Summer projects include airport, B Street

McCOOK, Neb. — Major projects coming up this year in the city’s public works department include those at the airport and on B Street.

In response to a question by McCook City Councilman Jerry Calvin at the regular council meeting Monday night, Public Works director Kyle Potthoff said capital improvement projects in the near future include the $1.2 million project at the airport, where runways will be re-painted and repaired and the B Street rehab project, slated to start in early July at $1.5 million.

Another major street project is estimated to start in July on Park Avenue, with a public information meeting in June for residents in the area.

There are 10 public works departments in the City of McCook, with 21 employees averaging 350 years of combined experience with the city, Potthoff said. The longevity and experience of these employees “makes my job easier,” Potthoff said.

These departments and the number of employees in each, are: Streets: five full-time, including public works director; cemetery: two full-time; parks: two full-time; ballparks: one full time; swimming pool: seasonal employees; airport: one full-time; recycling: one full tie; solid waste collection, residential: four full-time; transfer station: three full-time; solid waste hauling: two full-time.

Mayor Mike Gonzales signed the proclamation designating May 19-25 as “National Public Works Week.”

Like the previous council meeting on May 6, the city council barely had a quorum again Monday night, with two councillors excused and absent. Councillors Janet Hepp and Jared Muehlenkamp were both absent Monday night, Muehlenkamp’s second absence in a row.

All consent agenda items were approved in one motion, except for one concerning a June event at McCook Christian Church.

City Manager Nate Schneider pulled for clarification the request to close the 200 block of West Fourth and the 500 block of West C on Sunday, June 30, from 1 to 10:30 p.m., for the “Southwest Nebraska Freedom Festival” at McCook Christian Church.

Kyle Dellevoet, pastor at the church, told the council that the church will be celebrating civil servants such as police and fire fighters at the event, with live music, food trucks and games, concluding at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds for a fireworks display. The council unanimously approved the street closure request.

Other consent agenda items that were approved unanimously without discussion were:

-- Approve an application from Great Plains Communications to occupy city right-of-way for the purpose of installing underground fiber optic cable providing service to Quality Urgent Care and Westview Plaza.

-- Approve the application for a special designated liquor license submitted by JBN, Inc., dba Hi Times Liquor Mart 1, for a wedding reception at McCook Municipal Auditorium on Nov. 23, 2019, from 12 p.m. to 1 a.m.

-- Receive the minutes of the March 13, 2019, Library Advisory Board meeting.

Council comments came from Mayor Gonzales, who commended the city’s response and cooperation with other agencies Friday night when a tornado touched down and destroyed a rural farm house; and from Councilman Calvin, who noted he saw the city street sweeper out and about on residential streets. “It speaks well of the city” that streets are being cleaned and taken care of, he said.

After the regular meeting, the council re-convened in closed executive session for a strategy session about collective bargaining with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 57.