Solar zoning discussion, walking trail grant on agenda

McCOOK, Neb. — No action will be taken, but the McCook City Council will discuss a zoning change to allow a 55-megawatt AC solar electric generating facility covering about 551 acres of land northwest of McCook.

Consultant Keith Marvin will help the council review the application via Zoom at Monday’s meeting, which begins at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers in the Municipal Building. Brice Barton of 39 North, representing McCook Solar LLC, will be present at the meeting.

The council will also be asked to approve an application for a grant to help extend the McCook Recreational Trail from the U.S. 6-34/U.S. 83 intersection north to Q Street, with a pedestrian crosswalk at West J.

That crosswalk would lead to the Norris Prairie Arboretum and Study Center, which should help obtain the $250,000 grant from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Recreational Trails Program. The Community Hospital Health Foundation has committed $200,000 to the project, with the city picking up $22,568.50 of the $615,934.50 total cost.

The council will also be asked to provide a letter of support for a proposed all-inclusive playground in Kelley Park to replace the existing structure. The existing structure is in need of $50,000 in repairs.

Along with adopting the budget on the first reading, the council will be asked to consider raising the residential trash collection fee from $26.25 to $27.25 and household commercial waste fee from $77 a ton to $83, and the yard waste collection fee by $1 to $6.

The city manager’s annual evaluation is also on the agenda as a closed session, and a contract with Capital City Concepts LLC to conduct a comparability study to establish compensation parameters for city employees.

Other items include nuisance abatements requests by the Health Board for 103 S. Seventh and 110 S. Ninth, and a request by Jerry Reitz to remove a special assessment against property at 810 W. Fourth. Reitz asks to demolish an existing nuisance property at his own expense and combine the lot with his adjacent property.

Other routine items:

• special designated liquor licenses for Ambriz Ventures for a wedding reception at Memorial Auditorium on Sept. 30 and Just 1 More Bar and Grill for a wedding reception at the Red Willow County Community Building, also on Sept. 30

• a request from Telcom Construction to replace a telephone cable at 704 W. Third

• reappointment of Jesse Stevens, Kurt Vosburg and Matt Davidson and Mary Keslin and appoint Matthey Duffield to replace John Deon to Senior Citizens Advisory Board

• a request from Ronda Graff to utilize city streets and walking trails for the Heritage Days Road Race on Oct. 14.

• referring to the city’s insurance carrier damage claims from Amanda Shrout for $210 and another for an unspecified amount from Kenny Yeager.