Sports Complex Committee encourages collaboration

McCOOK, Neb. - The McCook City Council appointed thirteen residents to the newly formed Sports Complex Committee during its meeting on October 7. The committee will be tasked with planning and developing a much-anticipated sports complex.

The council unanimously approved the appointments of 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. The committee held its first regular meeting on October 15, which was attended by representatives from Miller and Associates, Megan Shada and Craig Bennett, who are assisting with the redevelopment plans, as well as City Manager Nate Schneider, Public Works Director Kyle Potthoff and Public Works Supervisor Tyler Kalinski.

Schneider encouraged public participation in the committee’s discussions, stating, “We want to encourage as many people to be involved in the discussion as possible.” He emphasized that these committee members will form the voting group responsible for making recommendations to the City Council for final approval.

Regarding recent negotiations over the purchase of land owned by the Walters family for the complex, Schneider expressed confidence in the deal’s fairness. “I think this will start an elegant building project for our community.

For years, I’ve heard people complain that the city of McCook has not been proactive. We’re being proactive right now,” he remarked.

At the inaugural committee meeting, Schneider shared his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “I hope this group is excited to be a part of this. We’re excited to have you as part of this. I think this is going to be a lot of fun.” He highlighted the transition from initial discussions to more creative aspects of the project, where the committee can explore designs for the sports complex.

The meeting was structured to encourage collaboration among members. Schneider welcomed input and then handed the floor to Shada and Bennett from Miller and Associates to discuss the land and redevelopment plan.

Bennett outlined the following steps, focusing on envisioning what the community wants to see in the sports complex area. He stated, “Our ultimate goal is to create a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for architectural and engineering firms to bid on so that we could use ARPA funds to secure the design fee for the consultant.”

Schneider added urgency to the project timeline, explaining that the ARPA funds must be obligated by December 31. He pushed the committee to complete the RFQ and select a firm promptly. “We want to ensure we’re under contract by December 31 so we can use those funds effectively,” he noted.

With strong community involvement and a clear timeline, the Sports Complex Committee is poised to make significant strides in bringing this project to fruition, transforming McCook’s recreational landscape.