New buildings will pay dividends far into the future

Major decisions will always have their critics, but the Mid Plains Community College board of governors was spot-on in its unanimous vote to proceed with two major projects Wednesday night.

Yes, Nebraska and the nation face an unprecedented time of uncertainty, but the future has never been a sure thing.

And, if one looks around, many of the facilities we take for granted -- the municipal pool, water projects -- were built during the Depression.

Plus, if hard times are to continue, what better choice than to make one of our community's most important assets that much more useful and attractive?

McCook Community College has one of the best small campuses in the nation, but athletic facilities have been recognized as being a shortcoming for decades.

Fund-raisers did a yeoman's job, donors have been more than generous, and while we wish more money could have been raised from private sources, taxpayers are getting a relative bargain, issuing $7.7 million in bonds for a $9.7 million event center in McCook and a $9 million health complex in North Platte. The cost of building the two facilities is 40 percent funded by bonds, 40 percent by private donations and 20 percent directly by the college.

The importance of athletics to a small college should not be under appreciated; many successful professionals owe their careers to taking advantage of an education made possible by an athletic scholarship at MCC.

And we should not forget that the events center will benefit Southwest Nebraska in making it possible for McCook to host more sports tournaments and other large events.

"We have finally arrived," Mid Plains president Dr. Michael Chipps said after the unanimous vote. "You as a board are making history at this college."

Arrived? At a milestone, for sure. But maintaining and growing a college is a continuous process that takes more than a little foresight and courage.

Wednesday's vote was a long time coming, but its benefits will be enjoyed for even longer.