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Business park growth spurs road upgrades
McCOOK, Neb. — Growth of McCook’s business park has triggered a nearby street improvement project, with the majority of costs paid for by the Nebraska Department of Transportation.
Sometime later next year, Ravenswood Road will be substantially re-done, to the tune of $251,500. Over half of the costs will be covered by a $137,500 grant from the Nebraska Department of Transportation Economic Opportunity Program. The remainder of the costs will be picked up by the McCook Economic Development Corp., at $39,000, and the City of McCook’s LB840 motor vehicle fund, $75,000.
The project is part of an agreement with the City of McCook and the MEDC, that states that after so many lots are sold in the park, improvements will be made on Ravenswood Road due to increased traffic, said Andy Long, MEDC director. The 20-acre business park, behind Valmont on U.S. Highway 83, is bordered on the north by Burlington Northern-Santa Fe railroad and Ravenswood Road on the south.
The park has seen slow but steady growth, Long said, with nine lots initially available. Now, three lots, possible four with access improvement, are currently open, he said.
Businesses in the park and current or potential employees are Booe Machinery (with two lots), salvage iron, 4 to 6 employees; Next Generation, agricultural chemical distribution, 6-10 employees; Silverstone, tires for Valmont’s center irrigation pivots, 3 to 4 employees; and Lewis and Maria Lopez, auto diesel mechanic shop, 2 to 4 employees.
The project involves removing the existing asphalt and replacing it with eight inches of concrete, along with new curb and gutter work, said Kyle Potthoff, McCook Public Works director. The McCook City Council approved unanimously Monday night the design and construction engineering agreement with W Design Associates for the project. Cost of the engineering agreement is $20,950.
Specifications for the project now have to be drawn up and when that’s completed, bids will go out for a contractor, Potthoff said. Specs and bids will be brought to the city council for approval.
Other consent agenda items approved Monday at the regular city council meeting were:
| N | Amended the collective bargaining agreement between the City of McCook and the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 57, to establish an acting sergeant. New language in the amended collective agreement includes compensation for acting sergeants at the premium pay rate of five percent of their base pay; the Chief of Police will be the individual in charge of designating the acting sergeant and will have the authority to serve as acting sergeant; and if a detective is selected to serve, the detective will be required to work the 12-hour shift the absent sergeant works. |
| N | Awarded the bid for two new special service vehicles for the police department to Deveny Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge Ram for $57,000 with hourly labor costs of $80. Other bids received were $70,954 with hourly labor costs of $88, from Wagner Ford-Mercury-Toyota; $57,940 with hourly labor costs of $110 from Gene Steffy Dodge; $80,100 with hourly labor costs of $106 from Janssen and Sons Ford; and $57,020 with hourly labor costs of $110 from Janssen Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge Ram, North Platte. |
| N | Approved bid specifications for one new three-wheel mechanical street sweeper: As approved in the 2018-19 budget, $50,000 is allocated for a down payment. |
| N | Received and filed information on the “Community Christmas Tree” |
| N | Approved several requests from the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce, including the flying-in of “Santa” at the McCook airport at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1; the annual Christmas Light Parade later that day at 6:30 p.m.; and special designated liquor license for the “Festival of Wreaths” event at the Keystone Business Center on Wednesday, Dec. 5, |