City Council starts search for new member

Another vacancy on the McCook City Council has occurred and the council will start the process to fill it, at its regular meeting Monday, 7:30 p.m., at City Council Chambers in Memorial Auditorium.

This is the second time in about a month that an open seat has occurred. At the last council meeting Oct. 12, Jerry Calvin was sworn in to fill the position left vacant by the resignation Jack Rogers.

Because of the untimely death of council member Colleen Grant Oct. 9, the council on Monday night will declare a vacancy exits and accept resumes again to fill the position.

At the next council meeting, Mayor Dennis Berry will nominate a candidate from the applications and the council will be asked to vote.

Also at Monday night's meeting, the council will be asked on the regular agenda to:

* authorize an outside firm to determine the boundaries of Barnett Park and complete a title search. This is being done as the Nieman family is selling their ground south of Barnett Park per public auction and the city would like to know the parameters of the city's property.

* approve an agreement with Martha Pettigrew to proceed with the creation of the bronze sculpture that will be placed at the former boyhood home of Sen. Ben Nelson. The sculpture, called "On My Honor," is of Sen. Nelson receiving his Eagle Scout award and is funded by a gift of $70,000 from the Nebraska Community Foundation to the city.

* approve on second reading an ordinance that clarifies the days and hours that fireworks can be discharged within the city. The revised ordinance includes July 5, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

On the consent agenda, the council will be asked to :

* approve a change that deducts $2,998 from the Kelley Creek Walking Trail construction contract. The decrease is because two instead of 11 trees were removed. The trail was completed the end of September.

* approve another change order that deducts $9,110 from the original contract price of $255,124, for the installation of water and sewer mains to the proposed National Guard and Readiness Center by McCook Regional Airport. This item also includes a Certificate of Completion for the project.

* approve bid specifications for vehicles and equipment for the city, including: two 2009 or 2010 3/4 ton, four wheel drive pickups for the street and recycling departments; a pitless truck scale for the transfer station and one new police package vehicle.

* approve an agreement with Miller and Associates for engineering services and related matters to install water mains on South Street and Kelley Park Drive

* approve a "Procurement Procedures and Code of Conduct" as a condition to receive federal funds under the Community Development Block Grant Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

* authorize the mayor to sign the "Excessive Force" certification that the City of McCook has adopted, that will enforce a policy to prohibit the use of excessive force by law enforcement agencies against individuals engaged in non-violent civil rights demonstration. The certification is a requirement before funds can be released from the CDBG-NSP grant the city received for demolition.