Event Center's fate yet to be decided

The fate of the Kimball Event Center and the Kimball Fitness Center was discussed during the last budget workshop on Aug. 25 along with the proposed budgets for each of the City of Kimball departments.

According to expense worksheets provided by the City of Kimball, the Kimball Event Center totaled $28,012.02 in revenue from Oct. 1, 2015 through Jan. 15, 2016. Expenses for the department totaled $40,793.61 for a total deficit of $12,781.59 – in just over three months.

The Fitness Center, however, brought in $7,087.53 and incurred just $4,741.30 in that same time frame, for a profit of $2,346.23.

The building, once owned by Wesley and Anna Mietus, was turned over to the City of Kimball in 2000 for the amount of $50,000. Since that time, the establishment has been subsidized by other City of Kimball revenue consistently.

“I, myself and my wife, used to run the Event Center. We used to own it before we gave it to the City. We spent half our time there, half running the motel,” Wesley Mietus said. “We did a great job over there – had all the Christmas parties, Pheasants Forever, all the different functions, Farmer’s Day – everything. My wife was even doing Kimball After Five Christian Group every month. I don’t see any of these things happening. Why is that? My wife suggested that she would be willing to participate in some of those venues.”

“City has a job of providing service, such as park or swimming pool. You don’t have to make money on it, but you are providing a service, as long as you don’t go in the red, you are doing okay,” Mietus continued. “In previous administration, when Bruce Smith was here, we had a number of city oriented meetings from other cities – they would come here. I don’t see that happening anymore, maybe we need to regenerate some of these ideas, bring them back and build from there.”

Mietus added that Kimball continues closing businesses, restaurants, gas stations, dry cleaners.

He added that perhaps consolidating the Kimball Police Department with the Kimball County Sheriff’s Office would be an efficient solution.

“If things are going good, you can reassess and move things back to the way they were,” Mietus added. “Right now it seems like total chaos. I didn’t want to come here but I am desperate, as many of these people are.”

Mietus then said that he would like to see volunteers help with the Event Center as the City honors the remaining scheduled events.

“It needs to stay open, there is no reason they are going to different functions someplace else,” Mietus said.

Council member John Morrison added that if use increased while the current contracts are honored, keeping the Event Center open could be reconsidered. Subsidizing the facility for the remainder of the year would come with a price.

“This is preliminary, but I wouldn’t be uncomfortable with putting another $20,000 in there,” Morrison said.

Although the discussion was encouraging, council member James Schnell said that everyone needs to remember that the facility needs be self sufficient, as the sales tax base needed to subsidize it is not there.

“What we are doing tonight, we are not putting anything in stone,” Morrison added.

The council will vote on the finalized budget at their next regular council meeting, scheduled for Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.