McCook City Council Receives Update on Injection Well Repairs, Reviews Funding Policies, and Previews Upcoming Community Events

December 1, 2025

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council met Monday evening for a relatively short meeting covering infrastructure updates, upcoming planning items, funding policy presentations, and reminders of several community events scheduled in the coming days.

Injection Well Repairs Completed After 14-Day Operation

Water Department staff presented a detailed update on the city’s deep injection well, which is used to safely dispose of waste from the water treatment plant, including removed nitrates, arsenic, and uranium.

Utilities Director Pat Fawver explained that the city first detected a pressure issue last year, and engineers later confirmed a thinning section of casing roughly 1,700 feet down. Because the repair requires halting all injection and storing the waste water, the city had to wait until fall when water production levels were lower.

Repairs began October 27 and involved seven different contractors—most from out of state—working continuously for 14 days. Crews used a high-pressure concrete injection method and installed a 20-foot internal fiberglass patch to seal the weakened area. State officials witnessed final pressure testing on November 9.

“All pressures are holding and everything looks really good,” Fawver said, adding that injection resumed briefly to empty tanks before the well was shut down again.

City staff also dismantled part of the well house structure during repairs—something that has now happened twice. A new removable building section will be installed so future work, if needed, will be less disruptive.

A new well is anticipated at some point, given the age of the current system. Cost estimates run approximately $3 million, compared to the roughly $350,000–$360,000 spent on the recent repair (with final invoices still pending). City Manager Nate Schneider reminded the council and public that redundancy will be critical for long-term water system reliability and regulatory compliance.

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Planning Commission to Review Blight Studies, Zoning, and North Pointe Items

Schneider noted that the Planning Commission meets next Monday, December 8, to review:

• Blight studies for Areas 7 and 8

• Updates to the City’s Comprehensive Plan

• Vacation of the north portion of North Pointe

• Final plat for North Pointe Second Addition

• Several zoning updates

Items approved by the commission will move to the City Council the following week.

Community Events and Announcements

Schneider highlighted several upcoming events:

• MEDC/Chamber/City Mixer — Tuesday at the Keystone

• Noel on Norris — Saturday, Dec. 6

• Inclusive Playground Ribbon Cutting — Saturday, Dec. 6 at noon

• Public Viewing of the Sports Complex Site — Tentatively Dec. 9, between 4:30–5:30 p.m., pending coordination on parking with Mammoth

The City also received a thank-you card from the Share the Heat board for allowing community betterment funds to be used for senior center rental fees during a fundraiser benefiting local utility assistance for seven counties.

Consent Agenda Approved

Council members voted to approve items A–E on the consent agenda, including:

• Minutes from recent council and advisory board meetings

• Grant acceptance paperwork for a $500,000 McCook Community Foundation Fund donation toward the PFC Gerald L. Walters Youth Sports Complex

• Automatic renewal of retail liquor licenses for 2026

• Resolution 2025-38 rescinding a prior nuisance declaration after clearance by the West Central Nebraska Development District

Youth Sports Complex Financing Clarified

Under the regular agenda, Schneider provided a brief update on the financing schedule for the Youth Sports Complex. Bond anticipation note (BAN) sales will occur December 9, with closing scheduled for December 18.

Schneider took time to clarify recent public confusion about funding sources:

• The project is funded by voter-approved recreational bond funds from 2022

• Sales tax and general fund dollars serve as legal collateral for the BAN issuance

• Lot sales in the Walters Subdivision are also expected to support ongoing costs

• Property taxes will not increase as a result of this project, Schneider emphasized

“This project is a game changer,” he said, noting the 130-acre development will support recreation, commercial growth, and both multi-family and single-family housing as McCook expands northward.

Presentation on Proposed ACE Fund Policy

City staff presented a draft policy outlining how organizations may apply for ACE funds—annual dollars returned to participating communities through the ACE natural gas program. McCook received approximately $20,000 this year.

Councilman Gene Weedin, McCook’s representative on the ACE board, recapped the program’s structure and noted McCook ranks among the top communities statewide in returned funds.

Historically, ACE funds have supported:

• Norris Park band shell improvements

• Auditorium curtains

• Skate park project

• Chamber of Commerce advertising for retail events

• Regional fireworks shows

• Various community amenities

Schneider noted that ACE dollars differ from tax revenue and can therefore be granted to 501(c)(3) organizations without the constitutional limitations that apply to public funds.

The council is expected to vote on the policy next week.

City Donation Policy Introduced

Staff also introduced a draft City of McCook Donation Policy, developed after recent experiences involving conditional gifts connected to the youth sports complex.

The policy outlines:

• How the city reviews and evaluates offered donations

• When conditional gifts must go directly to council

• Transparency requirements for both city and donor

• Criteria to ensure acceptance does not impose costly or unrealistic obligations on taxpayers or ratepayers

Schneider emphasized that the goal is to respect donor intent while protecting the city from unclear or restrictive conditions. The council will review and potentially adopt the policy at an upcoming meeting.