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Karrer Park on path to reopen
McCOOK, Neb. - The City took an important step toward the reopening of Karrer Park at Monday night’s meeting of the McCook City Council. The Council passed an ordinance setting standards for camping, usage and permissible activities at public properties to ensure “safety, order, and appropriate use of public spaces.”
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. with all members present. During announcements and recognitions, Assistant City Manager Tera Koetter reminded attendees of an upcoming community meeting. The meeting is scheduled for Jan. 7 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers and will address the CDA’s potential grant application to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Cleanup Program for the St. Catherine’s Hospital Apartments.
The council then considered the Consent Agenda, including the adoption of a resolution providing for the levy of special assessments to recover costs associated with nuisance abatement and demolitions. The demolition in question was for a property at 807 West 1st Street, and a lien in the amount of $17,263.98
In addition, the council considered an amendment to the site lease agreement between the City of McCook and Cingular Wireless for equipment located at the West Water Tower. Adding new equipment to the site will increase the monthly rent paid to the city by $200.
No items were pulled from the Consent Agenda for separate consideration, and all were approved unanimously.
Under the Regular Agenda, the council received a presentation from Grant Flamig, account manager with Nebraska Public Power District, who reviewed the community energy report and discussed local energy usage trends, system performance and long-term planning considerations.
Flamig outlined NPPD’s financial and operational relationship with McCook, noting that the district remitted approximately $1.3 million in lease payments to the city in 2024, along with about $145,000 in sales tax and roughly $500,000 in gross revenue tax paid to Red Willow County. He also highlighted NPPD’s energy-efficiency programs, available to both retail and wholesale customers, and reported that about $15,000 in efficiency incentives were returned to McCook residents during the year.
Flamig provided an overview of NPPD’s broader system, noting that the utility is currently about 58 percent carbon-free, with roughly 45 percent of its generation coming from the Cooper Nuclear Station near Brownville. He said NPPD serves 81 communities at the retail level and operates thousands of miles of transmission and distribution lines. He also reviewed electricity rates, noting that McCook and Nebraska customers continue to pay below national averages, while cautioning that rising labor and material costs are expected to result in an average retail rate increase of about two percent in the coming year.
Next on the council agenda was the update on the youth sports complex project. Koetter said, “There isn’t a lot to report at this time, but they are still progressing well out there, and as long as this weather is holding out, it’s going to continue to go at a good pace.”
No action was taken following the update.
Council members then discussed the potential vacating of the gravel road on East “A” Street, from the gravel alleyway between East 9th Street and East “A” Street to the paved roadway at East 10th Street and East “A” Street. The discussion focused on access, adjacent property considerations, and next steps in the process.
A request was made by Randy Clapp for the city to vacate a lightly used gravel road on East A Street, extending from the gravel alleyway between East 9th Street and East A Street to the paved roadway at East 10th Street and East A Street. Mr. Clapp reported that the street was rarely used, with the primary exception being occasional instances of motorists accelerating rapidly or driving aggressively around the corner.
City staff reviewed the property and agreed there was no public benefit to keeping the street open. To the west, sufficient right of way existed to allow vehicle access to the adjacent commercial properties. The proposed closure was not expected to affect the City’s ability to provide trash collection services to neighboring properties. Based on discussions with Mr. Clapp, City staff reported that the other adjacent property owners along East 9th Street agreed with the vacation request.
The item was for discussion only. City staff will present an actionable proposal at an upcoming meeting.
An update and discussion followed regarding the City of McCook’s progress on a new Comprehensive Plan, along with updated zoning regulations and subdivision regulations. Staff outlined ongoing work, timelines, and upcoming milestones, and council members discussed priorities and community engagement.
Koetter explained that the comprehensive plan has been underway for some time, including a steering committee process and multiple meetings with the Planning Commission to review zoning regulations. The plan is scheduled for presentation to the Planning Commission on Feb. 9, with council consideration to follow if approved.
The council then considered an ordinance amending Title IX of the City of McCook code entitled “Public Spaces, Camping, Restrooms, Parks.”
Speaking deliberately, McCook City Attorney Nate Mustion reminded the council and those in attendance that the proposed ordinances were intended to regulate behavior rather than target any specific group.
Mustion said, “I want to remind you, as we start talking about this, that these ordinances are meant to address behavior, action, not status.” Mustion explained, “It applies to me. If I were to go out and tailgate on the sidewalk next to B Street, it would apply to me just like anyone else.”
Following the temporary closure of Karrer Park, City of McCook staff and the city attorney have been drafting ordinance language governing camping and sleeping in public spaces, use of Karrer Park, personal property in public areas, sidewalk obstructions, and appropriate use of public restrooms.
After a brief discussion of how the rules applied to tent camping, the council voted to suspend the statutory requirement that the ordinance be read on three separate occasions, with the motion passing by the required three-fourths majority. Ordinance No. 2026-3111 was then approved.
The new ordinance will authorize local law enforcement to address the safety concerns and misuse cited when the park was closed in July of 2025, “until further notice.” City officials say the park will reopen “probably in the spring,” though no specific date has been set. The delay reflects ongoing work to implement the infrastructure and enforcement mechanisms required under the new ordinances.
With no further business to come before the body, the meeting was adjourned.