BEATRICE – A Beatrice City Councilman serving Ward Three is seeking a second term, nearing completion of what’s he describes as a learning experience, the first time around.  Mike McLain filed recently to run for reelection in a ward he says has diversity.


"You know, I have the residential area, the downtown and a commercial corridor running north out of town, so there is a a lot involved in the ward. you learn a lot about the community...and about the City of Beatrice, which is great."


Even though the past two years may have caused a slowdown for some communities as the coronavirus pandemic took hold, McLain says the city has moved forward without missing a beat, on several initiatives.


"The water treatment (plant)....we're looking at a new landfill...the fire station....there's just some really big projects and everything's been flowing good with everybody. It was a great chance to secure that land for a future well site...that might be twenty years or thirty years before it's ever utilized, but we have to secure the future and have a new transmission line. They're not the fun stuff to talk about and not real visual, but they're very vital to the city."


McLain said the mayor and council, working with private entities, have been able to lend public support through grant funds toward redeveloping the downtown area…..just recently securing a second grant that will enable property owners to make improvements.


"I think that's been very good for the downtown. I know the last grant we had about four or five years ago, that led to a lot of development. We have the new one coming and it sounds like there's a lot of good projects."


McLain says when one thing looks nice..."sometimes its contagious and a neighbor does it. It just kind of falls into place."