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Jogger, walkers want action by McCook City Council
McCOOK, Nebraska -- While local walkers want the city to keep one of their favorite exercise spots open, a woman is asking the city to pay for injuries she sustained while jogging outdoors.
Monday, the McCook City Council will receive a claim for damages from a 20-year-old McCook woman who is seeking compensation from the city for an injury she suffered while jogging home from a friend's house, on a Saturday evening in December.
According to the claim, Ashley Weir of 305 E. Third Street No. 4, the incident occurred at 8:30 p.m., the evening of Dec. 8, 2012.
The claim states Weir was jogging home near the south sidewalk of West 10th and M Street, near 1014 West M Street, when her foot slipped in a cutout in the sidewalk. She subsequently called another woman to come pick her up and was transported to the emergency room at Community Hospital.
The claim is accompanied by $1,779 in medical bills from Community Hospital and Central Nebraska Orthopedics.
Councilors will review and file the claim during their regularly scheduled meeting, Monday evening, 7:30 p.m., at council chambers in the new Municipal Facility on West C Street. The meeting will be the first city council meeting located at the new building.
Also during the meeting council members will consider a request from a group of morning walkers that Memorial Auditorium be kept open on a daily basis for their continued use. City staff closed the facility to morning walkers and turned down the heat to the building, following the opening of the new municipal facility last week.
According to the meeting agenda the building has averaged just under $20,000 annually to operate and maintain, while city administration offices were located within it. Revenue from auditorium rentals totaled $2,810 in fiscal year 2011-12.
According to city staff the city's insurance broker "strongly suggests that the city cease and desist the practice of open walking without supervision."
City staff did not have a market/appraised value for the facility available but said it was insured at $2.5 million, or $123 per square foot.
Councilors are anticipated to review the provided cost information, discuss the future of the facility and provide direction to city staff pertaining to the request from the morning walkers.
Councilors will also receive and file a claim for damages from the city's contracted trash hauler, Fritz Trucking. The claim seeks compensation for damage caused to one of the trucking company's trailers while being loaded by city staff and is the second such claim from Fritz Trucking this year.
Other items on the consent and regular agenda:
* A lease agreement between the city and Wells Fargo Bank for financing of a $123,944 front end loader for the street department will be considered for approval. The five-year lease agreement has an interest rate of 2.44 percent and sets five annual payments of $26,747.
* A second lease agreement between the city and First Central Bank for the purchase of three new cardiac monitor devices for the EMS Department will also be considered. That lease will finance $81,303 over a five year period and with an interest rate of 3.75 percent.