Council to consider open house for city sales tax ballot question

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council will be asked if it wants to schedule an open house concerning the upcoming local option sales tax ballot question, at the regular meeting Monday, at 5:30 p.m. at city council chambers at the City Municipal Building.

Voters will be asked at the Nov. 8 election whether to approve a .5% increase in city sales tax, from 1.5% to 2%, with proceeds from the .5% going to a bond that will pay for a new city swimming pool and ballpark facility/improvements.

Due to state law, elected or appointed political subdivisions cannot campaign for or against a public funding ballot question. However, state law does allow for public officials and public employees, under the direct supervision of public officials, to respond to specific questions from the press or the public as to his or her opinion regarding a ballot question or to provide information in response to a request for information, according to the city manager’s report.

If the council chooses, an open house can be at a municipal facility to answer questions from the public, as long as the council doesn’t advocate for or against the upcoming local option sales tax ballot question. Using a government facility to have an open house is also allowed under state law, as long as support or opposition to the public funding ballot question is not a factor in making the government facility available or determines the cost or conditions of use of the facility.

Other regular voting items slated for Monday night are:

-- Approve on second reading the change in zoning from Industrial Light to Business Commercial, requested by William Watts for property he owns at 1002 East B. Watts would like to use it for an RV repair shop.

-- Approve on second reading two separate requests from Jerry Gohl, for voluntary annexation of a tract of land he owns north of West J Street, known as Heritage Pointe Addition No. 2. and for a zoning change from Residential Medium Density District and Agricultural District, to Business Commercial.

-- On the second reading, new fees for bulk water are available at the city’s water shop, from $5 per cubic foot to $5 per 1,000 gallons.

The council will also be asked, from the consent agenda, to offer a contract to Prime Solution Inc., as the lowest responsible bidder for rotary fan press equipment at the city’s sewer plant, with a base bid of $591,235 and a deductive change order of $132,445. All of the items on the consent agenda can be approved together in one motion, unlike regular agenda items that must be voted on separately by each council member.

Other consent agenda items for Monday are:

-- Adopt a resolution that sets the property tax request for 2022-23. The city’s levy will be $.340814, $.01823 lower than the previous year. The city valuation will generate $1.65 million in tax revenue for the coming fiscal year. Total assessed value of property has increased by 8%.

-- Approve Amendment No. 3 to the Professional Engineering Agreement with Miller and Associates, Consulting Engineers, P.C., to add additional services to comply with Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy and State Revolving Fund requirements. City staff is requesting that the council approve an amendment to the agreement with Miller and Associated Engineering to include West Fifth and East 14th water main projects, not to exceed $92,500 for a 140-day construction period.

-- Receive and file the confirmation of emergency purchase of one new 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 regular cab pickup without a box for the city’s airport department, from Doug Richert Chevrolet Buick located in Holton, Kan., at a cost of $46,214.95, due to the ongoing supply chain issues. The city airport received a $75,000 federal government payment from the CARES Act and ARPA funding. City staff visited with three local car dealers and none had a vehicle with the required specifications, according to the city manager’s report.

-- Approve the dissolution of the McCook Swimming Pool Committee. Several swimming pool committee members have expressed interest in campaigning for the local option sales tax ballot question but per state law, elected and appointed officiations cannot campaign for or against a ballot question. By dissolving the swimming pool committee, members can campaign for or against a ballot question. The committee can be reformed at a later date.-  Approve the bid specifications for one new vehicle for the city’s sewer department and set the date to receive bids as Oct. 25, 2022 at 2 p.m.

-- Approve the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce request to use city facilities for a Christmas Celebration on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, including the use of McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport for the flying in of Santa Claus at 1 p.m.; the use of  Norris Park (including electricity) beginning at 3 p.m., which will include entertainment in the bandshell; the lighting of the park; conducting the annual Christmas “Light up the Bricks” parade beginning at 6 p.m., including participation by the fire and police departments and the closing of several city streets for the parade and Norris Park festivities. The meeting Monday night will open with three public hearings regarding a new subdivision called North Pointe Addition, proposed for property located north of West R and west of West Seventh, within the current Clary Subdivision. The requests come from three owners of the property, the McCook Economic Development Corp. W.A.G.S. Properties LLC (Chris Wagner) and John and Elizabeth Nothnagel. They’re requesting council approval for a vacation, re-zone and final plat for the property, that has recently been voluntarily annexed inside city limits. The McCook Planning Commission has already approved these requests. Before the public hearings, City staff will ask for the proclamation designating Oct. 9-15, 2022, as “Fire Prevention Week.”