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Key questions addressed ahead of November vote
McCOOK, Neb.- McCook Public Schools administration, several school board members, and project experts gathered on Oct. 8 for an informative meeting and tour to address public inquiries. Speakers included Tobin Buchanan from Northland Securities, Adam Streck, pre-construction manager at Sampson Construction, and Greg Wolford, professional engineer and president of W Design Associates.
During the presentations, attendees were encouraged to voice their questions. One concerned resident, a young woman who graduated from McCook schools and is now a farmer, raised a significant concern regarding the financial implications of the proposed bond. She inquired, “My husband and I own ten-quarters of irrigated land. Does that mean we will have to pay $9,280 every year for the next 30 years?”
Buchanan confirmed her calculations, explaining, “Your math is correct. The figures presented tonight reflect current bond rates and property valuations. If there are no refinancings or early payoffs, your assessment is accurate. However, historically, bonds often get refinanced, which can lead to savings. For example, the current bond has been refinanced three times, saving nearly $1 million in interest on a bond just under $6 million.”
Another attendee raised concerns about ongoing structural issues within the school building. “What is causing the structure to fail, and can this issue be isolated to prevent similar problems in the new building?” asked the participant.
Wolford responded, providing insight into the building’s condition. “Yes, we have identified the problem. There’s a leak under a main bathroom area, saturating the ground. While the building itself is not in imminent danger, repairs are necessary. Fixing this would require extensive work, including gutting the entire space to address the saturated soil and replacing the bathroom.”
When questioned about the source of the leak, Wolford speculated, “It’s likely a water or sewer line that has gradually shifted and begun to leak over time. Additionally, we are currently constructing a wall to redirect water runoff, as everything flows downhill toward the back of the building.”
Regarding the turnout of the event, Jeff Gross Business Manager for McCook Public Schools, shared, “We had 47 people attend the meeting in person. Another 162 watched the live stream. We were extremely happy with the turnout for the first event,” adding, “ We really encourage people to attend one of the remaining events to get an in-person look at the project and tour the current facility.” The live stream is posted and can still be viewed on the McCook Public Schools YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WOGacalDU0.