City considers Essential Air Service bids

Local officials got a first-hand look Monday at one of the aircraft used by Denver Air Connection, one of five carriers bidding for the Essential Air Service contract serving McCook.

Bruce Crosby/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council will meet Tuesday, Jan. 11, 6 p.m., for a joint meeting with the Airport Advisory Commission on reviewing essential air service providers.

The meeting will be in the fire department training room, upstairs at the City Municipal Building.

The current EAS provider is Boutique Air. The city has received proposals to provide essential air service at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport from five providers: Air Charter Express, Boutique Air, Key Lime Air, d/b/a Denver Air Connection, Multi-Aero d/b/a Choice One and Southern Airways Express.

After Tuesday’s meeting, the Airport Advisory Commission will meet the following day to make a recommendation on which provider to use, with that recommendation forwarded to the Jan. 17 city council meeting.

Essential air service contracts, typically for two years, are funded by the federal government so small, regional airports can provide service.

The council also approved Wednesday, Feb. 2, 7 p.m., at the city auditorium for a town hall meeting concerning the swimming pool.

The engineer for the swimming pool will be present for the meeting.

The McCook Swimming Pool committee will meet before the townhall meeting.