Annual budget, city nuisance property on agenda Monday

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council will meet on Monday, Sept. 16 with a packed agenda that includes budget considerations for the upcoming fiscal year.

Among the highlights is Erica Bush's presentation on nuisance properties, which will include recommendations for abatement and rescinding prior declarations.

The council will also deliberate on resolutions to designate new nuisances while officially addressing existing issues.

Additionally, members will consider the proposed budget for FY 2024/2025, including adjustments to employee classification pay and water department rates, and discuss a motion to approve a gross annual salary of $152,329 for City Manager Nathan A. Schneider, bypassing the statutory three-reading requirement for ordinance approval. 

There will be three Public Hearings. The first will be held for a proclamation designating September 17-23, 2024, as “Constitution Week,” marking the 237th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. On behalf of the Thirty-seventh Star Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Shannon Corder requested this proclamation.

A second public hearing will discuss the proposed relocation of a house owned by Michael and Linda Nielsen. The property, currently located at 409 West 1st Street, is set to be moved to 72052 N US Hwy 83, which lies outside the jurisdiction of McCook. The final Public Hearing will consider the 2025 McCook Plan for Street Improvements, specifically West 14th Street.

The council will review modifications to the zoning ordinance, defining “shouse” (a workshop/living space structure) and prohibiting it in several residential districts) and Reducing the maximum height for accessory buildings from 35 feet to 25 feet in various residential districts while amending other height requirements.

Consent Agenda Items Include:

* Approve and authorize Mayor Linda Taylor to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of McCook and the McCook Professional Firefighters Association, Local 2100, allowing for one additional floating holiday to be added to the controlling collective bargaining agreement and amending the collective bargaining unit’s contractual pay grid to reflect the finds in the recently completed wage study.

* Declare the abandoned, unclaimed, surplus vehicles and property as surplus city property to be disposed of legally.

* Receive and file an Agreement for the Provision of Limited Professional Services with Miller & Associates, Consulting Engineers, P.C., to develop a Redevelopment Plan and assist with the preparation of Funding Application for the Municipal Infrastructure Aid Program (MIAP) for a Sportsplex in the City of McCook.

* Approve Resolution No. 2023-24 adopting the First Amendment to the City of McCook, Nebraska Firefighters Retirement, said amendment is to adopt certain changes enacted under the Cities of the First Class Firefighters Retirement Act, and to adopt other changes required by applicable law.

* Approve Resolution No. 2024-20 amending and updating the City of McCook’s employee handbook to include one additional floating holiday in Section 7.12 - Holidays.

* Receive and file the claims for the month of August 2024, published September 12, 2024.

* Approve Resolution No. 2024-26 authorizing the Mayor to sign the 2024 Municipal Annual Certification of Program Compliance to the Nebraska Board of Public Roads Classifications and Standards.

* Receive and file the Financial Report for the period ending August 31, 2024.

* Approve the Grant of License with Kyle Dellevoet (owner) and Nicholas Wright (owner under contract) for the use of a portion of City of McCook property located in Lot 1, Block 7, Second Addition to the City of McCook, Red Willow County, Nebraska, to install a 6’ wood privacy fence and authorize the Mayor to sign.