City Council Highlights

McCOOK Neb. - City Council Addresses Key Community Issues at Latest Meeting

McCook, NE – The McCook City Council convened on Monday, June 2, 2025, for a meeting that saw discussions and actions on a range of topics crucial to the city's development and daily operations. The session, which concluded at 6:31 PM, covered everything from infrastructure projects and event planning to animal control and potential new revenue streams.

Community Events & Enhancements

City Manager Nate Schneider opened by highlighting ongoing work, including upcoming Planning Commission meetings to address TIF redevelopment plans and zoning district updates, particularly for two proposed "act districts." He also extended a special thank you to city staff, including Tracy Berkey, Kyle Potthoff, Tyler Kolensky, Ron Maris, Clayton Stevens, Sarah Calvert, and managers at Highland Road, Terry and Van Keslin, for their hard work in getting the school pool operational, noting the positive community response.

The Consent Agenda was largely approved, with one item, a request from Tricia Wagner to block parking stalls on West 1st Street for photo opportunities during the 9th Annual Cruisin' the Bricks Cruise Night and Car Show on June 28, 2025, pulled for separate discussion by Councilman Gene Weedin. Weedin expressed his appreciation for the event, acknowledging the organizers' efforts and the positive impact it has on the community.

Ronda Graff and the Tour De Nebraska Committee received approval to use Kelley Park and suspend the park curfew for camping from June 27-29, 2025, for the Tour De Nebraska event. The organizers emphasized the economic benefits of bringing hundreds of visitors to McCook.

A renewed request from the McCook Chamber of Commerce for ACE funds to assist with city event promotions was received and put on file for future budget discussions. A Chamber representative detailed upcoming events such as "Back on the Bricks" (moving to West C Street for a block party format on June 28), "Family Fun on the Bricks" (July 17), Heritage Days (September 19-20) with wiener dog races and Oktoberfest, and "Noel on Norris" (December 6 and 14). The Chamber also highlighted the success of the "Explore McCook" app, which has 804 downloads and shows the job board and community calendar as the most clicked categories. City Manager Schneider reiterated that ACE funds are not taxpayer dollars but come from natural gas providers, making them crucial for community betterment projects that attract visitors and improve quality of life.

Infrastructure and Airport Updates

Considerable time was dedicated to updates on the sports complex project and the McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport. City Manager Schneider provided an update on the Dougherty Foundation grant application for the sports complex, noting that the pro forma is being finalized. He detailed meetings with bond counsel and underwriters, confirming that bond anticipation notes totaling over $15 million are expected to be sold around August 1 to begin the horizontal build-out of the complex. This initial phase will include artificial turf championship fields, a four-plex, a regulation-size soccer field with embedded softball fields, concrete work, and parking. Horizontal construction is slated to begin in late June or early July.

Regarding the airport, the ongoing Red Cloud Aviation bankruptcy matter was discussed. The city is working with attorney Brandon Tom Jack to gain possession of fixed base operator assets to prevent future "hostage" situations. The lease rejection date has been pushed back to July 13 to allow for further resolution discussions.

Airport operations also underwent a Part 139 inspection by the FAA on May 14-15, which resulted in a "very good inspection" with minor issues such as painting needs, delaminating signs (already ordered), and minor repairs to fuel trucks. Kyle Potthoff and Kenny Bond were specifically praised for their meticulous work in maintaining compliance with rigorous FAA regulations, a significant undertaking for McCook's small airport staff compared to larger facilities. An issue with a delayed new ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting) truck was also noted, with the city actively working to resolve the procurement. The completion of the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) and Airport Master Plan (AMP) was also celebrated, a three-and-a-half-year project vital for future grant qualifications.

City Ordinances and Revenue

A significant discussion revolved around a potential ordinance to establish an occupation tax for mobile phones and amend the current occupation tax on other telephone services to ensure uniformity. City Manager Schneider explained that this initiative is aimed at finding additional revenue sources not tied to property or sales tax, especially as landline usage (which historically provided about $60,000 in revenue, now down to $15,000) declines. He noted that most communities surveyed have such a tax, with many at 3% or 4%, and a 4% rate is being proposed for both mobile and landline services.

Finally, the Council considered and passed Ordinance No. 2025-3103, which amends Chapter 90 of the City Code, "Animals," specifically concerning "Running at Large Prohibited" and associated penalties. City Attorney Nate Mustion explained that the amendment aims to streamline the process for handling animal-at-large cases, moving them from court hearings to a set fine. This change is expected to save court resources. Mayor Linda Taylor and Chief Hodgson also raised concerns about rabies vaccinations and animal control, emphasizing the importance of responsible pet ownership and the need for animals to be vaccinated and ideally chipped for identification and public safety.

The meeting concluded with a declaration of lawful passage for Ordinance No. 2025-3103 and no further council comments.