McCook city airport project funded by federal sources

McCOOK, Neb. -- Federal funds at over $300,000 will pay for engineering services for the master plan update at the city’s airport.

Along with other consent agenda items at Monday night’s meeting, the McCook City Council unanimously approved without discussion the Professional Services Contract agreement between the City of McCook and Garver, LLC, to provide professional services for the development of an Airport Master Plan update at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport.

Garver LLC, headquartered in North Little Rock, Ark., was chosen for the project out of five different engineering firms that submitted qualifications to the city, according to the city manager’s report for the regular meeting. The selection was based on reference checks and interviews and per the FFA, the cost could not be a factor in the selection. According to the agreement, Garver will use W Designs as a sub-consultant on this project.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation-Aeronautics Division gave the city the go-ahead in September 2020 to begin the selection process for an engineer for this project. That’s because if additional federal funding became available, the project would be ready to go. Federal funds have now become available for the project at 100%.

Garver LLC estimated the total costs of planning services at $360,290 with federal funding paying 100% of costs. If the project had been funded under the normal Airport Improvement Program, the city would have had to pay 10% of the project, or slightly over $36,000, according to Kyle Potthoff, City of McCook Public Works Director.

From another consent agenda item, the council approved the agreement with PFM Financial Advisors, LLC, of Des Moines, Iowa, to serve as the financial advisor to the City of McCook with the issuance of Combined Utilities Revenue Refund Bonds, Series 2021. PFM is the company that works for the city in establishing yearly water/sewer rates. This will authorize PFM as a consultant for financial planning services related to the re-financing /early redemption of the city’s outstanding Utilities Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2021, not to exceed $6.6 million, to lock down a lower interest rate. PFM will receive a fee of $15,000 and be reimbursed for necessary out-of-pocket expenses.

From the regular agenda, the council made no decision Monday night as to how to document citizen’s concerns that were addressed by city staff.

At a prior city council meeting, the council unanimously approved removing the “Citizen’s Comment” portion of the agenda, when citizens could address the council on any issue, in favor of a written form that citizens can fill out. The form, called “Topic for Consideration for City Council Agenda,” is available at city offices or online from the city’s website. The concern will then be placed as an item for a future city council meeting, if city staff, such as those in the Parks or Street Department, can’t take care of it internally.

The form has a section on the bottom that details how the concern was addressed by city staff and staff wanted direction Monday night as to how those items can be reported to the council. In approving the new process, the council has expressed that it be kept up-to-date on how citizen concerns were addressed.

City staff doesn’t have a preference on how it’s done, said City Manager Nate Schneider. The council discussed the option of placing concerns that were taken care of internally on the consent agenda, but that idea was nixed as the discussion progressed.

City Clerk Lea Ann Doak said her concern right now is that people need to understand that requests that are submitted take time to make it onto the next agenda. Some people are thinking if they submit a concern on Friday, it will make it onto Monday’s night agenda, she said. Requests must be received at least two weeks ahead of a meeting.

Also at Monday night’s meeting, the council unanimously approved the application for a Class “C” License (Beer, Wine Distilled Spirits, On and Off Sale) license under the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, submitted by Javier Hernandez Vega; dba “Fuller’s Family Restaurant” at 110 Norris Ave. No one spoke against or in support of the application at the required public hearing. Hernandez, who attended the meeting, said he is planning on a mid-June opening for the restaurant.