Sports complex property purchased, committee named

McCOOK, Neb. — The city closed on property for a sports complex, housing, and commercial development, and a committee to oversee the details of the sports complex has been selected.

At Monday night’s meeting, City Manager Nate Schneider announced that the purchase was completed on Oct. 2, and an agreement was reached to use the $250,000 the McCook Economic Development Corp. provided for the project. The city will repay that amount over time by selling lots after the subdivision reaches financial stability.

As for the committee, Schneider said, “The individuals that have been selected are people who are familiar with different amenities that we’ll probably be seeing out there at the sports complex, whether it’s softball, baseball, soccer, flag football, whatever the case may be. We’ve got a group of people who are pretty understanding of what needs to be done and what we need to prioritize.”

Lance Gillen, Karen Bortner, Dan Sattler, Staci Blomstedt, Tacie Fawver, Steve Miller, Danny Gullion, Craig Dickes, Darcy Rambali, Jared Muehlenkamp, John Walters, Deborah Walters, Christian Conroy, and Jessica Bedore have been appointed to the Sports Complex Committee. The committee meetings will be open to the public. 

A meeting is scheduled with the Sports Complex Committee and Miller and Associates, which will assist with conceptual designs and the subdivision process. Officials are working on a Request for Qualifications to select a firm to design the ballpark.

The Council approved Mayor Linda Taylor’s appointment to the Airport Advisory Commission, naming Austin Lambing for a term expiring in November 2025. The Planning Commission reappointments include Chad Lyons and Jamie Mockry, with terms lasting until September 2027 and the appointment of Mark Currier as an alternate, with a term expiring in March 2027.

The Council approved a proclamation making the week of Oct. 6 Fire Prevention Week.

“This year’s theme is that smoke alarms make them work for you,” Fire Chief Marc Harpham said, “So we’re out in the schools ... putting out that message, sending information home with the children, to hit home and share with the parents, talking about the importance of having working smoke detectors in the home.” 

Harpham said the McCook City Fire Department kicked off Fire Prevention Week this year with a fire school through our Mutual Aid Association. “We have about 40 firefighters here from 13 different communities.” He proudly added, “It was good to see firefighters from far distances away come to our conference.” 

Araceli Santos-Ayala, Community Service Coordinator for Community Action Partnership of Mid Nebraska, was joined by her predecessor, Barb Ostrum, to request funds from the City Council to cover the rental fees of the Heritage Senior Center for the “Share the Heat” fundraising event that will take place Oct. 27.

“We’ve been doing this for around 45 years. I think I’m up to about that. We raise money through local churches and the local private to help people pay their heating bills in the winter,” Ostrum said. She also emphasized the need for volunteers. “We need help that day; it would be nice for young people to move tables, wipe tables off, and things like that.”

Those interested in volunteering for the “Share the Heat” fundraiser can contact the Community Action Partnership at (308) 345-1187.