City Council reviews property sale, priority projects for this year

City Council will review property sale, potential city projects

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council will have the opportunity to designate priority projects for the upcoming year and beyond, at the regular council meeting Monday, 5:30 p.m., at the City Council Chambers at the City Municipal Building.

It’s one of several discussion items on the regular agenda Monday night. Mayor Mike Gonzales requested an agenda item be placed on the April 5 meeting to further discuss general fund priorities. In discussion Monday night, the City Council will have the opportunity to discuss potential projects for the upcoming year and in the future, along with funding mechanisms to pay for the projects.

Other discussion items slated for the council Monday night are:

-- A report on Richard Haag’s request to purchase city-owned property at the corner of Norris and “B” Street: At the March 15 council meeting, the council heard the request from Richard Haag on his proposal to buy the property for $5,000 or to lease it. The corner of Norris Ave and B street abuts his property on Norris Ave. The area is currently being used as a “green space” with perennials, trees, shrubs, decorative brickwork and Chamber of Commerce electronic event sign. Haag told the council he would like to use the property for vendors and other downtown events.

At the March 15 meeting, the council expressed concerns about the city needing to maintain some kind of control over the use of the property if sold to Haag. If sold, the city would still need some kind of assurances that the property would be used in a beneficial way and be maintained. The property could be sold with constraints, such as covenants that “run with the land,” according to the city manager’s report for Monday’s meeting. There may be better options for the city rather than selling the property, the report said, such as a lease or an exclusive license to use the property.

-- Continued discussion regarding the “Citizen’s Comments” portion of McCook City Council meetings: The council first discussed “Citizen’s Comments” at the March 15 council meeting, that occurs at the beginning of meetings when the public can bring their concerns. The council discussed that by law, comments or discussions from the council or city staff is not allowed if the items being discussed by the public are not on the agenda. Over the past few months, several people have presented their concerns to the council — namely about procedures and information relating to COIVD-19 — and the council did not respond, leading to misunderstandings, the city manager report said. City Manager Nate Schneider told the council at the March 15 meeting how other cities address this issue, by citizens submitting their comments/questions to the city a few days before a regular meeting. If the concern cannot be alleviated through city staff and requires council attention, the item is placed on the next agenda. A running list of applications could be maintained by staff so the council is kept informed of the the citizen’s requests, as well as a report on how the concern was addressed by staff, according to the city manager’s report. The city manager’s report did not address if citizen’s concerns would be made available to the public.

Voting items slated for the council Monday night from the regular agenda is to approve on second reading new water and sewer rates. The new rates the council will be asked to approve would increase water bills by 2 1/2 % and sewer bills by 3%. The rate increases will provide funds to cover inflation and pay for capital improvement projects, according to the city manager’s report.

On another voting item, the council will also be asked to authorize the early redemption of 2016 bonds, originally issued to pay improvement costs at the water and sewer departments in 2016, and to issue new bonds for cost savings.

The city first issued its Combined Utilities Revenue Refunding bonds in November 2016 in the principal amount of $8,825,000. Currently, $7,100,000 in principal remains outstanding. Those bonds mature on or after June 15, 2022 and subject to redemption at the option of the city at any time on or after Nov. 15, 2021. City staff has reviewed cost savings for an early redemption of those bonds and issuing new Combined Utilities Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2021, with the amount not to exceed $6,600,000. By refinancing those bonds, the interest would drop to from 2.625% to 1.5850%. According to the city manager’s report for Monday’s meeting, the early redemption of the 2016 Series bonds would save the city an estimated $544,931.69 over the next 15 years, with the average annual savings at $36,258.60.

Consent agenda items, that can be approved without discussion unless pulled for a separate vote by the council, city staff, or member of the public, are:

-- Approve seven applications for a special designated liquor licenses: five submitted by JBN, Inc., dba Hi Times Liquor Mart, one submitted by Loop Brewing Company and one by MO Dough, LLC;

-- Award the bid for the 2021 Armor Coating Project to Figgins Construction of Red Cloud, Neb., in the amount of $3.42 per gallon, that being the lowest best bid.

-- Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign Change Order No. 1, the Certificate of Substantial Completion, and issue final payment for the West Golf Course Lift Station Upgrade. Final payment is $98,067. Total contracted amount for the project is $207,530, with an earlier payment on Jan. 13, 2021, of $109,462. A final change order of $1,720 was deducted, for pipe, concrete and fencing not used.

-- Receive and file the McCook Pool Committee Report. The McCook Pool Committee presented its report to the council at the Feb. 18 capital improvement meeting with the public.

-- Approve nine applications authorizing Great Plains Communications to occupy city right-of-way for the purpose of installing underground conduit that will house fiber optic cable and authorize the Mayor to sign.

-- Adopt Resolution No. 2021-09 approving the execution of an agency agreement, and other supporting documents, with the Nebraska Department of Transportation - Division of Aeronautics for the development of an Airport Layout Plan, the project to be submitted by the Department of Transportation to the Federal Aviation Administration to obtain federal assistance for the development of the airport. The city is required to enter into an agency agreement with the Nebraska Department of Transportation in order to receive federal funds for the airport layout plant project; the NDOT will be the conduit between the Federal Aviation Administration and the City of McCook.

The council will also be asked to approve two proclamations: one designating the week of April 4-10, 2021 as “National Library Week” and another that designates the week of April 11-17, 2021 as “911 Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.”