Project advances

McCOOK, Neb. -- City leaders approved a planned development district for the Quillan Courts housing project Monday evening. The move brings the McCook Economic Development Corp. closer to increasing its property management responsibilities as Director Kirk Dixon wraps up his second week on the job and voters consider whether to renew the city's economic development program next week.

The $3.5 million Quillan Courts project will join nearby Clary Village and the iconic Keystone Business Center as significant local properties managed by MEDC.

Quillan Courts plans construction of 10 buildings, a mix of single-family homes and duplex units, as well as other improvements to a West Q Street neighborhood north of the Red Willow County Fairgrounds.The Quillan Courts project targets vacant property west of the $2.6 million Clary Village senior housing development, which was constructed last fall and full by January. Clary Village consists of eight duplex units.

Next week's ballot will ask voters residing within McCook city limits to renew an amended version of the McCook Economic Development Program through June of 2033. A locally approved economic development program is required for the city to allocate sales tax revenue for economic development purposes.

The program is intended to serve as a foundation for the collection and expenditure of local tax revenues for economic development, according to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development website.

During a mail-in ballot special election last spring, voters renewed McCook's 1.5 percent sales tax through 2033 but voted down renewal of the Economic Development Program. Next week's effort will be the second attempt by the city to receive approval for an economic development plan prior to the existing plan expiring at the end of the 2016-17 fiscal year.

According to the 2015 voter-approved ballot language, without a locally approved program the city would be authorized to spend sales tax for the purpose of maintaining the city's reduced request for property tax; for capital equipment; to improve, repair or replace the city's infrastructure, including but not limited to, water quality improvements, city streets, parks, and other public facilities; to repay or redeem water, sewer and other city debt.

The 2016 Primary Election is on Tuesday, May 10.

Other items approved Monday:

* A joint entity agreement between the McCook City Library and Pioneer Consortium was approved. The agreement authorizes a grant from the Library Services and Technology Act to help with updating the library's integrated library system and will enhance library services, according to city staff.

* City staff was authorized to request a 3-month extension from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development for the Downtown Revitalization Community Development Block Grant assisting with improvements underway at the East First Street city parking lot. The extension request stemmed from the canopy structure taking longer to receive than anticipated and is necessary to complete the project as awarded and designed.

* A pair of bids for 2016 city street improvement projects were awarded to BSB Construction and McCormick Excavation and Paving. The 2016 armor coating project was also awarded to Figgins Construction of Red Cloud, Nebraska, at $3.37 per gallon.

* The McCook Fire Department was authorized to close West D Street from West 7th Street to West C Street on Monday, May 23, 2016, from 1-11 p.m., to conduct a mock multiple vehicle collision for training purposes.

* The city's current insurance broker, USI, and local brokerage MNB Insurance presented proposals related to an upcoming selection process for the city's insurance carrier.

* Proclamations designating May 15, 2016, as Police Officers Memorial Day; the week of May 8-15, 2016, as National Police Week; and May 1-7, 2016, as Municipal Clerks Week were approved.

* An agreement between the city and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services authorizing the city to provide home delivered meals, exempt public transportation, local medical appointment transportation and other local transportation was approved.

* Schmick's Market was granted a special liquor license for a rodeo fundraiser event at Kiplinger Arena on May 21, 2016.