Council asked to give city manager special authority

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council will be asked to adopt a resolution that designates the city manager to declare a local emergency exists and temporarily gives him authority to manage disaster/recovery efforts during the current COVID-19 pandemic, at the regular council meeting Monday, 5:30 p.m. at city council chambers at the city municipal building.

The meeting will be limited to only nine present at one time, with Councilman Jared Muehlenkamp attending via electronically. Staff members, members of the pubic and those required for a public hearing scheduled on the agenda for tax increment financing will be in the lobby and enter council chambers when needed. The public can access the meeting by using the video conference link,  with the meeting ID number, 247 081 1045. For assistance downloading the zoom app, go to

The council will be asked to approve from the regular agenda the resolution that includes wording that temporarily transfers the Mayor’s authority in the City of McCook’s Local Emergency Operation Plan to the city manager, who will work with state, federal and local agencies to assure compliance with COVID-19 mandates. The resolution also temporarily designates Nancy Pick to serve as the Public Information Officer under the City of McCook’s Local Emergency Operation Plan with Jennifer Doucet to serve as the alternate. According to the resolution, the city manager will work with the Red Willow County sheriff who is the Emergency Management Director under the Red Willow County Nebraska Local Emergency operations plan. Red Willow County has already declared a state of emergency in its operation plan.

Most Class I cities in Nebraska have declared a state of emergency due to the pandemic, according to the city manager’s report for Monday’s meeting. By declaring a state of emergency, the city is allowed to access emergency city funds and to apply to the state and federal government for financial assistance and request technical assistance and resource support directly from state agencies.

Possible extra expenditures the city could incur due to the state wide emergency include overtime to first responders and the need to purchase extra protective gear and specialized equipment.

The meeting will open Monday night with a public hearing, postponed from the March council meeting, concerning the proposed Redevelopment Plan for the Blackwood Enterprises Redevelopment Project. As the Community Development Agency, the council will be asked to approve a redevelopment agreement and the use of Tax Increment financing. The TIF request will also need approval from the city council.

James Hegwood and Blackwood Enterprises is proposing to improve a vacant building at 520 West B. Tax increment financing available to the developer has been estimated at $200,000, in a 15-year note with 5% interest. The developer is proposing to renovate the building to house a mix of businesses. The McCook Planning Commission, at its March 9 meeting, recommended approval of the project, although concerns were noted about parking. Hegwood will be present at Monday’s meeting to address those concerns.

From the regular agenda, the council will be asked to approve the LB840 Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund Program loan for Young Bison Childcare in the amount of $56,500. Amanda Mullen, owner of Young Bison Childcare, intends to buy Kingdom Kids Daycare and has requested a revolving loan fund for gap funding for the purchase. The loan is for 10 years at 3%. Mullen will also use a bank loan in $56,500, with the total purchase at $170,000. Because the loan involves real estate, city council approval is needed.

Andy Long, McCook Economic Development Corp., director, will also update the council on potentially restructuring current loan terms of the revolving loan program, to allow qualifying borrowers to defer principal payments for three months as a result of Covid-19.

From the consent agenda, where items can be approved in one vote unless pulled for a separate discussion/vote, are

- Approve extending the date of water main improvements on West Fifth, as requested by the contractor. Meyers Construction Inc of Broken Bow, Neb., has requested the extension from Oct. 15, 2020 to Nov. 1, 2020, citing issues in getting supplies and personnel on site due to the COVD-19 pandemic.

-- Approve an engineering agreement with Miller & Associates, Consulting Engineers, P.C., for the design and construction inspection of improvements to the West Golf Course Life Station. Design phase is a lump sum fee of $14,800 and construction inspection has an hourly fee not to exceed $9,400, for a total amount of $24,100 The funds are budgeted in the 2019-20 budget.

-- Authorize the McCook Evangelical Free Church to construct a concrete alleyway that meets city standards on city right of way adjacent to their properties, between East “H” Street and East “F” Street, contingent upon the owners transferring their property interest to the City in fee at completion of the project.

-- Approve the Insurance Services Agreement between Hays Companies, Inc., and the City of McCook, for medical insurance brokerage services. The brokerage company has been with the city for over 10 years and the new contract will increase the annual fee from $30,000 to $40,000.

-- Recommend approval to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission the Application for Addition to Liquor License submitted by Fraternal Order of Eagles 2769 at 805 East “B” Street in McCook. The addition is an outdoor beer garden.

Other regular agenda items the council will vote on Monday night are:

-- Receive and file a request from the Southwest Nebraska Community Theater Association to lease the southwest portion of the City of McCook Municipal Auditorium for storage purposes.

-- Second reading of Ordinance No. 2020-3002 amending 95.03 and 95.35, and repealing 95.05 to the City of McCook Code of Ordinances, Chapter 95: Nuisance; Health and Sanitation.

-- Third and final reading of Ordinance No. 2020-3003 amending Section 130.32:  Abandoned Automobiles, to the City of McCook Code of Ordinances.

--Third and final reading Ordinance No. 2020-3004 amending Section 33.03:  Proposed Budget Statement; Hearing; Adoption; Certification of Tax Amount, of the City of McCook Code of Ordinances.

-- First reading of Ordinance No. 2020-3005 amending Chapter 31:  City of McCook Policies, of the City of McCook Code of Ordinances, Section 31.56 - Sale or Conveyance of Property. This amendment will give the city the option of selling property at auction.

-- First reading Ordinance No. 2020-3006 amending Chapter 30:  Government Officials, of the City of McCook Code of Ordinances, Section 30.002 - Bonds Required and Section 30.040. This amendment matches local language with state law requiring bonding/insurance of city council members.

-- Under suspension of the three-reading rule, approve on first reading a city ordinance that makes it a misdemeanor to harass a police animal and to clarify the definition of a police animal.

The council already approved this ordinance at its March meeting but the number of the ordinance was incorrect as it was already in use by another recent city law concerning vaping.