It wasn't all big bricks-and-mortar projects

While McCook's major projects captured most of the attention, there was much more to the community's growth story in 2005 than the new elementary school and water treatment plant.

That is revealed by a review of the year's building permits. From January through November, the city issued 105 permits for projects costing $24.2 million. The water and school projects accounted for the overwhelming majority of the money -- more than $22 million -- but that still left close to $2 million in projects started in 2005, and even more than that when work which originated in 2004 is counted.

Five 2005 projects were highlighted in Thursday's editorial for their potential long-lasting impact on the community. Those projects are the water treatment plant, the McCook Elementary School, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation building, the U.S. Highway 6-34 improvement and the McCook Public Power expansion.

A number of other projects, started and/or completed in 2005, will also make a major difference in the community. The improvements, which stretch from the east to west ends of the community, include the nearly half million dollars invested by Red Willow Aviation, the $500,000 renovation of Holiday Inn Express, the $477,000 upgrade of the McCook transfer station and the $240,000 remodeling of the emergency room and admissions area at Community Hospital.

The work at Red Willow Aviation includes a 100 by 120 foot hangar building, big enough to accommodate four Beech King Airs. The Fixed Base Operator, Griff Malleck, is now in negotiation with an air ambulance provider as well as other companies to utilize the spacious hangar. In combination with the new $1.5 million Instrument Landing System, scheduled for installation in 2006, the improvements will represent a major step forward at the airport.

In McCook, 2005 also featured 18 commercial remodeling projects, costing $609,586; five new houses, $659,000; 43 residential remodelings, $296,987; eight new garages, $171,300; and 14 new signs, $46,475.

Added together, the 2005 projects represent a substantial investment in the community. And the outlook is bright for another banner construction year in 2006, with the Community Hospital rehabilitation project and the Instrument Landing System among the improvements scheduled. "There's talk of other projects, including a condo development," said Doyle Wineland, the city building inspector. "It's shaping up as another exciting year for McCook on the building front."