Company searching for more contamination

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Northrop Grumman Corp. has requested an easement to perform drilling activities and soil sampling along East 16th Street and East C Street. The soil sampling stems from the 1986 discovery of trichloroethene-impacted soil after the company closed the TRW capacitor manufacturing plant on Airport Road.

The company began procedures in 1993 to reverse the environmental damage caused, which have resulted in a significant reduction in the overall TCE concentrations, according to documents provided to the City Council.

In other business, outgoing councilman Lonnie Anderson will be recognized for his four years of service. Anderson says he will miss being able to help people and doing what he could to save the citizens of McCook money. "I will miss the people the most, we have a great bunch of citizens here," said Anderson during an interview Thursday afternoon.

Recently re-elected council members Dennis Berry, Jerry Calvin and Mike Gonzales will take the oath of office, along with newly elected councilman Shane Hilker.

Following the swearing in of newly- and re-elected council members will be the election of mayor and vice-president of City Council for the coming year. Both positions are determined by a vote of council members.

Council members will consider a recommendation from the Airport Advisory Commission to increase hangar rates at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport.

Two properties previously designated as nuisance properties by the McCook Board of Health and subsequently granted time extensions by the McCook City Council to resolve their issues, are due for review.

The properties are located at 8101⁄2 W. Fourth, owned by Sharon Boley, and 200/300 Airport Road, owned by Steven Fritz.

* Revisions to the firework ordinance adding a December selling period and expanding firework discharge times will be discussed for the third and final reading required for approval.

* The council will host the second of three required public meetings concerning the relocation of the Daughters of the American Revolution building, located in Kelley Park near the intersection of East M and East Third Street. The building is being relocated as part of the proposed events center that McCook Community College hopes to begin construction on in April of 2011.

* A request from McCook Young Leaders to close a portion of Norris Avenue on Dec. 31 for the annual First Night McCook 2011 event will be reviewed.

* Osage Ambulance has been recommended to receive the bid for a new 2011 ambulance, at $163,838.

* A recommendation from the Fuel Contract Advisory Committee to continue the fuel purchase agreement with Frenchman Valley Cooperative into 2011 will be reviewed.

* Council will also consider a resolution which will form a nonprofit corporation, controlled by the city and tasked with administering the bonds to be sold for the construction of the new Municipal Facility that voters approved in November.