Catch-up year for the city

McCOOK -- The year 2019 will be catch-up time in the City of McCook.

After putting things off for seven years -- while paying off the bonds for the $3 million-plus Municipal Building -- the city is getting ready to roll forward with a bunch of equipment purchases and infrastructure projects.

"We were paying close to $600,000 a year on the building bonds," said Mayor Mike Gonzales and City Manager Nate Schneider. That was a heavy load, the city leaders said, but now that it's paid off the city can concentrate on other very needed items, including equipment purchases, paving projects and sewer, cemetery, library, airport, swimming pool and ballpark fix-up tasks.

Looking ahead to the New Year, the city council members have already authorized $50,000 down payments for the purchase of an ambulance and a street sweeper, both of which are estimated to cost in excess of $225,000.

The council has also authorized the acquisition of two new police cruisers, priced at a combined $57,000.

Even higher cash outlays are anticipated in 2019 for the city to replace heating, ventilation and air conditioning units at the McCook Public Library, with a cost of more than $100,000 estimated to fix problems with both heating and cooling.

It reached the point -- when the boiler malfunctioned -- that library staff members were wearing gloves and scarves on cold days and the lightest clothing they could find on blazing hot summer days.

Major outlays of tax money will also be required in 2019 to cover the city's portion of major highway and street reconstruction projects. One of those projects -- resulting from a mistaken mix for the highway paving through town, including portions of U.S. 6, 34 and 83 -- will necessitate a 10 percent cost share from the city.

Also looming in 2019 is the rebuilding of Park Avenue, a street which angles north from O Street on the north side of Kelley Park and Bolles Canyon up through the Reservation and back west to Norris Avenue.

In the center of town -- near where the Elks-City tennis courts are located -- the city will be investing another chunk of money to revamp the storm sewer system. Because of improper draining directions, heavy rains have caused overflows in the West Fifth Street and Westridge Parkway areas, causing basement damage to residences in the area.

By changing the sewer water flow -- from north to south -- the city is endeavoring to solve the problem.

Also planned in 2019 are a sprinkler system upgrade at Riverview Cemetery; painting and trim repair of the Norris Park Bandshell; and the rental of mini-excavators for various projects.

Mayor Gonzales and Manager Schneider joined in thanking council members, city employees and McCook taxpayers for their patience and understanding during the building bond payoff.

"By making do during the payoff period, McCookites have been rewarded with a state-of-the-art city building and a still very reasonable municipal tax rate of .349 mills," the city leaders said.