Editorial

No sign of recession in local construction

Monday, January 30, 2012

If there's a recession in the construction industry, somebody forgot to tell McCook.

The latest sign came this weekend with the demolition of a small house next to the McCook Public Library, purchased for possible future expansion by the Library Foundation. For now, it will serve as much-needed parking, and the library plans to add an elevator to allow better use of the existing basement.

Weekend visitors to McCook may have been shocked to see a vacant lot where McDonald's sat on North Highway 83, but it won't be long until they will see a new, modernized version of the restaurant going back up.

Today's near-record temperatures should be welcome at the old West Ward site, where concrete is being poured for McCook's new city administration and public safety center, and just across the street, McCook Christian Church is enjoying its new activities addition, hosting the Nebraska Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Ranchers state convention last weekend.

Across town, Community Hospital's Phase 2 construction project is on track to be complete at the end of February or early March, providing new surgery suites and clearing up space for other uses. Nearby, the Evangelical Free Church plans groundbreaking on a new sanctuary this spring.

In Kelley Park, the new McCook Community College Events Center is going up quickly, and YMCA patrons are enjoying a new expansion including modern weight equipment, as well as flatscreen TVs, exercise equipment and new class spaces.

And those are only the ones that come to mind immediately -- Red Willow County is taking steps toward the possible construction of a jail, the city recently got funding to extend a walking trail, a dog park is planned in east McCook, and there are numerous other public and private projects under construction, planned or recently completed.

No, the economy isn't everything we would like it to be, but this community is taking advantage of the opportunity to advance when others are holding back.

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  • Building McCook one Brick at a Time. Great theme for the Chamber Banquet with the surge in building. Get your banquet now for the Feb. 4 event.

    -- Posted by dennis on Mon, Jan 30, 2012, at 3:57 PM
  • Reminds me of the oldtimers saying " either you choose to make dust or eat dust it's all your choice"...Looks like McCook in many different areas is chosing well to keep moving forward .......

    -- Posted by Cornwhisperer on Mon, Jan 30, 2012, at 6:24 PM
  • *

    Though it is all being built on the taxpayer's dollar?

    -- Posted by cplcac on Tue, Jan 31, 2012, at 8:59 AM
  • Not really, cplcac. The McDonald's is private money, a large chunk of the Events Center has been paid for through donations, Community Hospital's federal funding is in the form of a loan that will be repaid and the church projects are private donations, of course. The Library project is being accomplished with money from the Library Foundation, and the YMCA project also was accomplished with private donations.

    -- Posted by croswind on Tue, Jan 31, 2012, at 9:09 AM
  • I am glad to see so many projects and possibilities in the works. I would be happy to see my tax dollars put to use on projects such as the city building, a jail, library, or the events center, etc. If you have not been in the YMCA lately, you really should take a look. The improvements are great. Way to go, McCook!

    -- Posted by bntheredunthat on Tue, Jan 31, 2012, at 1:03 PM
  • Progression..... To some a dirty word, to others, a breath of fresh air.... Even while we're making dust fly.

    Cplcac....I can see your concern, tax money being spent on health care, education libraries and oh yes.... Emergency Response... The nerve!

    Taxpayer's money indeed!

    -- Posted by Nick Mercy on Tue, Jan 31, 2012, at 7:30 PM
  • Loans made possible by the Obama stimulas that the right loves bashing. Funny how that works. It is needless spending until the right uses it, then it is a loan. But, none will ever admit that a large chuck of the stimulas was in the form of loans and these types of projects were the point of it(Providing work until the private sector gets going again). Basically these loans are another form of unemployment benefits.

    This is a good example of how govt assistance should be handled. It should be in loan form or work for form.

    Anyway, enough of the politics. I am happy to see the towns/cities in the area growing and updating. Gives hope to the future.

    -- Posted by carlsonl on Wed, Feb 1, 2012, at 9:27 AM
  • Wrong! This is private sector money (real capital) at work.

    -- Posted by Hugh Jassle on Thu, Feb 2, 2012, at 7:46 AM
  • WRONG!!

    -- Posted by carlsonl on Thu, Feb 2, 2012, at 1:09 PM
  • And are children and grand children will be paying the bill!

    -- Posted by remington81 on Mon, Feb 6, 2012, at 12:41 PM
  • is that a question remington?

    -- Posted by BTWinecleff on Mon, Feb 6, 2012, at 5:46 PM
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