New, increased city fees proposed

McCOOK, Neb. -- City leaders are considering changes to McCook ordinance which will create new permitting requirements for demolition and sign projects, as well as implement a contractor's license fee and increase the fee to request a zoning variance. The McCook City Council will discuss the modifications during Tuesday's regularly scheduled meeting at city offices.

If approved the $25 fee to request a zoning variance will increase to $75.

"The reason for this increase is that staff incurs publication costs and staff to process the variance requests. Other similar application fees are $74, such as special exception requests. It doesn't make sense to have different fees for similar requests when they entail similar costs," according to background information provided by city staff in Tuesday's agenda.

The changes will also create a $15 Demolition Permit for the first $1,000 in project costs, which increases by $2.50 per $1,000 additional cost; a $15 Sign Permit which similarly increases; and a $75 Contractors License fee with a $25 renewal amount.

Other modifications stem from a need to account for actual building occurrences, such as modifying the gas permit fee to a mechanical permit fee, and revoking Chapter 110 in its entirety. Chapter 110 pertains to licensing of construction contractors and the changes will remove a redundant bonding requirement, as well as update and relocate licensing requirements to Chapter 150, according to city staff.

Also during Tuesday's meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the Municipal Center, city staff will present the results from a park survey targeted at property owners located near the A Street Park. City staff distributed the survey to 53 properties and received 11 responses, primarily communicating a desire for the city to renovate the park and update playground equipment.

"My 10 year old and 12 year old grandkids loved this park! They are sad because it has gone downhill," said one respondent, adding "Contrary to what the city says this park has never been maintained. There are quite a few children in the neighborhood who would benefit from this park."

Another respondent indicate they were retirement age but see children playing there and would like to see it renovated, while another said the equipment in place often gets too hot to play on.

Three of the respondents indicated they would not like to see the park renovated. One recommended the city sell the property and another indicated they had no family or children and it was probably unfair to comment. The third indicated the park was lacking in allure.

"The only ones I see using the equipment or the park are the little ones who live in the trailers. It has no 'draw' to it," said the third respondent.

Recommendations for park improvements ranged from "Anything, it looks very run down" to "upgrade equipment already there, add new sand or wood chips, flowers boxes, small grassy area." Another respondent asked the city to keep weeds down on the property, while yet another recommended the metal playground equipment be swapped out with some that "doesn't scald your hands."

Other items on Tuesday's agenda:

* City Council will receive the results from the annual Reservoir Falloff Test for the city's Class I Non-Hazardous Deep Injection Well. The City of McCook is the only municipality in the state of Nebraska that owns an injection well and uses it to dispose of anion waste, containing arsenic, nitrate, uranium and salt, from the waste water treatment plant. The well registers negative pressure during operation and typically runs at 45 gallons per minute. It receives approximately 10 million gallons of waste water annually and flows into the Cedar Hills Formation located 1800 feet below ground.

The 30-page annual report is available at city offices for public review and indicates there are no concerns related to the well or the aquifer it flows into, according to city staff.

* Van Diest Supply Company is requesting to connect to the city water system to take advantage of domestic water consumption and fire protection services. The agricultural chemical manufacturer and distributor is located just north of McCook city limits on the west side of U.S. Highway 83.

* Schmick's Market is requesting a special liquor license for an Aaron Lewis fundraising concert at Kiplinger Arena on July 22, as well as for a reception/fundraiser at the arena on July 21.