Software company plans expansion

21st Century Systems Inc., which develops software programs for the military and businesses, will expand its initial scope of operations at the Keystone Hotel.

The McCook City Council will be asked to approve an administrator to distribute a state grant to help fund the expansion, at the regular meeting Monday, 7:30 p.m. at City Council Chambers in Memorial Auditorium.

21st Century Systems Inc. will rent about 5,600 square feet of space at the Keystone Hotel, that is being renovated into a business center by the McCook Economic Development Corp.

In addition to that space, 21st Century plans to add a data center in the basement of the building which will include two more enterprises: the establishment of a satellite imagery processing and storage business unit.

The council agreed at its Sept. 8 meeting to solicit proposals for an administrator for a Community Development Block grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

At Monday's meeting, the council will be asked to approve Miller and Associates as the administrator, as recommended by city staff. The administration fee, capped at $5,000, will be included in the grant.

Total amount of the grant is in excess of $500,000.

The grant will be used to help 21st Century Systems defray start-up costs of the data center.

The item is a consent agenda item, which can be approved unanimously unless it is pulled for discussion by a member of the council or a member of a public.

Other consent agenda items include:

* receive and file the city's procedures for snow removal and ice control

* recommend approval to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission the application from Old Sarge's Bar to have a beer garden behind the building

* approve the Frenchman Valley Mutual Aid Association Interlocal agreement.

On the regular agenda, the council will be asked to approve on first reading an ordinance that clarifies the hours of sale for fireworks and another ordinance, on its third and final reading, that cleans up language concerning rabies vaccinations.

Also at Monday's meeting,the council will be asked to ratify the mayor's appointment to fill the council vacancy, created by the resignation of former council member Jack Rogers. The person chosen by the council will fill the vacant seat from now until Dec. 6, 2010, when the candidate selected by voters in the statewide general election November 2010 will take office.