City water usage hits 5 million gallons a day

McCOOK, Neb. — No restrictions for city water users are in effect — for now.

But with high temperatures and no rain in the forecast for the week, that could change.

On Monday, 5,000 gallons of water per minute were used between 3 and 10 a.m., the time many residential underground water sprinklers were in use, said City Utilities director Jesse Dutcher at the regular McCook City Council meeting Monday night. Last week, the city pumped an average of about 4 million gallons per day, with 5 million gallons used on Thursday, Dutcher said. He asked that city water users be cognizant of the amount of water they use, such as waiting to irrigate their lawns until after 6 p.m.

Per city ordinance, mandatory water restrictions can be implemented when 5 million gallons per day are used twice in a row and water levels can’t catch up in the city water towers, Dutcher said after the meeting. He said prior to Monday night’s meeting, water levels at the west water tower were filling up to sufficient levels.

The council also discussed but took no action on allowing the consumption of alcoholic drinks at outside cafes on Norris Avenue.

City Manager Nate Schneider told the council that other cities have passed ordinances allowing alcoholic beverages served at outside cafés on city property and wanted the council’s input on developing a similar ordinance.

Schneider said main concerns would be allowing six feet on the sidewalk for pedestrian traffic, achievable with a decorative, removable barrier and that outdoor dining with alcohol consumption be used by eating establishments serving food rather than a bar.

Matt Sehnert, owner of Sehnert Bakery/Bieroc Cafe, spoke to the council, explaining he’s been in discussion with city staff about allowing alcohol consumption at outdoor cafés. As an entrepreneur, Sehnert said he’s always looking for new ideas to expand business and offer new amenities to his customers and was impressed with recent visits to other cities offering al fresco dining.

In response to a question from Mayor Mike Gonzales, Sehnert said two doors on the bakery side and one from the Bieroc would be open during outdoor dining, with alcoholic beverages served inside the establishment only. Mayor Gonzales commented that a alcoholic beverage in a glass would be less likely to be passed over an outside barrier than a bottle, but Sehnert said something like can happen inside an establishment, too.

If outdoor dining with alcohol consumption was allowed, it would encompass the downtown business area. Sehnert said he’s been in conversations with other restaurant owners who are also interesting in the idea. Bill Lesko of Citta Deli told the council he’s looking into patio dining, with Sehnert adding that Loop Brewery already has outdoor dining on their back patio.

The council appeared enthusiastic about the idea, with Councilman Gene Weedin asking that a voting item be brought back to the council. That could be done later in August, Schneider said, with budget discussions taking up much of August.

City of McCook Fire Chief Marc Harpahm also spoke briefly at the beginning of Monday’s meeting, upon the request of Mayor Gonzales for a wrap-up of the recent July 4 weekend.

Harpham said there was one dumpster fire that was extinguished before the fire department arrived and other than that, there were no other fire calls. “Community citizens did a very good job of being safe on July 4,” he said