New city welcome signs on the way

McCOOK, Neb. — Illuminated entryway signs for the city could be completed later this year.

The McCook City Council heard details Monday night of the four, monument-style signs that would be placed on the east, west, north and south entrances to the city.

It’s been a work in progress, as locations first selected in 2021 by the city for the signs were on right-of-ways owned by the Nebraska Department of Transportation and ineligible for the signs. Since then, the NDOT, along with city staff, scouted other locations where the signs could be located, deciding on four new locations.

City Manager Nate Schneider told the council that the city asked for a quote from another firm and that the sign selection committee chose a quote, good through the end of February, from Tri-City Sign Company of Grand Island, Neb., at $29,875. The council previously allocated $30,000 of city sale tax revenue to the entrance sign project. As the project is less than $30,000, the city’s formal bidding process was not required. No voting on the quote was done Monday night; at an upcoming council meeting, the council will have to formally approve the quote.

At Monday night’s council meeting, Perry Strombeck of Tri City Sign Company was present to answer questions from the council. Each sign is four feet, eight inches tall and nine feet in width, established on a fixed base. The signs are made of plexiglass that are internally illuminated by LED panels. He said a pole will go through the center of the sign and be welded internally to the cabinet and go down six feet underground, anchored with concrete. The city would be responsible to provide the holes needed to place the pipe to anchor the sign and the cost of concrete.

Councilman Jared Muehlenkamp asked about the black shadow lettering of the sign and said that it might be difficult to read in a distance. Schneider said another mock-up of a sign could be made with just the red lettering. Councilman Gene Weedin asked about maintenance, with Strombeck responding that there would be little maintenance, other than damage. The LEDs will last for about 10 years and those panels would not go out at the same time, he explained. A warranty is included in the quote.

Strombeck said he had no problems with the locations of the signs, other than the one on the east entrance, on U.S. Highways 6-34, where the sign is located on the left hand of the road on city-owned property at Karrer Park. It’s not ideal as it’s not on the right-hand side of the road, he said, but the Nebraska Department of Roads owns all the right-of-way access on the right side of the road.

Another location where the entryway sign is located on the right side of the road is on the south entrance to the city, on U.S. Highway 83 next to Barnett Park. But because the highway is somewhat on an angle, he doesn’t see a problem with it, Strombeck said.

A member of the public, Rose Weskamp, who said she owned a sign company, said she had concerns about the plexiglass being adequately secured to the frame because of the wind. Strombeck said the plexiglass is secured with clips around the sign.

Sign locations are: east entrance, on U.S. Highways 6-34 at Karrer Park; west entrance, U.S. Highway 6 across from Westview Plaza; south entrance, on U.S. Highway 83 on Barnett Park property; and north, on U.S. Highway 83 by the Nebraska Public Power District.

The McCook Fire Department now has a state-of-the-art fire simulation trailer.

Lorri Sughroue/McCook Gazette

Mayor Linda Taylor expressed excitement about the signs and asked that it be put on the council’s agenda for the next meeting.

McCook City Councilman Darcy Rambali, from left, Mayor Linda Taylor and Councilman Jared Muehlenkamp react to a “fire” in the new fire safety simulator trailer Monday night after the city council meeting. The state-of-the-art trailer includes motion-activated sensors, such as the “burning” stove and oven, when electronic prompts guide kids to appropriate actions. It also has virtual reality components in potential fire situations and sections in the back for propane, natural gas and electrical fire situations. The trailer was purchased with a federal grant for just under $200,000 with a 5% city match.

Lorri Sughroue/McCook Gazette