Council gives Thumbs UP for downtown First Night event

Plans for a non-alcoholic New Year's Eve celebration downtown got the thumbs-up from the McCook City Council Monday night.

At the request from McCook's Young Leaders, formerly the McCook Youth League, the council Monday night approved closing the city parking lot at East First and D for a street dance, along with an area on Norris Avenue in front of the Keystone Hotel for a ball-drop.

The Dec. 31 celebration, billed as "First Night," is an internationally-known event which promotes community and culture and will involve multiple events downtown, such as live entertainment at some downtown businesses. Organized by McCook's Young Leaders, it will be the first of its kind in Nebraska.

McCook City Manager Kurt Fritsch told the council that he and city department heads met with McCook's Young Leaders organizers and sponsor Sue Shaner, business coach at the McCook Economic Development Corp., to hammer out details of security issues.

The request to close off streets for "First Night" was first proposed at the council's Nov. 2 meeting, but the council had concerns about security and asked the group to return with more definite plans.

Safety and security issues have been addressed, Fritsch said, with two police officers monitoring the event at overtime rates and possibly involvement of the Sheriff's Posse.

"We're comfortable where they're heading," he said. Fritsch added that the event is more cohesive, now that the street dance will be at East First and D at the city parking lot, instead of the proposed location on C Street between Norris and West First.

Shane Hilker, President of McCook's Young Leaders, told the council that he will talk to Sheriff Gene Mahon this week to see if there will be enough volunteers for the Sheriff's Posse to provide additional security.

Mayor Dennis Berry recommended that homeowners by the city parking lot be notified of the street dance.

Councilman Aaron Kircher noted that the event will have more security that a beer garden downtown a few years ago, but both Hilker and Councilman Mike Gonzales agreed that alcohol brought to this non-alcoholic event was a valid concern.

The beer garden was in an enclosed area on West C and part of McCook's quasquicentennial celebration.

The area in front of the Keystone Hotel on Norris Avenue will be closed off from 11:30 p.m. to about 12:30 a.m. and not affect the intersections, Hilker said.

This was needed so spectators can enjoy the ball-drop, he said, when a wire-framed ball will be dropped from a crane to ring in the new year.

Other family-friendly activities are planned to begin at 7 p.m. and continue until about 12:30 a.m.