Quillan Courts project advances

McCOOK, Neb. -- A low-income housing development north of the Red Willow County Fairgrounds was approved Monday with hopes construction begins next year.

The McCook City Council unanimously approved the redevelopment plan for Quillan Courts, LLC, Monday evening following a public hearing. The housing development will be located directly west of the Clary Village senior housing project on West Q Street, which is slated to welcome its first tenant this week.

The Quillan Courts redevelopment is comprised of 10 housing structures, including four five-bedroom single family homes; four single story three-bedroom duplex units; four three-bedroom two-story duplex units; and four four-bedroom two-story duplex units.

City Manager Nate Schneider said the redevelopment plan conformed with the comprehensive plan for the city. He said it would provide low-to-moderate income housing with the $3.5 million construction expense coming from private investment and primarily backed by tax credits, in addition to receiving $110,000 in tax increment financing.

Schneider said nobody should be relocated as a result of the development, a requirement when TIF funds are used on a project, and added residents of the West Q Street Village formerly located at the development site were vacated by private developers prior to the request for the city to become involved.

McCook Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Rex Nelson said TIF funds were a small part of the overall expense of the project, "but an important one."

TIF bonds for the Clary Village development were backed by the city and TIF bonds for Quillan Courts will be backed by private investors, according to Nelson.

Nelson indicated Quillan Courts housing would have a similar look and style as the neighboring Clary Village housing. MEDC staff will serve as the managing entity for both developments.

Councilman Bruce McDowell indicated the project was a good use of TIF funds and Councilman Jerry Calvin echoed his praise, prior to the plan being approved on a unanimous vote.

Other action taken during Monday's regularly scheduled meeting:

* Bid specification for the purchase of two new 4-wheel drive police vehicles and two new 3⁄4-ton 4-wheel drive pickup trucks for the street and parks department were approved.

Chief of Police Isaac Brown said preliminary research indicated all-wheel or 4-wheel drive vehicles could be available within the allocated budget amount for the police vehicle purchase. He said the larger vehicles provided additional options including the ability to accommodate bigger folks.

Chief Brown said advancements in technology provided today's pickups and SUVs with virtually the same gas mileage as cars.

Councilman Bruce McDowell said he noticed during a recent multi-state road trip law enforcement vehicles were primarily SUVs, on a 2-1 basis, and indicated McCook could be behind the times in regard to a transition to the larger vehicles.

* Red Willow Aviation was approved to rent additional space at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport. The airport's FBO was granted an additional 76 foot by 63 foot concrete slab, which they plan to expand to 90 foot by 75 foot at their own expense. The additional space will be used for loading purposes and required an addendum to the 20-year lease agreement with the city.

The addendum included a proportional increase to the annual rent paid by Red Willow Aviation. The 2015-16 fiscal year will increase from $2,690 to $2,875.

* City Council coordinated the third executive session in recent weeks pertaining to potential litigation stemming from a zoning violation.

* The sale of a partial city lot to Jason Michaelis for $739 was unanimously approved on its third and final reading. The 44 foot by 59 foot tract of land is located north of Barnett Park and adjacent to the south of property Michaelis already owned on South Street. He intends to combine the two lots.

* A proclamation designating October 2015 as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" was approved.

* The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce was granted a special liquor license for a networking event at Memorial Auditorium on Dec. 9, 2015.

* MO Dough LLC was approved for a trio of special liquor licenses for upcoming Christmas parties. The events include the Community Hospital Christmas party at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center on Dec. 5, 2015; the Valmont Christmas party at the Armed Forces Reserve Center on Dec. 19, 2015; and the Parker Hannifin Christmas party at the Armed Forces Reserve Center on Dec. 12, 2015.