Owners appeal city condemnation of property

The McCook City Council will be asked whether to stand by or change its previous decision of condemning two properties as a public nuisance, at its regular meeting Monday, 7:30 p.m. at City Council Chambers in Memorial Auditorium.

At its Jan. 19 meeting, the council accepted the determination from the McCook Health Board to condemn as a public nuisance properties at 301 E. Second, owned by Terry Jessen of Scottsbluff and 1306 West 12th, owned by Bernard and Kathryn Weaver of Garfield, Kan. Another property, at 206 W. Seventh, was also condemned at that meeting.

None of the properties condemned were inhabited.

Both Jessen and the Weavers have appealed the decision and a public hearing is slated for Monday's meeting to review testimony. After the hearing, the council will decide whether to modify its condemnation notice or uphold it.

Another regular agenda item up for approval at Monday's meeting is an amendment to current city code, to clarify abandoned structures in the city.

The amendment will include the definition of an unsafe building one that is 50 percent damaged, decayed or deteriorated from its original condition.

If approved, the new language will include buildings that have been destroyed or burned and left standing in the city.

The council will also hear an update by Rex Nelson of the McCook Economic Development Corp. on the bonding method needed for the Keystone Hotel Business Center project.

Rehabilitation of the structure is being sponsored by the MEDC.

And plans for the $8.5 million facility for the National Guard and Army Reserve building are moving forward, with construction to begin sometime this year.

The council will be asked to approve a lease agreement with the state to rent about 30 acres of land near the McCook airport, at no cost, for construction of the proposed joint facility called the McCook Armed Forces Readiness Center.

The city has agreed to provide water and sewer lines to the entryway of the site, along U.S. Highway 6-34. The sewer line will cost $150,000, paid by city sales tax revenue of $75,000 for the next two years. The $125,000 water main will be paid by money in the water fund.

Listed as a consent agenda item, this can be approved in one motion by the council or pulled for discussion.

Another consent agenda item the council will be asked to approve is to declare as surplus the metal transit garage at the Heritage Senior Center.

The building needs to be removed to make room for the new 60 by 40 foot garage that will be constructed.

The existing garage will be removed at no charge as the company that is removing it will be allowed to keep the building for scrap metal.

A public hearing for the adoption of the 2009 Flood plain management ordinance will open Monday night's meeting.

The council will be asked after the hearing to adopt updates in the city's flood management plan.

Approval of the flood plain management plan is needed to meet federal requirements and maintain flood insurance within the city.