Jail, safety center funding to voters

Tuesday, August 8, 2006

One councilman resigned, a contract was offered to a new city manager, and voters will be asked to approve a bond issue for a combined city/county jail and safety center.

McCook City Councilman Bill Longnecker announced his resignation Monday night, citing personal and business setbacks.

In a subdued but steady voice, Longnecker read a statement that said, in part, that although the decision to resign from the council and from the McCook Economic Development Corp. was "difficult and painful," it was essential at this time to do so.

"It's imperative to focus on my personal life and jewelry business at this time," he explained.

The resignation will be addressed as an agenda item at the next council meeting.

Council members also voted to begin contract negotiations with Kurt Fritsch for the city manager position, with Councilman Jim Kenny casting the only nay vote.

Fritsch, who was interviewed July 31, last served as city manager from 1999-2003 in North Las Vegas, a city of 145,000.

Councilman Phil Lyons cast the only nay vote against a question on the Nov. 7 ballot that will ask McCook voters if they want the city to issue bonds, not to exceed $2.55 million, for the city's portion of the proposed safety center/jail.

The city's portion would support the construction of a new police and fire station.

The city would not issue the bonds if voters failed to approve the county's portion of the proposed safety center/jail, at $5.1 million. The county bonds would support the construction of a new sheriff's office and jail.

Mayor Dennis Berry also asked City Clerk/Co-City Manager Lea Ann Doak if the deadline had passed to put a half-cent city sales tax on the ballot as well, with revenues from the tax to be applied toward water rate increases.

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