Warning siren upgrade in proposed city budget
McCOOK, Neb. — A city purchase that’s been sitting on the books for some time will finally materialize.
That’s because the one-time electric utility payment the city receives next year will help pay for the upgrades to the city’s warning sirens.
A new agreement with Nebraska Public Power District netted the city an extra $275,000. That money has been earmarked in the 2019-20 budget for a variety of purchases, including the warning siren upgrades.
There are eight warning sirens in the city, said McCook City Fire Lt. Rick Metcalf, located at Parker, the city library, Pawnee Street, Gemini Court, R Street, J Street, Kelley Creek Apartments and between West 10th and West 11th.
The upgrades will allow the sirens to be radio-controlled instead of using a phone line, making transmission more efficient. City Manager Nate Schneider said the upgrades have been put off for about five to six years because of other needs.
But the upgrades aren’t cheap. Costs will be covered with $52,000 from electric utility payments and $55,000 from an insurance safety dividend. The city received a $60,000 dividend check in April of this year from its insurance company.
Other purchases in next year’s budget that utilize electric utility payments are in the street department and include $120,000 for a used motor grader, $40,000 for down payment on a loader, $35,000 for a pickup and $8,000 for a plow for a pickup.
Other capital outlay purchases included in next year’s budget that the McCook City Council approved on its second reading Tuesday night includes a new records management system for the police department ($21,500) and a new police vehicle ($30,000); mower for the ballpark ($30,000); water reel for the park ($9,000);
and for the fire department, self-contained breathing apparatus ($21,227), turnout gear ($10,000), and extraction equipment ($123,665).
There is also $83,168 budgeted for an additional fire fighter/EMT for the fire department, so all shifts can be manned by three persons; making a 32-hour dispatching position at the police department a 40-hour position, to attract a wider range of applicants and to cut overtime hours; and seasonal position at the cemetery for $4,000.
Schneider said the budget includes $30,000 for a wage study, that will compare wages of city employees with similarly-sized cities.
The McCook Chamber of Commerce request for funds from the city could be addressed through community betterment funds.
At the start to the city’s budget process, Trevor Taylor, president of the chamber, requested $15,000 to assist the chamber with advertising and business training.
At Tuesday night’s city council meeting, while discussing the budget for next year, City Manager Nate Schneider said community betterment funds could be used toward the chamber.
Community Betterment funds are derived from Keno sales. Keno is an electronic gambling/lottery game played in establishments that have been approved by the city.
The chamber has a huge impact on the quality of life in McCook, Schneider said, citing Heritage Days and other annual events.
He said he was more comfortable with using community betterment funds instead of money directly from the general fund. The chamber has also been talking with Andy Long, director of the McCook Economic Development Corp., about different strategies. on