steps to notify the owner on record, Sarah L. Wederski, %Leland and Elisabeth Kleckner, of North Platte, Neb., that the property was declared unsafe by the city building inspector, then moved forward with demolition. A special assessment of $15,326, the costs of demolition, was issued against the property and the property has remained abandoned for about two years.

Habitat for Humanity would like the City Council to determine if the lot could be given to their group for a residential home to be constructed, or, if the council would sell the lot at a discounted price. The council on Monday night will decide how it wants to proceed with the request.

The only other regular agenda item Monday night is to receive and file the application citizens can fill out to be considered for an appointment to a city board, commission or committee.

There is only one consent agenda item, to ratify the mayor’s appointments to the Economic Development Plan Loan Committee - appoint Aaron Peterson to replace Kent Kilpatrick - term expired March 2025; the Library Advisory Board - reappoint Mary Dueland and Kevin Cochran - terms expire June 2025; and to the Board of Health - reappoint Nate Schneider, Joel Smith, Mike Gonzales, Dr. Jason Blomstedt, and Mary Beth Eisenmenger - terms expire June 2022.

The council will also be asked to approve two proclamations, one designating May 15 as “Police Officers Memorial Day” and the week of May 9-15, 2021, as “Police Week” and another that declares the week of May 2-8, 2021, as “Drinking Water Week.”