Will Kelley Park land go to college?

Saturday, March 4, 2006

Council members will consider whether to give land located in Kelley Park to McCook Community College for their proposed 47,000 square feet Event Center, at their regular council meeting 7:30 Monday night at City Council Chambers.

The area the college is requesting would encompass the current tennis courts, the parking lot and access road north of the tennis courts, and all of the property between Bolles Canyon Road and Kelley Park Road.

The proposed site does not include the current playground equipment or the upper picnic shelter house.

The Parks Advisory Board voted 4-0 to approve the land transfer. City Attorney Ronda Vetrovsky has determined that the proposed use by the College would be allowable.

Final transfer of property will depend on the approval of the project by the Mid-Plains Community College Area Board of Governors and by the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Post Secondary Education, as well as adequate funding for the building projects.

If the city agrees to transfer the land, the college has agreed to replace the concrete slab used for skateboarding at an agreed upon location, and relocate the DAR building and trees to another site.

The status of Consent Decree payments will be received and filed by the council. As part of the $49,500 civil penalty payment McCook paid to the state as mandated by the Consent Decree, $40,393 will be given to McCook Public Schools. Fines are refunded to school districts and distributed according to the School District System Census Report for Red Willow County, according to the city manager's report.

Other disbursements include Southwest School District 17, $7,369, Fitch District 8, $929.90, District 41, $508.96, and Cambridge, $298. The schools will receive payment this month.

The city also paid $75,000 on Feb. 16, that was due to the federal government.

Council members will consider the creation of and appointments to the city/county jail committee. Reuben Hoff. chairman of the Red Willow County Jail Task Force, has proposed that the committee consist of the mayor of McCook, one city council member, the city manager and the city attorney. The committee will also include the Board of Commissioner Chairman, the chairman and one member of the Task Force, and the County attorney.

Council members will discuss the possibility of whether the police or fire chief should be included on this committee.

In other business, the City Council will consider:

* the approval of using funds from the STP Enhancement Program for Phase I of the Kelley Park Trail

* receive and file an update on the deep well injection well.

* consider the city manager contract.

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