McCook feels impact of spring floods

McCOOK, Neb. — Nebraska’s spring flooding is making an impact on scheduled improvements to the McCook airport, with the project now $292,222 over estimated costs.

The initial estimate of $1.3 million for improvements at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport, with 90% paid by a federal grant, received only one bid at $1.5 million. With remaining expenses at $88,772 for engineering costs and $9,590 for the Nebraska Dept. of Transportation administration cost, total costs ballooned to $1.6 million.

The reason for the single bid from Paulsen Inc of Cozad, Neb., and the higher cost of the bid, is due to the lack of contractors bidding, according to the city staff report for the McCook City Council meeting Monday night. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at city council chambers at the McCook Municipal Building.

The council will be asked Monday night to authorize city staff to accept the grant offer agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration for the rehabilitation project at the city airport, and in a separate vote, to award the bid for joint sealing and pavement repair at the airport to Paulsen, Inc. of Cozad, Neb. in the amount of $1,528,192.05, contingent on the grants from the Federal. Aviation Administration and the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

Because the bid was substantially higher than projected, the FAA requested an analysis as to why. With additional work being performed in the region due to extensive flooding in the state, many contractors that may have bid on the project are booked with other jobs, according to city staff reports. The engineer, W Design Associates, reached out to Paulsen to see if some of the bid items could be negotiated, but after checking with their subcontractors, it was found that due to phasing and the tight time frame for completion this fall,”there was no wiggle room in their bids.”

As it stands now, the federal grant will cover 90 percent of $1.4 million and city will be responsible for 10 percent at $162,655, that is $292,222 over estimated costs.There is $95,330 in this year’s budget for the project, based on original estimates. An additional $67,325 needs to be included in the 2019-20 budget for the project to be completed.

The council will be asked to approve another construction project item Monday night, by awarding the bid for the Ravenswood Road Paving Project to BSB Construction of Curtis, Neb., in the amount of $268,727.25, that being the lowest bid.

It was the only bid submitted as well. With engineering costs, the project will ultimately cost $290,000. This bid is over the engineers estimate of $251,510. Staff believes the increase is due to the difficult phasing required by the project and that contractors are very busy, limiting competition. Staff is recommending that the extra funds be used from LB 840 motor vehicle funds, as the project complies with the guidelines for street improvements and economic development. There are sufficient funds in that account to cover the additional costs of this project, according to the city staff report.

Other items the council will be asked Monday night to approved from the regular agenda are:

-- Approve and execute a lease with the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska, the governing body of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Nebraska Forest Service, for the lease and occupancy of a parcel of ground located at the McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport for the sole purpose of regional Wildland Fire Suppression: The city has been asked by the Nebraska Forest Service to consider leasing a small parcel of land at the McCook airport for locating an aircraft and additional fire suppression equipment at the north side of the airport, to assist with Wildland Fire Suppression, should air support be necessary. Chadron’s airport rents to the Nebraska Forest Service for $225 and due to the unobtrusive rental location and nature of the services, staff is recommending that same rental price as well.

-- approve a request from Jason Michaelis to move a garage structure, at 511 E. First Street to 316 South Street, during the first week of July. The move would take place either in the early evening or early morning hours to reduce impact on traffic. Staff has recommended approval.

-- take up for the second time a special exception requested by Amber Massa of McCook to locate a daycare at 1408 E. Circle Drive, south of McCook Elementary School. The McCook City Council postponed action on the request at its June 17 meeting, asking city staff to review if a special exception can be made contingent upon a promise from the applicant that after a certain time period, the special exception grant could be removed. The city attorney reviewed that question and determined that the special exception can include a time limitation.

The grounds that a special exception can be granted is if the council is satisfied that the requirements are met per the special exception. These requirements include sufficient parking for loading and unloading, safety and parking concerns and sufficient ingress and egress to the property for emergency situations.

The location of the proposed child care center has traffic and safety concerns due to its location near McCook Elementary. Its up to the applicant to prove that those concerns will be alleviated, the city manager noted in his report

-- approve on the third and final reading two ordinances. One would move up the time of city council meetings from 6:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of each month. The other will vacate Commerce Street as platted in Lyons Addition to the City of McCook, Red Willow County, Nebraska. The street was never extended or used as a street due to the development of Heritage Hills Golf Course and residential housing.

Consent agenda items scheduled, that can be approved in one motion by the council, unless pulled for separate consideration by the council, city staff, or member of the public, are:

-- Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Engineering Agreement with Miller & Associates, Consulting Engineers, P.C., adding the design and construction inspection of a water main on East 14th to the existing West 5th Transmission Main Project. This amendment adds the design, bidding and construction inspection of a water main on East 14th and East D. The Water Department has decided to transfer money from the South McCook Water Main Replacement Project to replace the water main on East 14th and D due to main breaks.

-- Approve drawings and specifications for Water System Improvement on West 5th from "G" Street to booster station at "M" Street, on East 14th Street from "C" to "D" Streets, on "D" Street from East 14th Street to East 12th Street and from "D" Street to the center of the cul-de-sac on Gemini Court and set date to receive bids for July 25, 2019 at 2 p.m.

-- Award the bids for the 2019 Street Improvement drainage contract and paving contract to BSB Construction of Curtis, Neb., for $128,379.85 and $52,348, being the lowest bids.

-- Approve the request from the McCook Community Hospital Safety Director, Dari Olson, to utilize the McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport for a community-wide full scale safety exercise

-- Approve the request from the Prairie Roots Festival Committee for the use of Barnett Park, including the west shelter house, electricity, use of additional picnic tables, benches and trash cans for their Fourth Annual Prairie Roots Festival food, brew, and music event on Sunday, August 24, 2019.

-- Approve the application for a Special Designated Liquor License submitted by the McCook Chamber of Commerce and the McCook Economic Development Corporation for a Music Festival at Barnett Park, with an alternate location of the Red Willow County Fairgrounds on Aug. 24, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.

-- Ratify the Mayor’s appointments to the Board of Health - reappoint Nate Schneider, Ike Brown, Mike Gonzales, and Mary Beth Eisenmenger - terms expire June 2020.

-- Ratify actions taken by Staff and approve the agreements between the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the City of McCook for the purpose of providing home delivered meals, congregate meals, exempt public transportation, local medical transportation for appointments and other local transportation needs.