New Year's Eve run approved

Instead of ringing in the New Year, some will be running it in.

The McCook City Council unanimously approved the request from the YMCA to use city streets for the first New Year's Eve Resolution Run/Walk on Thursday, Dec. 31.

The run would start at 10:30 p.m., for runners (11 p.m, for walkers) on Norris Avenue and F Street and continue north on Norris to to city limits. It would conclude at Norris and E Streets.

The walk/run would coincide with the "First Night" activities.

The city will furnish the YMCA with amber colored flashing lights to help keep the participants identified.

Council also approved an ordinance that will abandon plans to construct an alley in a neighborhood just outside city limits, but it will take three readings before it is final.

The ordinance was presented to the council at the regular meeting Monday night, to be approved immediately under suspension of the three-reading rule. Normally, each ordinance or amended ordinance requires three readings at separate meetings.

But Councilman Aaron Kircher objected to "suspending the rules for convenience."

If the propety owners have a reason for speeding the process up, they can come to the second reading of the ordiance and explain why, he said, but to do so without an adequate reason didn't seem proper.

Four property owners have requested the city to abandon the platted area on Spruce Road on Ponderosa Drive, in Country Side Estates, Henton's First Addition. None attended the council meeting Monday night.

The city has had this request before, City Manager Kurt Fritsch said.

The area is along a hillside, where it doesn't make sense to have an alley, he said.

The city has no need for an alley and the large, double lots are big enough if fire or police vehicles are needed, Fritsch added.

There is a public easement road of Source Gas that can be used if it's necessary for the city to get to the properties.

The council unanimously approved the ordinance on first reading.