Council receives update on power plant improvements

The Kimball Power Plant now has a new stack with vents that are up to specification, members of the Kimball City Council learned at the regularly scheduled July 7 meeting.

The old, double-walled vent pipe had been bent and rusted, but was recently replaced by the power plant team.

Lance Terrill, power plant supervisor, updated the council regarding Kimball’s power plant and what Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN) demands of the city.

Terrill showed a photo of a clean, well-maintained unit to the board and stated, “This is what all engines will look like in the future.”

All the engines, six in total, were in good shape with the exception of engine number three, according to Terrill. That engine is listed in fair condition, with a cylinder head replacement done and oil drainage issues addressed.

The fuel pumps needs re-timed for that engine and a water leak needs to be addressed, Terrill said, which is a forced outage issue.

Because MEAN withholds reimbursements for any outages during peak season, from June through September, and because the repair is not immediately necessary, Terrill plans to address the water leak after peak season.

“We are kind of just dealing with it right now, it is not a huge issue. It just looks terrible,” Terrill said.

The oldest engine is also in the best shape, according to Terrill, and all secondary support systems are currently being evaluated and repaired or replaced.

The council considered a long-ignored ordinance prohibiting recreational vehicles in Kimball’s residential mobile home parks, such as Ridgewood and Stahla’s.

According to City Administrator Daniel Ortiz, because those parks serve construction and harvest crews and others who use recreational vehicles as their home, the council had a choice to make.

“Do we modify (the ordinance) and allow them or do we enforce it and request that they vacate the premises?” Ortiz asked.

“Harvest crews are fairly short-lived, but a lot of these highway crews come in and they stay 45 days or more,” board member James Schnell said.

Council member John Morrison stated that allowing the RVs has been standard practice for more than two decades and that there is no other options.

The council amended the ordinance, numbered 727, to allow recreational vehicles, commonly referred to as RVs.

Zoning laws restricting the use of barbed wire fencing within city limits were also considered as the issue was brought forward when Verizon’s original plans for a tower east of Kimball included barbed wire to enclose the proposed tower at the top of a six-foot chain link fence.

At the time, the barbed wire fencing was prohibited. However, a tour of Kimball found numerous locations throughout town where barbed wire is in use.

“When Verizon was working through their cell tower, they were looking to put barbed wire at the top of their fence. It came to our attention that although our zoning ordinance doesn’t permit barbed wire, it is found in numerous locations throughout town where it has been use,” Ortiz said.

Following discussion at their meeting, the planning commission approved the use of barbed wire as a conditional use permit with provisions that it only be used at the top of fences and would be prohibited in residential areas altogether, Ortiz added.

“Probably the entity that uses it the most is the city, and so its obvious that we should allow it,” Morrison said.

Ultimately, the council voted to allow the use of barbed wire conditionally and with provisions as recommended. However, razor wire will remain forbidden.

The council is currently reviewing unsafe buildings, abandoned and wrecked vehicles, tall grass and weeds as well as other nuisance violations throughout Kimball.

With more than 40 properties on the list for tall weeds and grass, Ortiz said that the city is mowing more properties than they would wish as citizens are unable to mow for a lesser cost.

“Looking back, there is no specific rationale as to the price that was set of $50 for mowing,” he said. “It would seem as though we are the cheapest mowing service on the block as we are getting more and more requests from people.”

The city does not have the time, resources or manpower to provide mowing service on a regular basis and as a public entity, they do not want to compete with private enterprise.

To that end, Ortiz suggested that council increase the rate charged to encourage citizens to find more appropriate alternatives and provided a cost list from other Nebraska communities for their review.

“One way to look at it was to increase our rate that we charge and establish a fixed rate,” Ortiz said. “You have before you a list of what other villages do.”

After some discussion regarding the cost to the city in terms of man-hours and resources, the council proposed to increase the rate to $100 per hour per employee with a one-hour minimum charge. Additionally, the city will assess a $50 administrative fee, duplicating what Potter charges for the same service.

“The rationale is that if we raise our prices they may start hiring private individuals?” Morrison asked.

“The intent of us charging them is a penalty of sorts, and if we have more people willing to pay that amount the penalty is too low,” Ortiz said.

Mayor Keith Prunty agreed, stating that the city should not be the first entity to be called, but rather, the last. The proposed rate increase will be voted on at the next city council meeting.

“Don’t call us if you need it done,” Prunty added.