New Hospital Gets Its Money

The Kimball County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday to receive an update on Kimball Health Services.

Kayla Fennell was appointed to replace M. Timothy Nolting on the Kimball Health Service Board of Trustees. Nolting recently resigned his seat on the board.

Kimball Health Services CEO Ken Hunter explained an important change in the emergency room staffing method. KHS has contracted with Aligned Providers, a Wyoming company, to staff its emergency room. Aligned Providers provides ERs with specifically ER trained individuals.

KHS continued with the updates by announcing to the commissioners that they have been approved for an additional United States Department of Agriculture $10.7 million loan, which they requested. Previously, KHS had received a $23.4 million loan but officials said the need arose to obtain more funding due to design changes and inflation. Both USDA loans are 40-year loans and interest is $2.5% on the first loan and 2.125% for the newer $10.7 million loan. Other funding sources include a $3 million capital campaign and a $6.4 million county revenue bond.

Due to the increase in funding for the new hospital, the commissioners re-approved their support of the project by again adopting a “Resolution authorizing the Hospital to construct an addition to its existing facilities and renovation of existing space, equipment, site and parking improvements, all located at the existing North Campus hospital site and to use hospital revenue anticipation notes and revenue bonds to finance such improvement.”

In response to the announcement of planned power outages in Kimball, the chairman of the board directed the Kimball County Courthouse to be open at the regular time on Monday and Thursday, April 11 and 14, although electronic equipment such as computers will not be in use during the specific times of the outage. The elevator in the courthouse will be locked down to prevent any electrical damage.

Jim Calvin, County Building and Grounds Superintendent, reviewed a list of building maintenance issues, from snowblower breakdowns to toilet leakage problems. He explained other jobs they have accomplished, such as changing door locks, hanging cabinets, mounting AED cases, and setting the election box out for the upcoming election.

Calvin explained that Community Building Solutions would tour the courthouse this week. Community Building Solutions is a small project management company that was created to provide rural schools, counties, and other public entities with high quality and low-cost turnkey energy related facility improvements. Community Building Solutions will present its findings at a later meeting.

Kimball County Highway Superintendent Randy Bymer reminded the commissioners that they have returned to working four 10-hour days as of last week. The operators are grading and graveling as well as trying to get the washboards out of the roads.

Christy Warner, County Transit administrator, updated the county board on ridership and revenue. Boardings for March were up 14% to 3,177, which is an 87% increase from 2021. Their revenue-producing hours are up 13%, and revenue producing miles have increased 14%. Statistics show ridership in Kimball accounts for 74% of KCTS total ridership.

On July 1, a rate increase for a monthly pass will take place; kids will be $20 and adults $30. Governor Pete Ricketts proclaimed April 17-23 as Nebraska Public Transit Week. The week long celebration will include give-a-ways, challenges, trivia, coloring contests, and activities.

In discussion and action items, the Department of Motor Vehicles has requested approval of a motorcycle testing site at the High Point Welcome Center of Western Nebraska. It was approved, and the Chairman signed the agreement.

The next meeting of the Kimball County Board of Commissioners is on April 19.