County votes to join WCNDD after heated debate on planning vs. nuisance enforcement

September 9, 2025

McCOOK Neb. — County commissioners voted Monday to join the West Central Nebraska Development District (WCNDD) after a heated discussion that stretched well beyond routine business.

The one-year membership, costing $2,730, is intended to allow the county to hire WCNDD to rewrite its comprehensive plan at an estimated cost of $25,000. Previous quotes for the same work were closer to $50,000.

Commissioners argued the update is overdue — the current plan dates back more than two decades — and necessary to address new land-use issues such as large-scale solar projects and high-power “data-mining” facilities. They stressed the importance of being proactive instead of relying on emergency moratoria, as happened when the county temporarily halted a solar development.

“If we’re not proactive, then we become reactive,” said Commissioner Ted Gans. “When we become reactive, it costs more money and it creates big problems. Then when these things come into town and we have nothing written to regulate how it’s being done … we end up with a room full of people saying, ‘Why didn’t you commissioners see this coming?’”

The most intense moments of debate centered on nuisance-abatement concerns. Some residents objected to WCNDD’s history of working with nuisance programs, warning that membership could lead to expanded county-level enforcement. Commissioners pushed back, saying the decision was solely to update the comp plan and does not obligate the county to pursue nuisance abatement.

“Our intentions are to save the taxpayers money by revising the comprehensive plan. That’s it,” said Commissioner Randy Dean. “We’re not interested in doing nuisance abatement.”

The motion to join passed on a voice vote, with commissioners reiterating that membership is renewed annually, giving the county the opportunity to reconsider in future years.

A full summary of Tuesday’s county commissioners meeting will be available this afternoon.