Council hopes for citizen input on pricey projects

McCOOK, Neb. — Potential projects the city needs to address and how to pay for them were discussed by the McCook City Council Monday night.

Projects the council mulled for discussion purposes only included safety issues at Barnett Park, due to the large geese population, costs of renovating the city pool, turning Memorial Auditorium into an events center, and street maintenance.

Other areas cited for attention were Karrer Park, cemetery expansion and the ballpark parking lot.

With the city sales tax stagnating, “we need to be cautious … in how we want to spend those dollars and get the best bang for our buck,” McCook City Manager Nate Schneider said. Other possible sources of revenue he mentioned were debt service, with $3.5 million as a capital campaign, or $4.5 million borrowed outright; implementing an occupation tax on lodging; and about $600,000 that will be freed up, once the final payment on the city Municipal Building is made in September 2018.

Concerning the occupation tax, Schneider admitted: “nobody wants to do it .... but it is a source to offset some expenses.” A 2 percent occupation tax would net the city $65-70,000 annually; a 3- to 4-percent occupation tax, $130,000 annually. Schneider also noted that city departments underspending their budgets, as shown in the recent audit, has helped, as well as keeping the tax levy low.

Bottom line, Schneider said, future projects the city undertakes should impact the City of McCook in the best possible manner.

Councilman Jerry Calvin said he’d like to see the city park on A Street be sold, with the funds put into the parks department. The A Street park is not used as frequently as Barnett Park, he reasoned, with Councilman Gene Weeding agreeing.

Weedin also said he needed more definite numbers regarding upgrading the city pool before making any decision.

The situation at Barnett Park is getting critical, said Kyle Potthoff, public works director. Water quality in the ponds has deteriorated and the soccer fields are being affected because of the massive amount of geese excrement.

Although the soccer fields are still usable, it’s only a matter of time before that will not be the case, he said.

Admitting that, compared to parks and the pool, street improvements aren’t as glamorous, Mayor Mike Gonzales indicated that infrastructure was his priority.

Calvin echoed that sentiment. “Big ticket items are sexy and attractive … but infrastructure is important. We’ve been kicking this can down the street for a long time.”

Before any decisions are made, the council agreed that getting citizens involved was paramount.

“What is the public thinking? What’s important to us may not be important them,” Gonzales said.

Bruce McDowell cautioned that decisions can’t solely be based on town hall meetings, as “what if a dozen show up and eight of them want a pool? Then what?”

City staff was directed to arrange a town hall meeting, to get citizens’ input on future projects.