Final reading on rate hikes, major project updates on City Council agenda

As the weather gets warmer, residents won’t be able to cool off in a city pool, but the City Council will get an update of the effort to provide one in future years, as well as a new ballpark complex.

Shoppers will begin kicking in an extra 0.5% on their local purchases Saturday to pay for the project.

Meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Council Chambers in the municipal offices, the council will also have its first official discussion about a major grant, courtesy of the American Rescue Plan Act, to provide housing for local workers.

Council members will review an agreement between the State of Nebraska Department of Economic Development and the city for a $1 million grant courtesy of ARPA funding for a Rural Workforce Housing Land Development.

The city and McCook Economic Development Corp. hope, through rehabilitating or replacing the old St. Catherine’s Apartments at 1200 West 4th, to provide more workforce housing.

The council is also expected to approve on the third and final reading an increase in the city water ready-to-serve fee by $1.20 to $21.15 per month, and the first 5,000 cubic feet of water will cost $2,157 per 100 cubic feet, a 12.2 cent increase. Usage above 5,000 cubic feet will increase to $1,598 per 100 cubic feet, and increase of 8.8 cents.

Also on the third and final reading increases in the base residential sewer fee from $17.541 to $18.59 per month, a $1.04 increase, and a $1.52 increase in the commercial fee from $25.554 to $27..08 per month. Above 333 cubic feet of usage, the fee increases from $3.787 per 100 cubic feet to $4.014, a 22.7 cent increase.

The council will also be asked to approve the purchase of an ARFF — Airport Rescue and Firefighting vehicle — for $375,381.98 from Unruh Fire Inc., indicated as the lowest responsible bid. The council also will be asked to approve bid specifications for a new 4-wheel-drive ambulance, with bids to be opened at 2 p.m. on April 26.

A property damage report from a resident will be reviewed and referred to the city’s insurance carrier.

Miguel Camacho says someone from the city turned on the water to his property without his knowledge at 301 West 3, which flooded the contents.

In a zoning request, Brian Radel is asking the city to allow shipping containers to be used for storage in a Highway Commercial District. Currently, such use is only allowed on property zoned as industrial.

The city attorney will also inform the council on how the Nebraska Open Meetings Act applies to citizen comments and agenda items.

Other actions on the agenda:

• Proclamations of Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, National Public Safety Telecommunications Week April 9-15 and Public Transit Week April 9-15.

• Special designated liquor license for Ambriz Ventures LLC McCook Municipal Auditorium May 5, 2-11 p.m.

• Ratify the mayor’s appointment of Mark Frieze and Tom Bredvick to the Parks Advisory Board term expiring May 2026 and reappointment of Dan Dueland, Johanna Scott and Larry Eisenmenger terms expiring April 2028.

• approval of non-discrimination and IT disaster recovery plans.

• appointment of Charlie McPherson, Molly Smith, Gene Weedin, Linda Taylor, Kurt Vosburg, Troy Bruntz, and Nate Schneider to the comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance, and subdivision regulation selection committee.