Fuel costs cited for trash collection hike

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council will be asked to approve higher trash collection fees and plans for a new commercial subdivision, at the regular council meeting Monday, at 5:30 p.m. in City Council chambers at the Municipal Building.

Citing increased fuel costs to the landfill in Ogallala, where the city hauls its trash at least four times a week, city staff is asking for a $1.75 per month increase for city customers, from $24.50 to $26.25 per month, and a $10 dollar increase for commercial customers, from $67 per ton to $77 per ton. Commercial waste makes up about 77% of all waste received at the city’s transfer station and residential waste, 23%, according to the city manager’s report for Monday’s meeting.

The ordinance for the increases the council will be asked to approve also includes a $1 increase per month, from $5 to $6, for the yard waste collection service. This service begins in April and goes through November and includes the weekly pickup of grass and leaves that are placed in a city-provided container. The last increase in this service was in April 2002. The city is asking the council to approve this ordinance containing the increases on first reading Monday night, bypassing the customary three-reading rule.

The last increase in solid waste collection fees was last year in October. The proposed increase was mentioned in the city manager’s report in the 2022-23 budget, as well as the annual review of city water rates with PFM Financial Advisors. Water rates are reviewed annually in connection to debt payments and increases in operating and personnel costs.

Also, the council will be asked to amend Water Department Rates and Fees concerning bulk water, increasing bulk water charges from $5 per cubic foot to $5 per 1,000 gallons, to reflect the new coin-operated dispenser that measures water in gallons per quarter. With this change, the customer will be getting about 250 gallons more per $5.

Other regular agenda items for approval are the third and final reading of the city’s budget for 2023-23 and the Employee Classification Pay Plan for 2022-23.

The meeting will begin Monday night with public hearings concerning a new minor subdivision and a re-zoning request. After the regular meeting, the council will convene as the McCook Community Development Agency and be asked to approve a resolution amending the tax increment development bond for the Cobblestone Redevelopment Project, to amend the maturity rate of the TIF bond.

The first hearing is for William Watts, who has requested a zoning change from Industrial Light to Business Commercial District for property he owns at 1002 East B. Watts would like to use the property for an RV repair shop.

The rest of the public hearings - four in all — concern a minor subdivision application that’s been filed by Jerry Gohl. Gohl is requesting that the tract of land he owns north of West J Street, north of the McCook Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, be divided from a larger tract and be known as Heritage Pointe Addition No. 2. His intent is to develop the property for commercial purposes. In addition to a subdivision application, Gohl is also requesting the city to annex a portion of the property that is outside limits but inside the city’s two-mile jurisdiction and a zoning change for the property to Business Commercial, from Residential Medium in the south part of the property and Agricultural in the north part. A preliminary plat of the property is also up for approval.

The McCook Planning Commission has unanimously approved all requests.

Items on the consent agenda can be approved in one motion, unless a council member, city staff, or member of the public requests an item to be pulled for a separate discussion/vote. Consent agenda items for Monday are:

-- Approve the plans and specifications for the North Highway 83 Draining Improvement Project and set the time and date to receive bids as 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 11, 2022. This project concerns the repair of a major washout that has occurred over the past several years on the east side of U.S. Highway 83, north of the Nebraska Public Power District office. It includes the repair of an existing corrugated metal culvert under a platted street in the Four Corners Addition, the installation of a concrete drainage channel and culvert pipe to get the water to the bottom of the canyon. The most difficult item in this project is the cleaning out and filling in of the washout, as in places it is up to 20 feet deep with near vertical sides and the area is overgrown with small trees. The project is to be paid for with American Rescue Plan Act funds, estimated at $220,000 in the One and Six Year Street Plan the McCook City Council approved at its Sept.6 meeting.

-- Select and approve Miller & Associates to serve as engineer for the Wastewater Treatment Plant improvement project. Since a State Revolving Loan Fund will more than likely be used as a funding source, selection of engineering services was necessary. The Selection Board for Engineering Services conducted a review of interviews, reference checks and discussions.

-Approve the request from Emily Young to utilize city streets and walking trails for the 2022 Republican River Fitness Series Heritage Days 5K and Kids Fun Run on the afternoon of Oct. 8, 2022.

- Adopt Resolution No. 2022-12 ratifying the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the city of McCook and the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 57 for the period of Oct.1, 2022, to Sept.30, 2024, and authorize the Mayor to sign said agreement.

- Approve the St. Patrick Catholic Church's request to close portions of East Fourth and East “G” Streets and to utilize city property for their Annual Fall Festival on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022.

-Approve the application for a Special Designated Liquor License submitted by Ambriz Ventures, LLC, for a CASA fundraiser at Norris Alley, 406 Norris Avenue, on Oct.15, 2022, from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m., with an alternate location of The Barn, 1701 U.S. Highway 83.