City plans water work

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The City of McCook is moving closer to implementing several water system improvements, including the replacement and retirement of old water mains and the construction of cation waste disposal ponds at the water treatment plant.

Monday evening the McCook City Council will be asked to approve an ordinance authorizing the issuance of a $2,086,810 Water Revenue Bond to fund the four water improvement projects. City staff has asked the three-reading rule be suspended for approval of the ordinance.

The city qualified for a 20 percent loan forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for the bond, which will result in a $417,362 savings to the city.

The improvements are split among four individual projects, one of which was completed in the fall of the 2012 and pertained to improvements to the East C Street water main. The East C Street project focused on a dead-end 4 inch water main on East C Street, between East 13th Street and Airport Road, which was abandoned and service to approximately 15 properties was subsequently connected to the 10 inch water main that runs parallel on the north side of C Street.

The replacement of 8,000 lineal feet of 16-inch water main from the water treatment facility to the distribution system is expected to begin construction in 2013. The 16-inch main was removed from service in 2006 due to leaks and will be replaced with a 24-inch transmission main that will provide additional flow to the city and act as a backup to the existing 24" primary transmission main.

The 4-inch water main on East H Street will be replaced with an 8-inch water main, from East Seventh Street to 600 feet east, connecting to an existing 16-inch water main. That East H Street project will also provide additional flow and was bid as part of the East H Street resurface project already under way.

The synthetically lined cation waste evaporation and holding ponds to be constructed will provide a method of disposing of cation generated by McCook's ion-exchange water treatment plant. Property adjacent to the water treatment plant has already been acquired for the ponds and design review is under way by state agencies, with bidding and construction to follow.

According to  Monday's City Council meeting agenda, at the end of a five year non-repayment period the loan amount for the water improvement projects will be reduced to approximately $650,000 using cash on hand. The remaining amount will continue as an SRF loan and funds to pay the loan will result in a 50-cent-per-month rate increase to McCook water customers. The rate increase would subsequently be enacted on Oct. 1, 2019.

Also during Monday's regular City Council meeting, scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. at the McCook Municipal Center, councilors will be asked to approve a resolution setting a public hearing date in June to review the redevelopment plan from North Pointe Properties LLC. Council approved the use of Tax Increment Financing for the developer's housing project north of R Street in May. The public hearing to review the redevelopment plan for the project is suggested to be scheduled for June 17, 2013, at the Municipal Center.

Other items on the consent and regular agenda;

* The annual contract between the city and West Central Nebraska Area Agency on Aging, pertaining to the operational responsibilities for Heritage Senior Center, will be considered for approval. The contract also outlines reimbursement amounts for meals paid via the Older Americans' Act, which is estimated to provide $64,432 for 2013-14. According to the meeting agenda, USDA will reimburse another 57 cents per meal, which is estimated to provide an additional $16,729.

* A manager application to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission for Brian Primavera, and pertaining to Heritage Hills Golf Course, will be considered for approval.