FEMA help for city unlikely

FEMA and NEMA representatives were in town recently, assessing possible damage from the back-to-back ice and snow storms, but it is unlikely the city will receive any major funds, said Public Director Kyle Potthoff.

The city had petitioned for funds due to the enormous amount of man hours put in by various city departments, as well as costs of equipment repair and extra fuel costs.

City Manager Kurt Fritsch "guesstimated" the costs of the storms at $40,000 but not all of that amount will be eligible for federal or state funds, he said. FEMA and NEMA representatives will be in the area assessing damages for the next month.

And new snow removal equipment may have to be purchased in the future, as the equipment the city is using is getting older.

The city is using snow removal equipment purchased from the Nebraska Department of Roads, with engines that already have logged plenty of hours.

Consent items approved unanimously include:

* award the bid for snow removal equipment at the McCook airport to Roehr's Machinery of Beatrice for $146,000, as recommend by the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics. The $153,000 project is being funded by a grant by the Federal Aviation Administratrion that will pay 95 percent of the costs, or $145,000, with the city funding five percent at $7,650. The council expressed regret that a local business, Kleins Moter and

Electric, did not get the bid at $150,000 but were hopeful that Klein's would be able to do warranty work. Public Works Director Kyle Potthoff said that local businesses in other towns were not awarded bids in federally funded projects, such as in Scottsbluff where a local business came in with a bid only $500 lower than the next competing contractor.

* pay for damages that occurred Aug. 27 to two residences on the 1000 block of West First by using $8,658 in council contingency funds. The damage that occurred to the basements was a result of a storm sewer drain mistakenly being opened

* approved the application for a special designated liquor license for Schmick's Market, for a wine and beer tasting sampling March 3 at their supermarket.

During Council Comments, Councilman Marty Conroy asked that residents become aware of the pending economic impact for McCook if Nebraska doesn't come up with a solution to the Republican River Compact with Kansas. Shutting off irrigation wells could have "serious, serious repercussions," for the community, he said, causing many jobs in the area to disappear, from fertilizer and seed companies, to fuel and agriculture equipment.

Water that is used in manufacturing businesses would also be affected, Councilman Aaron Kirched added.

"Look at the bills in the Legislature and pay attention to NRD meetings," Conroy advised.