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New hope for St. Catherine’s
McCOOK, Neb. — Since the closing of St. Catherine’s Apartments in 2010 by the Romanoff family, the building has experienced several potential developers who lacked the capabilities to remove the hazardous material throughout the building.
Beginning a year ago, a series of financial transactions among Adamark Investments, Vert Development and Realty, the City of McCook, the Community Development Agency, the Economic Development and the Rural Workforce Housing Fund all flowed together, cumulating into the application for an EPA Brownsfield Grant. City Manager Nate Schneider praised Amanda Engell, Tera Koetter and Jessica Bortner for their dedication and effort to write the application packet for the EPA Brownsfield Grant of $500,000.
“This project could, and probably will, address multiple problems that the city has faced for years. It addresses the nuisance issue that has remained unresolved for 16 years. It also destabilizes an unsightly neighborhood in McCook,” stated Mr. Schneider.
From the office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization comes the following quote, “Since its inception in 1995, EPA’s Brownfields Program has worked to help states, tribal nations and communities around the country clean up and revitalize brownfield sites. We fully expect that these brownfield projects will provide benefits to the environment and economy of local communities.”
The CDA has authorized the city-issued Request for Proposals, and the work proposed will be open to bids.
A new update on the progress at the new sports complex was delivered by the city manager. Workmen are finishing the concrete work in the parking lot, grass issues are being decided upon and a reported estimate of roughly a month is set for completion of the sports area.
The city was awarded a $15,000 grant from the AARP Nebraska for a permanent 45-foot hexagonal shade structure and the creation of an ADA accessible shaded spectator seating area adjacent to primary walking paths.
The city is also waiting for replies from grant requests from the NDE and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Also on the agenda is an examination of a rough draft of the housing and commercial aspects of the project, along with the final plat for the north and east side of the complex for residential properties.
Final comments of the council included Councilman Gene Weedin, who thanked Public Works Department Head Kyle Potthoff for the excellent maintenance of the city parks and green spaces, “They are beautiful.”
Mayor Linda Taylor acknowledged the numerous volunteers that helped with the success of the Freedom Fest this weekend.
A closed executive session followed the regular meeting.