Police chief: High speed chase proved need for new radio equipment

McCOOK, Neb. — The recent high-speed chase on U.S. Highway 83 highlighted the need for new communications equipment the department will be getting, McCook Police Chief Joel Smith told the McCook City Council Monday night at the regular meeting.

On Dec. 29, McCook Police officers were attempting to arrest a man with the stolen truck at Walmart when he drove away, heading north on U.S. Highway 83. Traveling more than 100 miles per hour and driving toward oncoming traffic at times north of Maywood, the truck drove through a pasture and returned to U.S. 83 and headed south. Spike strips were reportedly deployed at some point, and a Nebraska State Patrol trooper was finally able to perform a “tactical vehicle intervention” to stop the vehicle.

Smith said with current dispatch equipment, city police officers involved with the chase could not communicate with others once the pursuit left city limits, including with the State Patrol. This was a hindrance for all of the law enforcement involved, he said.

The incident was a “poster child as to why we need a new radio console,” Smith said. “From the officer safety standpoint, the new equipment is very needed.”

When asked by Councilman Jerry Calvin when the new equipment would be installed and ready to use, Smith said that would be sometime in March or April.

In other business, City staff is waiting to hear back from the local natural resources district concerning a piece of city property a private citizen wants to buy.

The property is west of the 2100 block of Norris Ave., going west through Kelley Park to West Third. Phil Lyons, attorney for Scott Snyder, talked to the McCook City Council Monday night and said Snyder already owns property in the area that are separated by city-owned property that includes Kelley Creek. Snyder would like to purchase that property to make one full lot. Snyder has no interest in underground utilities, Lyons said, adding that the only easement he’s aware of is a sanitary sewer easement.

City Manager Nate Schneider said he’s contacted the Middle Republican Natural Resources District as Kelley Creek flows to the Republican River and the MRNRD has jurisdiction over the river. Schneider said he wants to know if there are legal obligations to follow if the property is sold. There is also a 15-inch sanitary sewer that runs through the property, he said.

When information from the MRNRD is received, it will be forwarded to Lyons and also to the city council at a future meeting.

According to a memo city staff found, the property was originally acquired by the city in the early 1980s through a bankruptcy, Schneider said. The memo mentioned that there may be some limitations on the land but didn’t go into detail as to what those were, he said.

Councilman Jerry Calvin asked if that area was configured at some point to be part of McCook’s walking trail. Schneider said in speaking with Public Works Director Kyle Potthoff, that area had been included in the Master plan for the walking trail, beginning from West Third.

Councilman Gene Weedin questioned if the property had to be appraised before it was sold and Schneider said anything over $100,000 must be appraised per state statute; anything under that amount can get a market analysis, something that was done about four years ago for ballpark ground, he said.

Weedin continued that based on what the council has done in the past in selling city property, the property in question would be put up for bid or auction and go through three readings in that process. Schneider confirmed this and said for this property, “it would be a little unwieldy, but doable.”

The council also heard an update Monday night on the creation of a regional land bank with other municipalities.

On Dec. 9, representatives from local municipalities met regarding the creation of a regional land bank, and those attending discussed a proposed ordinance drafted by McCook City Attorney, Nate Mustion. At that meeting, participants also discussed having meetings at different sites in order to generate greater participation and discussion.

Three locations have been selected to host those meetings, Mustion told the council Monday night. North Platte, McCook, and Elwood have been tapped as sites with the next regional land bank meeting sometime at the end of January/the beginning of February.

Community representatives are still interested in joining the land bank, Mustion said and spreading out the locations of meetings will make it easier for them to participate.