Almost done

Friday, December 14, 2012

McCOOK, Nebraska -- McCook city staff are busily packing up any non-essential items as office furniture and other final touches are placed on their new Municipal Facility being constructed on West Fifth Street. City administration offices do not plan to operate out of the new building until after the first of the year, according to City Manager Jeff Hancock, who anticipated needing to close city offices for one or two days as part of the transition.

The McCook City Council will consider approval of the certificate of significant completion pertaining to the new Municipal Facility, Monday evening, 7:30 p.m., during their regularly scheduled meeting at Memorial Auditorium.

Chief of Police Isaac Brown said his department was also anticipating operating out of the new facility just after the first of January. Brown said that the relocation of the emergency services dispatch center was restricted by the phone company's schedule and as of Friday was targeting Jan. 8, 2013, for their move.

Brown said his police department and the Red Willow County Sheriff's Department have been in close contact throughout the process and jail services would still be taken over by the county on Tuesday.

"They are more than ready and have been for some time," said Brown, adding that the two law enforcement entities would co-exist out of the same facility until the police department completed their move into the new facility. Brown said he did not anticipate any problems as a result of the shared space and said he was confident in both the police and sheriff's department's ability to adapt to any obstacles that were presented.

"It will be a smooth transition," said Brown.

Also during Monday's meeting councilors will also consider approval of the certification of completion pertaining to the wildlife fence at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport.

Councilors will coordinate a public hearing to discuss a final plat and proposed 20 acre minor subdivision that will be located north of McCook on County Road 385, proposed by Josh and Jill Hill. Following the public hearing councilors will decide whether to approve the request, which has been recommended for approval by both city staff and the McCook Planning Commission.

Other items on the consent and regular agenda:

* The annual continuation of the fuel purchase agreement between the city, Red Willow County and Frenchman Valley Cooperative will be considered.

* A recommendation from city staff to award the bid for two new police package vehicles to Wagner Ford-Mercury-Toyota will be considered. The bid will result in the purchase of two new Ford Taurus, front wheel drive vehicles, at $21,887 each. The purchase was budgeted for in the 2012-13 city budget.

* The automatic renewal of all retail liquor licenses in the City of McCook for 2013 will be considered for approval.

* The McCook Rotary International Organization has requested to close Norris Avenue from the north side of D Street to the south side of E Street, 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., on January 1, 2013, for the annual First Night McCook event.

* The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce has requested a special liquor license for their annual banquet at Memorial Auditorium on Jan. 19, 2013.

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