No boom, but building stays steady

McCook Building Inspector Fred Baugher takes a phone call during a rough framing inspection at Suntanners,115 Norris Avenue. The tanning salon is expanding to include Hamilton Hair Creations, that is moving from its location next to the courthouse.
(Lorri Sughroue/McCook Daily Gazette)

[Click to enlarge]

At least $2 million worth of construction projects are underway in McCook, or slated to begin later this year. While that doesn't represent a huge surge in construction, it does show that building activity remains steady, according to McCook Mayor Dennis Berry.

Traditionally, McCook doesn't suffer the downward trends experienced nationwide, Berrry said, but it also misses out on the the boons when they occur.

The local robust agricultural and oil industries are helping to keep McCook's economy rolling, Berry said, and although he doesn't see present construction activity as unusual, he does anticipate it to get stronger in the near future.

"I wouldn't call it a boom but the economy isn't stagnating by any means," Berry said. "We're on the cusp of some good construction activity coming up."

He likened current activity to a time a few years ago, when McCook experienced a construction burst when both Valmont Industries and the Nebraska Department of Corrections Work Ethic Camp came to McCook within a short period of time.

Part of Berry's optimism about future construction lies with the city sales tax. Revenue from the tax are on the upswing, he said and that will help the city in the long-run.

"It doesn't hurt that the new half-cent tax can be used by the McCook Economic Development Corp. to help new businesses with incentive dollars," Berry added, in the form of grants/loans or for infrastructure needs. "We're on the verge of good things happening."

Revenues from the city sales tax were $123,950 for the month of July, up from $121,218 from June and $118,331 in May. A year ago in July 2007, $121,895 was collected.

The half-cent tax, approved for 10 years by city voters, went into effect July 1. Voters also approved continuing the one-cent tax for 10 years, that originally began December 2000.

Although several major structures are planned, along with expansions and renovation of current buildings, housing still remains a pressing need. City Manager Kurt Fritsch said there is a demand in particular for rental and upper-end housing, he said, such as multi-family units like townhouses for rentals and 10 or so single family dwellings for purchase.

New homes have already sprouted up, such as in the Calebria subdivision north of McCook and north of the fairgrounds on West Seventh.

All of this activity makes for a busy day for McCook Building Inspector Fred Baugher, who had his hours bumped up from three to four days a week.

Baugher said he hits the ground running when he first gets to his office in the morning and keeps going throughout the day.

"There's always somebody waiting for you, or someone on the phone," he said, with Baugher's new hours on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

With all this activity, contractors for building, plumbing, electrical, carpeting and other services are at a premium.

Joe Leamon, of Leamon Construction, has his plate full with plenty of jobs in McCook and the surrounding area, he said.

Besides doing work on storage buildings and warehouses for businesses in the city, he's also scheduled to work on the Morgan Mudd structure at the former Fireside Inn location, on U.S. Highway 6-34 and the Sisco re-fueing center, to be built on U.S. Highway 83.

Besides construction, Leamon also does paving/concrete jobs that he said he can't keep up with.

"I've got so many calls to get on the list," he said. "Business has been good - I can't complain."

Melanie Goodenberger, owner of Century 21 Realty, is not complaining either, as she gets ready to move into a new location.

Goodenberger's real estate business will moved from 203 W. Second to the highly visible location at U.S. Highway 83/West B on West 10th, the former location of Gas-n-Shop.

"Location, location, location," she said, using the famous mantra of real estate as the reason for the move.

The only real challenge so far has been to find contractors for some parts of the job, such as drywall. Still, that hasn't dampen her enthusiasm for the project.

"We're very excited," she said. "It will be fantastic for our customers and the high visibility will be great to market our client's properties." The new site comes with two lots that will offer plenty of parking and easy access for customers, she said, something that is in short supply at the current location.

The new building will include offices for her business along with 750-square feet that will be rented as office or retail space. Goodenberger estimated that if all goes to plan, it will be completed by September.

"I love McCook, it's a great place to invest in," Goodenberger said. "This location came together at the right time and I couldn't pass up the opportunity,"

And the long-awaited 24-hour re-fuelng station is still in the picture.

Marshall Sis said everything is in place for the 23,000-square foot Sisco refueling station. The facility will be open 24-hours a day and will offer fuel along with all kinds of mechanic repairs. A one-stop shop for truckers and other travelers, it will also include a convenience store, showers for truckers and and a lounge.

"Everything is drawn up and ready to go," Sis said, who is in the process of putting together financing for the project.

Another project, estimated to cost about a half million dollars, will start soon for Morgan Mudd, owned by Lucy and Dave Lines.

The project includes the construction of two storage buildings at the former Fireside Restaurant location, that will store well drilling supplies and equipment.

Lucy Lines said it's an ideal location that allows lots of room for trucks to enter and exit from the highway. The trucks will transport an essential ingredient for their business, bentonite, a type of clay used in drilling wells.

"We've been trying to get this going for two years," Lucy said, who estimated that construction may completed by fall. "We're ready to go."

Under construction

Buildings recently completed, under construction or slated to begin in the future include:

Sisco Travel Center on U.S. Highway 83 -- 24-hour fueling station/restaurant/convenience store and repair shop

Morgan Mud -- storage equipment buildings, at about 80 by 200 feet, plus parking lot, at the former Fireside Restaurant on east U.S. Highway 6-34

MCC Event Center -- 53,000 square feet, built across the college at Kelley Park

Army National Guard facility -- estimated at $8.8 million, to be constructed on property near the airport, beginning in 2009

Norris Avenue -- two new restaurants

Calabria Estates, north of town --four new homes

West Third and Prairie Ridge Road -- new home

West Seventh, north of town -- new homes

Orscheln addition

McCook Christian Church -- addition to house a gym

Cornerstone Church -- remodeled former Sears building on West Seventh and Fifth for new church

Peace Lutheran Church -- 35,000-square foot addition

TJ Bowling alley -- storage building

Kiplinger Arena -- four showers

Wal-Mart -- remodeling, start in late 2008

Habitat house

Keystone Hotel project re-bid

Fox Theater renovation

Weiland Field -- two new press boxes

Century 21: remodeling former Gas-n-Shop west for new location

McCook Humane Society -- new addition

Samway's Floor Coverings -- 60 by 80 feet warehouse

Storage buildings on Q Street