City of McCook

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council will be asked to approve a re-platting request from MNB so the bank can build a professional building. A public hearing on the request is Monday night at the McCook Council meeting, 5:30 p.m. at city council chambers at the City of McCook Municipal Building...

McCOOK, Neb. — The number of Boutique Air passengers deplanning at the McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport dropped by 77.36% for second quarter totals. The second quarter includes the months of April, May and June. In April, a 88.37% drop was seen in enplaned passengers, followed by an 85.43% decrease in May and a 58.95% decrease in June...

McCOOK, Neb. — The City of McCook Planning Commission will meet Monday for a public hearing on a replatting request at the Westview Plaza Subdivision. The city received an application from MNB Bank, through its project developer, Engineering International, for the approval of a replat of a portion of Block 1 of Westview Plaza Subdivision. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council unanimously approved the new salary of the city manager at $112,453, at the regular meeting Tuesday night. Beginning Oct. 1, the 12-month salary of City Manager Nate Schneider will increase from its current $106,545 to $112,453. The new salary includes a cost of living raise at 2%, a 2.5% merit raise and a 1% longevity raise. The salary was approved on first reading, the council voting to suspend three readings...

McCOOK, Neb. — The loss of highway allocation dollars has put the brakes on funding a long-time street improvement project in the city. Of the two projects slated next year in the City of McCook’s 2021 McCook Plan of Street Improvements, only one is funded. That project is Phase III of the B Street payments with the final payment this year of $181,000, said city engineer Greg Wolford at the public hearing Tuesday night for the 2021 McCook Plan of Street Improvements...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council approved the 2020-21 budget Tuesday night at its regular meeting, with a 4% increase seen in its property tax request. Yet, the operating budget for the city decreased from last year by 6%, from $36.5 million in 2019-20, to $34.51 million for 2020-21...

McCOOK, Neb. — Toxicology reports from the City of McCook’s waste water treatment plant accident are still pending. Two city employees, Ken Keslin, 43, and Larry Dicke, 65, were found dead inside the city’s wastewater treatment facility on Sept. 6. A welfare check was made after one of the employees did not return home after a routine check of the facilities...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Fire Department plans a 9/11 Stair Climb fundraiser Friday to honor 343 first responders lost in the September 11, 2001, attacks. A donation boot will be placed by the stair climbers at the YMCA and Anytime Fitness in McCook all day Friday as participants try to climb 110 floors to honor those lost that day...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council added two requests to be included in the the 2020-21 city budget, before approving the budget Tuesday night. Upon the request of Mayor Mike Gonzales, funds will be set aside in the budget next year to repair the steps at Memorial Auditorium. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Toxicology reports from the City of McCook’s waste water treatment plant accident are still pending. Two city employees, Ken Keslin, 43, and Larry Dicke, 65, were found dead inside the the city’s wastewater treatment facility on Sept. 6. Due to toxic gases and hazardous material inside the facility, McCook Fire and Rescue and the Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department Hazardous Material Team were dispatched to the scene to recover the deceased employees...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Two City of McCook employees died in an incident Sunday at the city's wastewater treatment plant. They were identified as Larry Dicke, 65, and Kenneth Keslin, 43. According to a media release, police were called to the plant on Ravenswood Road at 12:17 p.m. Sunday after one of the employees did not return home after a routine check of the facilities...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The City of McCook Fire Department has been awarded a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant of $154,768 to purchase three replacement ambulance power cots and one mechanical CPR chest compression device...

McCOOK, Neb. — Water sales are up but revenue is down for sewer, the City of McCook utilities director said Monday night. Jesse Dutcher spoke to the McCook City Council Monday night on the water and sewer budgets for next year. The council will be asked to approved the 2020-21 budget at its next meeting...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council unanimously approved a new subdivision Monday night at its regular meeting. Eugene and Joan Koch of McCook purchased the lot off of Drive 716 at the Southeast Quarter of Section 24, Township 3 North, Range 30 West of the 6th P.M., in Red Willow County, Neb. The Kochs requested that the lot be divided into two lots, with a business on one of the lots and on the other, a residence. After a public hearing, the council approved the application...

McCOOK, Neb. — City sales tax forecast for the City of McCook is looking sunnier. Despite gloomy predictions earlier in the year due to the economic shut-down in March, money the city garners from the 1.5% city sales tax is projected better than expected. “It’s trending where we anticipated, maybe a little more,” City Manager Nate Schneider said Monday night at the McCook City Council meeting, during discussion of the 2020-21 budget...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A few little-known facts were revealed about Police Chief Ike Brown at Tuesday’s “Coffee with a Cop,” sponsored by McCook Gazette: Chief Brown is a 1971 graduate of McCook High School. He also graduated from McCook Community College...

McCOOK, Neb. — Libraries are not just for books anymore but a place for people young and old to access technology. And a $500,000 endowment will fund a new technology center at the McCook Public Library to help with that. On Monday night, The McCook City Council formally approved the Birdella Nelson Technology Center that will be located at the McCook Public Library. The endowment comes from McCook native and former Nebraska governor and U.S. senator, Ben Nelson...

Senior Center opening on hold New Keystone office space available for remote workers lorri sughroue Associate Editor McCOOK, Neb. — Any plans to open the city’s Heritage Senior Center, shut down since March because of coronavirus, have been put on hold...

McCOOK, Neb. —Thanks to a local couple, it will now be easier to access a popular outdoor venue in Kelley Park. Dave and Lucy Lines of McCook funded a concrete path down to Bolles Canyon in Kelley Park, along with a covered gazebo. The site is a popular location for weddings and other events...

McCOOK, Neb. — The city sales tax revenue drop In March during the pandemic shut-down was not as drastic as first believed, McCook’s city manager said. But there was a higher than expected decrease in the electric franchise fee the city collects from Nebraska Public Power District, said Nate Schneider at the McCook City Council meeting Monday night...

McCOOK, Neb. — Sgt. Joel Smith of the Nebraska State Patrol has been selected as the new City of McCook police chief. Ike Brown, current police chief, is retiring at the end of the month after 39 years. City Manager Nate Schneider made the announcement at the McCook City Council meeting Monday night...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The City of McCook is asking residents not to soften their water any more than necessary. In a letter sent to water customers this month, Utility Director Jesse Dutcher said the city has been told by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy that it needs to reduce the amount of chlorides being released from the wastewater treatment facility into the Republican River...

McCOOK, Neb. — There may be only two, instead of the usual three, readings this year of the city’s 2020-21 budget and to make up for that, a discussion session on the budget is slated Monday night at the regular city council meeting, 5:30 p.m. at the City Council Chambers at the McCook Municipal Building...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A McCook native is honoring his mother by providing support for the local institution that helped him excel in reading, and eventually in his long political and professional career. Many years before a nationwide pandemic forced parents to provide educational support from home, former U.S. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Monday’s City Council meeting included a public hearing on a new Bishop Acres 3 subdivision, including a small area platted as commercial because of a radio tower. Craig Bennett of Miller & Associates explained details of the planned subdivision, as well as annexation issues in general...

McCOOK, Neb. — Former U.S. senator and Nebraska governor, Ben Nelson, a McCook native, is donating money to fund a technology center at the McCook City Library. Nelson would like to fund the center in honor of his mother, Birdella Nelson. The total amount of the gift is $500,000 to the McCook Library Endowment...

McCOOK, Neb. — A $209,250 bid was awarded to a Kearney company to renovate the lift station at the golf course. With other consent agenda items, the McCook City Council approved the bid from Midlands Contracting, Inc. of Kearney, the lowest of five bids received for the project. The bid was about 25% higher than estimated costs, but the total cost is still within budget, said David Blau of Miller and Associates after Monday’s meeting. Funds will come from the city’s capital improvement budget...

McCOOK, Neb — McCook City staff is still debating whether to open up the McCook Heritage Senior Center, closed since March due to the COVID-19 virus. Beth Siegfried, center director, told the McCook City Council Monday night during a discussion on re-opening city facilities that she’s received calls from senior citizens who want to resume playing activities at the center but she’s hesitant to open it up completely...

McCOOK, Neb. — No restrictions for city water users are in effect — for now. But with high temperatures and no rain in the forecast for the week, that could change. On Monday, 5,000 gallons of water per minute were used between 3 and 10 a.m., the time many residential underground water sprinklers were in use, said City Utilities director Jesse Dutcher at the regular McCook City Council meeting Monday night. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — A McCook City Councilman would like to discuss parking concerns on a street near his residence, at the regular meeting Monday, 5:30 p.m., at the city council chambers at the City Municipal Building. Upon the request of Councilman Jerry Calvin, the council will discuss creating a no-parking designation on the north side of the 1500 block of West “H” Street, specifically the area of the north 1500 block of West “H” Street, west of the existing alley. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council approved all the consent agenda items Monday night without discussion, including: - the request from Garrett Wagner to close streets on Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11, for “4th Annual Cruisin’ the Bricks Cruise Night” and car show;...

McCOOK, Neb. — At a special meeting Wednesday, the McCook City Council unanimously approved waivers/user agreements for those who want to use Memorial Auditorium and the Heritage Senior Center. The waivers /agreements holds the city harmless concerning COVID-19 exposure and requires any individual, organization or group using the auditorium or senior center comply with all directed health measures currently in place...

Tuesday, June 16, 2020 These items are taken from reports filed by the McCook Police Department on the day indicated. Where numbered addresses are used, they refer to block numbers, not specific addresses. If you have information about any of these reports, call...

McCOOK, Neb. — By 4 a.m. Monday morning, water usage in the city was about 4,000 gallons of water per minute. That’s because everyone’s underground sprinklers were operating due to the previous days’ windy and hot conditions, surmised McCook City Utilities director, Jesse Dutcher at the regular McCook City Council meeting Monday night...

McCOOK, Neb. — City officials are bracing themselves for a lean budget. Numbers are still being compiled for next year’s budget and City Manager Nate Schneider told the McCook City Council Monday night that preliminary data he’s seeing about revenue sources will keep requests from city department heads at a minimum...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Because of high temperatures and windy conditions, McCook city officials are asking residents not to water their lawns or gardens between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. The city water system has seen very high usage, according to Utility Director Jesse Dutcher, and the daytime break will give storage tanks time to refill...

McCook Police Department reports, by block number. Call 308-345-3450 if you have information Friday, June 12th, 2020 06:40 200 East I - Dispatched Ambulance 08:01 1100 East B - Disturbance 09:01 500 West C - Report of Civil Complaint 12:08 700 West 4th - Dispatched Ambulance...

McCOOK, Neb. — As directed health measures ease, the McCook City Council will discuss with city staff the most recent COVID-19 directed health measures and how it relates to the city, at the regular meeting Monday, 6:30 p.m., at the City Council chambers in the Municipal Building...

McCOOK, Neb. - Local firefighters and utility crews joined forces Tuesday evening to keep a lethal combination of electricity, fire and natural gas from causing a disaster.  Homeowner Bill Marshall said quick action by his neighbors, Dale and Cindy Fahnholz helped save his house and property after they noticed fire in trees next to his house and called him and the fire department about 5 p.m...

Friday, June 5, 2020 McCook Police Department reports, listed by block number, not specific address. Call 308-345-3450 if you have information about any of these reports. 00:41 Southwest McCook - Intrusion Alarm 04:20 Rural South McCook - Dispatched Ambulance...

A Nebraska National Guard hovers over McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport, stopping for fuel between bases in Nebraska and Colorado. Civilian activities dropped considerably from last year; Boutique Air enplanements down 85.58% at 30 passengers this year compared to 208 in May 2019. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — A total of $403,032 worth of new building, plumbing and mechanical work was recorded in May for the City of McCook. The largest project was an 8 by 120-foot commercial building with the estimated cost at $300,000, according to the City of McCook Building Permit report for May...

McCOOK, Neb. — According to city code, all Memorial Day decorations must be removed from Memorial Park and Riverview cemeteries by Tuesday, June 9. After that date, such decorations will be considered abandoned and will be removed by the Public Works Cemetery Department. The city expressed thanks to the public for cooperation...

McCOOK, Neb. — Despite the concern of one council member, the rest of the McCook City Council approved modifying a liquor license to allow beer to be sold with pizza at a local store. The item came from the consent agenda, that’s usually approved in one motion with other consent agenda items. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Pool Committee is back at work considering what kind of pool is needed for the community and methods of funding. The committee recently met with city staff and discussed several different options, City Manager Nate Schneider told the McCook City Council Monday night...

McCOOK, Neb. — Playgrounds will be opened to the public Monday, June 8, with other city facilities also becoming accessible. This includes the city’s ball parks, after the McCook City Council unanimously approved a resolution to do so Monday night at the regular meeting...

McCOOK, Neb. — Directed health measures for the COVID-19 pandemic relaxed by Gov. Pete Ricketts on May 21 opens up public swimming pools, as well as other facilities and venues. The loosening of restrictions means public pools can open at 25% capacity, with groups of no more than six people staying six feet apart from other groups. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Directed health measures for the COVID-19 pandemic relaxed by Gov. Pete Ricketts on May 21 opens up public swimming pools, as well as other facilities and venues. The loosening of restrictions means public pools can open at 25% capacity, with groups of no more than six people staying six feet apart from other groups. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — City and county officials, including those in McCook, are scrambling to keep up with loosening COVID-19 health restrictions that seem to change by the week. A resolution from the city to open city ballparks was scheduled for approval on Wednesday at a special meeting but instead has been postponed until the regular council meeting on Monday, June 1...

McCOOK, Neb. — Despite the economic slump, there are opportunities in this pandemic to invest in, said the director of the McCook’s economic development program. Andy Long addressed the McCook City Council Monday night at a required public hearing for an update on the McCook Economic Development program. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council will be asked to approve a resolution concerning opening the city ballparks, at a special meeting Wednesday, May 27, 12 p.m. noon at the city council chambers at the McCook Municipal Building. Gov. Pete Ricketts has relaxed COVID-19 directed health measures to allow for baseball and softball to resume on June 1, with a list of social distancing stipulations for teams and spectators to adhere to. ...

This column contains my comments (with some modifications) made during Monday’s McCook City Council meeting as part of citizen’s comments, which cannot have any further discussion or actions taken. In October 2015, the McCook City Council appointed 12 community members to the pool committee. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — While other Nebraska cities have upgraded their city pools, or are in the process of doing so, the McCook City Pool has the dubious honor of being one of the oldest in the state. Ronda Graff wants to change that. The pool was built in 1937 as a WPA project and it’s not exactly a badge of honor to have an almost 90 year old public pool, Ronda Graff told the McCook City Council Monday night at the regular meeting...

McCOOK, Neb. — An unexpected glitch in the city library’s HVAC upgrade will require the removal of a south wall. McCook Mechanical LLC, the contractor for the HVAC upgrade, cannot fit the chilling unit down the basement stairs, McCook City Manager Nate Schneider told the McCook City Council Monday night at its regular meeting...

McCOOK, Neb. — The fate of the boys and girls of summer was somewhat decided Monday night at the McCook City Council meeting, during discussion of when and if to open up the city practice ball fields. City facilities, such as the ball parks, have been closed due to directed health measures issued by Gov. Ricketts for the COVID-19 pandemic...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council will consider when and how to open up the city’s baseball and softball fields, as well as other city buildings, at its regular meeting Monday, 5:30 p.m. at the city council chambers at the city municipal building...

Firefighters monitor a gas leak from a safe distance Friday night in north McCook while they wait for the gas company to reach the scene of a major leak, which could be heard hissing for blocks around. A skid loader was being used to move railroad ties in a back yard when it slipped over a ledge and broke off a gas meter. Black Hills Energy personnel were expected to have to dig down to the line to shut off the lead...

McCOOK, Neb. —The massive economic hemorrhage in April across the nation due to the coronavirus was reflected at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport, with an almost 90% drop in passengers compared to April last year. For a federal subsidy, the essential air service at the McCook airport, Boutique Air, provides passenger flights daily to and from Denver. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Keeping first responders in the City of McCook safe from exposure to the COVID-19 virus is vital. That’s why a recent grant from McCook Community Foundation Fund to the city fire department will go toward additional protective equipment...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Planning Commission will be asked to approve a special exception to allow a daycare center in a former church, with the condition that sufficient off-street parking be constructed within a specified time period. The meeting is at the city council chambers at 5:15 p.m., at the city municipal building...

McCOOK, Neb. — As the temperature climbed into the 90s one day last week, a record number of water was used at 4.1 million gallons. “That’s the earliest I’ve seen that number appear,” said City Utilities director Jesse Dutcher Monday night at the regular McCook City Council meeting. “Everyone must have been irrigating their lawns.”...

McCOOK, Neb. — Advertising will soon begin for a new city police chief. After 39 years, McCook City Police Chief Ike Brown will retire Aug. 31. The local Civil Service Commission will meet May 13 to declare a vacancy, followed by advertising in multiple publications beginning mid-May, said McCook City Manager Nate Schneider...

McCOOK, Neb. — Residential remodels led new building in the month of April, topping out at $102,000 in estimated costs. A total of $218,631 in estimated costs of new building/mechanical/plumbing were recorded for last month, according to the City of McCook building report...

McCOOK, Neb. — It will be a quiet summer at the city swimming pool, as the McCook City Council unanimously approved Monday night to not open the pool due to COVID-19 restrictions. “It will be strange to go by and not see kids in there,” Mayor Mike Gonzales admitted after the vote...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council will discuss the city’s response to the COVID-19 health emergency and how the community is coping, at the regular meeting Monday, 5:30 p.m., at city council chambers at the McCook Municipal Building. If available, a representative from the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department will be present to participate...

City officials as well as everyone else have had plenty on their plate dealing the COVID-19 pandemic, but they, like the rest of us, know that someday, hopefully sooner than later, things will return to something closer to normal. One of those normal activities is the city’s Tree Rebate program, which has earned McCook Tree City USA honors for several decades and made our community a better place to live for generations to come...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The City of McCook will continue the Tree Rebate Program for the 2020 spring season. Trees must be purchased between March 23 and June 5, 2020 with rebate requests received by June 19, 2020. There are restrictions on the type of trees and planting specifics, and there are some changes from previous years...

McCOOK, Neb. —A new garage at Memorial Park Cemetery will be put on hold for the time being. Bids for a 30 by 40 foot garage exceeded the budgeted amount for the facility, with Chipperfield AG Erectors at $78,820 and Scott Martin Construction, $128,270...

According to state legislature, there are 12 criteria for blight and four for substandard conditions. Areas designated as blighted/substandard must meet at least one of the criteria for each category. Criteria for blight are: • A substantial number of dilapidated or deteriorating structures...

McCOOK, Neb. — City Manager Nate Schneider announced at Monday night’s City Council meeting that Police Chief Ike Brown will be retiring at the end of August, after serving 39 years. Brown said the decision to retire was hard to make in some ways, as “it’s hard to give up something you love doing.”...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council approved unanimously a resolution that allows customers to get a temporary waiver from paying city utility bills if they can prove financial hardship due to the COVD-19 pandemic. City staff is finalizing a waiver form that customers can use, said City Manager Nate Schneider at the regular council meeting Monday night. The council met remotely due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City swimming pool may not open this summer. That’s because Gov. Ricketts announced that public pools must be remain closed until July 15 due to COVID-19 health emergency, City Manager Nate Schneider told the McCook City Council Monday night...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council will be asked to temporarily suspend water disconnections for city water customers impacted financially by the COVID-19 pandemic. It will also be asked to approve tax increment financing for a proposed gas station, at the regular meeting Monday, 5:30 p.m. at city council chambers at the city Municipal building...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Planning Commission will be asked to approve tax increment financing for a proposed gas station at a vacant lot at the intersection of U.S. Highways 83 and 6/34. The city received a redevelopment application from Smoker’s Outlet, doing business as N-Stant Convenience, for property it owns directly northeast of the intersection. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — A proposed city ordinance would change the way the city sells property. The McCook City Council approved on the first of three readings Monday night an ordinance that allows the city to auction or conduct sealed bids in selling city property. This is a better process than what is done now and more fair, City Manager Nate Schneider said, as currently, a bid can be made at one council meeting and then counter bids can be offered at subsequent meetings, extending the process...

McCOOK, Neb — After postponing the request from a March meeting, the McCook City Council approved Monday night $200,000 in tax increment financing for a local developer who plans to upgrade a vacant building on B Street to be used for various businesses...

McCOOK, Neb. — With one dissenting vote, the McCook City Council approved an amended agreement with an insurance brokerage firm for city employee health insurance. Councillor Janet Hepp cast the lone nay vote, with Councillors Gene Weedin, Jerry Calvin, Mayor Mike Gonzales and by a teleconference call, Councillor Jared Muehlenkamp, in favor of a two-year, instead of the proposed three-year, agreement with Hays Companies Inc...

McCOOK, Neb — The McCook City Council unanimously approved Monday night to temporarily give City Manager Nate Schneider the authority to manage disaster operations under the city’s emergency operation plan. The City of McCook’s Local Emergency Operation Plan names the mayor as the emergency management director; state statute allows the city council to appoint an emergency management director. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — For customers affected by job loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic, city staff is looking at options of waiving or postponing payments for water, sewer and trash bills, according to the McCook City Manager. Nate Schneider told the McCook City Council Monday night at the regular meeting that staff is “reviewing where we are” concerning the water/sewer/trash bills and the payment ability of customers who have lost their jobs or working reduced hours due to the pandemic...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The City of McCook has closed playground equipment in all city parks and reserved a city RV park to medical personnel and first responders who are working and required to self-isolate. The steps are being taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. City parks themselves will remain open for citizens to use for walking and runnng...

McCOOK, Neb. —New building in the City of McCook is inching toward the million-dollar mark, with $529,538 recorded for the month of March. Year-to-date, $710,888.50 in estimated construction costs of new building has been recorded, according the City of McCook’s monthly building permit report. A total of $920.89 in permit fees were collected by the city in March, with $1,467 collected year-to-date...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council will be asked to adopt a resolution that designates the city manager to declare a local emergency exists and temporarily gives him authority to manage disaster/recovery efforts during the current COVID-19 pandemic, at the regular council meeting Monday, 5:30 p.m. at city council chambers at the city municipal building...

McCOOK, Neb. — Plans to use tax increment financing for a proposed business on B Street were postponed Monday night at the McCook City Council meeting. The financing was requested by Blackwood Enterprises LLC., James Hegwood, LLC member, to improve a vacant commercial building at 520 West B for a location to be used by a mix of businesses. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Heritage Senior Center is closed, but meals are still being delivered and the city’s transit bus is operating. The community has really stepped up in volunteering to deliver the meals, Beth Siegfried, director of the senior center, told the McCook City Council Monday night at the regular meeting. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council will be asked to approve tax increment financing for a proposed project on West B and economic development loan for another business, at the regular meeting Monday, 5:30 p.m., at city council chambers at the city municipal building...

McCOOK, Neb — Things are looking up for Boutique Air, the essential air service carrier at the McCook airport. Boutique Air offers daily flights to Denver, Colo., and is subsidized by the federal government for its service. Passenger numbers increased by 50% last month, in the number of passengers deplaning at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport, according to the monthly report from the City of McCook...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Planning Commission will be asked to approve recommendation of a redevelopment project proposed for B Street, on Monday, 5:30 p.m. at the city council chambers in the city municipal building. The project is being proposed by Blackwood Enterprises LLC, to redevelop city property and a vacant building at 520 West B Street. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — City ordinances that clarify procedures on nuisance abatement properties were approved by the McCook City Council Monday night. The ordinances were approved on the first of three readings and reflect newly enacted state law. City manager Nate Schneider told the council that the city prefers to work privately with owners of nuisance properties and get them resolved, rather than spend public money, but that the revised ordinances will benefit those owners as they will have an exact understanding of what the process requires.. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — The City of McCook Building Inspector is hoping the new proposed city jurisdiction lines will eliminate confusion among property owners. “We’re hoping this will clear up things for the county and for us,” Barry Mooney said, with the current two-mile city jurisdiction lines creating real issues. Mooney said there were rural property owners with half their homes located inside the county jurisdiction, the other half in the city’s...

McCOOK, Neb. -- It’s inevitable that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) will spread, but precautions will keep it to a minimum, said McCook City Fire Chief Marc Harpham Monday night at the regular McCook City Council meeting. At a recent conference he attended concerning the virus, Harpham related it was vital to not overact and panic, but to also be prudent and pro-active about the virus...

McCOOK, Neb. — Much like its last meeting, the McCook City Council will consider amending several city ordinances, this time on abandoned vehicles, nuisance abatement and notices for budget hearings, at its regular meeting Monday night, 5:30 p.m. at the city council chambers in the city Municipal Building...

McCOOK, Neb. —The McCook Public Library will close on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 4 p.m., and remain closed on Wednesday, Feb. 26, and Thursday, Feb. 27, so that staff can train for the “Innovation Studios” coming to the library in April. The library will open Friday, Feb. 28, for regular hours...

McCOOK, Neb. — Donations, a grant and city funds have covered expenses of the McCook Police Department’s first K-9 officer, Kailah. A grant to the McCook Police Department provided for the purchase of the Dutch shepherd, along with training for the dog, said McCook City Police Chief Ike Brown...

McCOOK, Neb. — The City of McCook will be getting a $19,800 check for being a member of ACE Choice Gas program. McCook City Council ACE representative, Gene Weedin, made the announcement at the regular city council meeting Monday night. ACE board of directors may return excess revenue to its member communities, according to ACE Public Alliance for Community Energy website. Since forming in 1998, ACE has returned nearly $2.8 million to its Nebraska members...

McCOOK, Neb. — The current two-mile City of McCook jurisdiction outside city limits will be changed under an ordinance proposed by city staff. Under the current model, the two mile jurisdiction is done in a radius fashion from the city limits, resulting in some properties half inside the city, half outside, said McCook City Manager, Nate Schneider. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Under proposed new city laws, it will cost a little more to keep a dog that’s been deemed dangerous, but cats no longer have to be on a leash. City ordinances have been revised and created so laws about dangerous dogs are easier to enforce, potentially vague terms are eliminated and that city citizens are kept safe, said McCook City Manager Nate Schneider at the regular city council meeting Monday night. The council approved the revised city laws on the first of three readings...

McCOOK, Neb. — A McCook man is suing the city of McCook, alleging damages done to his vehicle by the city’s K-9 officer. The item is a consent agenda item and will more than likely be approved with other consent agendas in one motion, without discussion by the council...

McCOOK, Neb. — Increases were seen in the number of passengers using Boutique Air in January. Boutique Air is the essential air service at the McCook airport, subsidized by the federal government. It offers daily flights to and from Denver, Colo. Passengers deplaning in McCook for January totaled 153, a 21.43% jump from January 2019 with 126 passengers...

Lorri Sughroue Associate Editor McCOOK, Neb. — The City of McCook is financing five pieces of equipment through local banks, totaling around $700,000. The five purchases total $712, 612, the costliest one a 2019 MacQueen street sweeper at $178,691, financed through MNB...

McCOOK, Neb. — City of McCook residents are paying more per capita in sales tax but less in property taxes, at least compared to other cities the same size. The McCook City Council heard Monday night at the regular meeting an overview of the city’s audit report of the 2019 financial statements presented by Joe Stump, CPA, of Almquist, Maltzahn, Galloway, and Luth. ...