Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
County Gives Issues Plenty Of Discussion
The Kimball County Commissioners encountered lengthy discussions on several items at their meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 5.
Topping the list of lengthy discussions was bindweed, which is abundant and located throughout the city and county. Rick Wrangler, county weed superintendent, addressed the commissioners with some information about bindweed.
Both Banner and Cheyenne counties have added bindweed to their list of noxious weeds, but the state of Nebraska doesn’t have bindweed on their list of noxious weeds. Wrangler said, “It is out there and in a lot of fields. We are not going to please everyone.”
Even if Kimball puts bindweed on the noxious weed list, then according to Wrangler, “It is going to take a while to clean it up.”
After lots of discussion, the issue was tabled in order to obtain more information, including the cost of additional chemicals and the possible addition of another position to spray for bindweed.
Sheila Newell, county zoning administrator, presented her zoning report, then presented the Planning Commission’s recommendation for Kimball County to oppose the federal 30x30 goal.
Once again, after a lengthy yet educational discussion, the commissioners tabled the resolution until a later date.
Jessica Rocha, county tourism director, explained the need for a Point of Sale System at the High Point Welcome Center as well as cameras, panic buttons and a security system. All the items were approved.
To help preserve the courthouse and prevent water damage there, three bids for concrete work were reviewed and discussed. The concrete work around the building will drain water from the building area. Hays Contracting bid $4,025, while Pine Bluffs Gravel and Excavating Inc. had a bid of $21,692.50, and the winning bid from Barraza Subcontracting was $9,800.
The commissioners were updated on the Veterans Service Office by assistant Darcee Wheeland. The office now serves 164 veterans and brings in almost $50,000 a month in veteran benefits. The office does everything requests military and medical records, organizes honor guards, obtains VA stones, and claims VA pensions and widow pensions.
Finally, Christy Warner from the county transit provided an update on the transit service, and Chief Deputy Sheriff Brandon Loy received authorization to proceed to obtain a state bid for two sheriff patrol vehicles.