City offered land for new water source
The McCook City Council will be informed of an offer by area farmer C.K. Swanson, of rural McCook to sell 837.6 acres of land for $1,750 an acre at its regular meeting Monday night.
The land included in the unsolicited offer is located southwest of McCook near the Frenchman Valley-Perry Grain site.
According City Manager John Bingham, Mike Millius of Olsson Associates analyzed water samples from current wells. "It is his recommendation that this water source is not of sufficient quality to be considered as an alternative water well site.
According to the report from Millius three of the four samples taken failed to meet Environmental Protection Agency standards in either arsenic, uranium or nitrate. The final sample showed low nitrates, but was very near the 30 mgl maximum required by the state and showed over 2.5 mgl in arsenic. The arsenic level is set at 10.
Another water matter will also be discussed. The Council will be asked to direct the staff regarding the McCook Water Advisory Committee's request to change the city's schedule for the possible new water source site study.
The advisory committee, which was to be disbanded on Oct. 7, is requesting their scope of work be expanded from advising the city council on a new well field selection and any other ideas brought forward to the meetings, to allowing members to advise the Council on which solution they would like to see chosen.
The Council is being asked, by Bingham, to decide if it wants to approve the expansion of its original request for input from the committee, and if it wants to change the dates of the upcoming meeting, "and perhaps jeopardize the City Council's ability to meet this time schedule?"
If the council agrees with the committees request, it will be asked to reschedule a City Council Study Session, originally scheduled for Oct. 14.
In response to an announcement that a COPS resource officer grant had been approved for the McCook School District, the Council will be asked how to proceed with the request for funding.
In the 2002 - 03 budget, the funding for the officer had been removed in order to save the city the expense of $37,000 in city funds for the program. In addition, if the city found it necessary to reduce police department personnel over the next four years, the city would be required to reimburse the total grant award of around $122,000. That budget was approved at the Sept. 3 meeting of the City Council.
If the Council decides to reinstate the program, it will be necessary to change the budget for fiscal year 2002-03.
The Council will also be asked to direct city clerk Lee Ann Doak to declare a vacancy on the board and publish notice of the vacancy.
The vacancy created by the resignation of Councilman Chris Overman will be filled at the general election on Nov. 4. The new council person elected at that time will be sworn in on Dec. 2.
In the interim it will be necessary for the Council to appoint a new member.
Bingham recommends the Council ask those interested in serving to submit a letter of interest and qualifications and identify the date of the meeting to begin the process of voting on the individual chosen by Mayor Linda Taylor.
In other action:
- The Council will receive a recommendation from the McCook Parks Board to expand and remodel the existing bathhouse and provide additional deck area.
"This option was the best chance for receiving Game and Parks Funding," said Public Works Director Marty Conroy in this week's Council packet.
The estimated cost for the work is $247,413. The additional deck area could raise that cost by three to five percent.
- A request from Rosalie Weskamp, 709 E. Second Street, will be submitted to the Council. Weskamp is asking the City Council to intervene regarding a variance request which was denied by the city building inspector, city zoning administrator and the board of zoning adjustment in 2001.
- The Council will be asked to approve the Request for Qualifications for engineering services for the airport improvement project and set the date to receive proposals for Oct. 14.
- The Council will be asked to approve the contract with the State of Nebraska, Department of Roads for the purpose of partial funding for the McCook Public Transportation System.
- A public hearing will be held to hear a request from Thomas R. Beattie of McCook to change 804 East B Street from light industrial to business commercial district to allow for the building of a Carquest store.
The board will also hear a report from Clarence Williams, Ambassador of the Loyal Order of Moose. Williams is expected to tell the Council of the many benefits Moose International brings to communities where it is active.