City Council approves revised band shell renovation contract

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook City Council awarded a revised renovation contract, for the Norris Park Band Shell, to McCook Contracting Monday evening during their semi-monthly meeting at council chambers. The original bid, at $210,000, came in well over the estimated amount for the project. City staff worked with the contractor to find middle ground that reduced the project closer to the budgeted amount and still accomplished their targeted renovation goals.

Steel flashing will be used in lieu of copper for an $8,000 savings, aluminum windows installed as opposed to wood and some interior paint projects have been eliminated, among other concessions.

The revised bid was approved unanimously by council members at $156,754, approximately $40,000 over the projected amount according to councilman Aaron Kircher. In a brief recap of the bid, Kircher explained that several other projects had recently come in under bid, citing the new ambulance purchased and roof improvements at the Heritage Senior Center, which combined with the use of Keno receipts and the PACE natural gas refunds, allowed for overages in the band shell bid without causing budgeting problems.

Councilman Mike Gonzales submitted a revision to the zoning ordinance change that gives existing stick built homes, in light industrial and business commercial districts, permanent status. Gonzales's revision removed improvement limitations that would have been set on homeowners by the existing wording of the ordinance. "I have been bothered by the whole idea of restricting homeowners from improving their homes," said Gonzales, adding that the city council had spent a good portion of the past year dealing with homeowners that wouldn't improve their property. Councilmembers unanimously supported the revision with City manager Kurt Fritsch saying that the scenario had "probably been over thought," when the wording was put in place.

The zoning ordinance revision was approved for its second of three required readings.

A proclamation designating January 2011 as National Radon Action Month in McCook was approved. Myra Stoney of the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department summarized some of the health concerns related to radon, including that it is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and number two cause in smokers. Stoney explained that new construction homes are required to take measures to provide for more efficient radon mitigation and stressed the importance of bi-annual testing.

City Attorney Nate Schneider coordinated a public hearing to discuss an application for a Class IB liquor license from Estanislao LLC, also known as La Cocina Mexican Food in McCook, that authorizes the sales of beer, wine and distilled spirits. No comments were floored and council members voted unanimously to recommend approval to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission.

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