McCook City Council meeting highlights collaboration

McCOOK, Neb. – The recent meeting of the McCook City Council began on a positive note as City Manager Nate Schneider read a heartfelt letter from Sarah Schneider, Director of the McCook Chamber of Commerce. In her message, she expressed immense gratitude for the city’s support during the successful “Noel on Norris” holiday event.

“On behalf of the McCook Chamber of Commerce, I would like to extend our sincerest thanks to the city of McCook and its dedicated staff,” the letter stated. “Your hard work and collaboration were instrumental in bringing the community together and creating an enjoyable experience for all who attended.” This year’s celebration saw record numbers of parade entries and event attendees, underscoring the significance of community involvement.

Mayor Linda Taylor expressed her appreciation for the McCook Chamber, “Thank you, Sarah; that was wonderful. Everybody enjoyed it.”

Amanda Engell, the Director of Housing Development for the McCook Economic Development Corporation, presented a strategic proposal to address the community’s growing housing needs.

City Manager Nate Schneider then provided an update on the highly anticipated Sports Complex project. “This is exciting,” he began, confirming the approval of Mammoth Sports Construction for the project. The city is currently vetting the contract with Mammoth, with plans to convene a Special Council meeting on Dec. 23 at noon to finalize details and allocate remaining ARPA funds toward the design contract.

Schneider emphasized the urgency and enthusiasm surrounding the project. “They are looking at an aggressive timeline, which is very exciting for us,” he noted. He also mentioned the need for additional discussion regarding the property subdivision and the complex’s overall objectives.

In other business, the Council approved Ordinance No. 2024-3094 on its third and final reading. The amendment to the City Code concerning dangerous dogs and hybrid animals enhances confiscation and impoundment regulations for such cases. Additionally, the Council conducted the first of three readings for Ordinance No. 2024-3092, which revises the Water Department’s guidelines on backflow control and cross-connection management, further strengthening the department’s authority in maintaining public water safety.

Multiple resolutions were introduced to rescind the classification of specific properties as nuisances, confirming that these issues have now been abated, per the findings of the Western Community Network for Development District (WCNDD).