City building hits three-year high

Despite a lagging national economy, a regional drought and local concerns over such issues as the city water supply, the city of McCook recorded a three-year high in building permits.

Building and remodeling projects totaled $11,025,019 in 2002. That number is more than double the 2000 total of $5,163,788 and also beats out the 2001 total of $8,433,788, but falls somewhat short of the $20.7 million record set in 1998 -- the year Valmont Industries was built along South U.S. Highway 83.

2002 construction figures were again bolstered by a Valmont project when the company built a new irrigation distribution center. Community Hospital of McCook was a large contributor to the building figures with its renovation at the Stinnette Building and expansion of the McCook Clinic.

McCook Community College's expansion of Barnett Hall and the new Hormel Technology Center are also in the process of being completed.

Overall, the city issued 112 building permits last year. Added to those totals is the $600,000 Kipplinger Arena.

Those projects are just a few of the commercial building projects permitted in 2002.

There were also 26 residential building permits, 25 new garages and several smaller building projects, along with 38 plumbing permits.

The new commercial building projects had a price tag of $5.85 million and commercial remodeling projects totaled $1.52 million.

New residential building projects totaled $2.57 million.

The report for December 2002 includes a $150,000 commercial remodeling project at the McCook Wal-Mart Supercenter and $100,000 each for five new homes to be built by Joe's Brick Homes on Calabria Drive.