Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Unless it is needed for the project to progress, Council rejects Underpass signage

Kimball City Council received a revised proposal for the long-awaited Underpass Project from HDR Engineering. The original proposal, for non-reimbursable elements to the underpass redesign, was rejected by Council at the end of last year because the cost, $14,622.80, was too high.

The revised proposal, for signage, furnishings and labor, came in at $12,160.38 as a result of reduced man hours and profit margin.

According to Kimball Mayor, Keith Prunty, council refused the proposal only if the continuation of the project does not depend on this step. Instead, council wishes to get the total project completed and then add signage and furnishings.

Prunty added that, according to the latest update, the State of Nebraska is currently working on the final design for the project. Revised final designs for the approaches to the underpass are expected no later than Feb. 1, 2018.

Keno funds, which are intended for betterment of the community, will be used to complete the renovation.

The project, which officially began in June 2014, is expected to be let out for bids in the winter of 2018.

“We are actually probably looking at 2019,” Prunty said. “Now we are going on four years and they (the State of Nebraska) haven’t done anything. We are waiting on the state and the feds.”