Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Linda Williams was surprised at Tuesday's Kimball County Commissioners meeting when she received a plaque for 35 years of service with the sheriff's office. County board Chairman Larry Engstrom presented Williams with the plaque.
Kimball County Highway Superintendent Randy Bymer reported to the County Commissioners on Tuesday about the activities of the road department, which have included "blading in between windstorms and graveling roads."
Bymer said that notifications have been placed in the Observer about the irrigation/sprinklers spraying water on the roadway and on the tree planting.
In a short discussion, new signage was approved by the commissioners to put an "advanced warning 40 mph speed limit" sign coming from the south on Highway 71 into Kimball. An advanced warning sign does not require a traffic study.
The board then approved an application for a permit to occupy the right-of-way from TelCom construction for Lumen/CenturyLink.
Bymer said there had been some vandalism to signs in the country. He said the total cost for one stop sign replacement was over $200, with the sign itself costing $46.
In the next order of business, the sheriff's department met with the commissioners asking to purchase a new Ford pickup XLT for $35,989 from Anderson Ford in Lincoln. Because the purchase was not over $50,000, there was no requirement for bids. The commissioners approved the purchase of the new vehicle. Meanwhile, two pickups for the sheriff's department are in "production hold" with a state bid and will be available and purchased in 2023.
The sheriff's department presented information on computer-aided dispatch bids from RIMS, CRIMES, Interpol and E Force ranging from $130,110 to $41,413. No decision was made for this Computer Aided Dispatch software.
As of April, Kimball County Veterans' Office has accumulated and served 198 veterans. This number includes some transfers back to Kimball, locals deciding to get info, and new veterans. Darcee Wheeland, county Veterans Service Office program coordinator, reported that the Sidney VA Medical Clinic is closing, which will have an impact on Kimball County veterans medical needs.
According to the Wheeland's report, "Two veterans obtained 100% service connection with Special Monthly Compensation. They each receive $3,915.42 a month. One veteran applied for Nebraska Veterans Aid to obtain dental care. The veteran was approved for $4142.00 to pay for all his dental work."
Other services provided by the office included an honor guard, request of medical records, correcting DD214 paperwork, and utility assistance.
The VA neglected to send out co-pay bills during COVID, and they will make that up during this time period. So veterans are having to backpay those co-pay bills from almost two years ago. The VA travel pay is also behind four months.
State benefits for veterans include a variety of special perks, including hunt/fish permits, homestead exemptions, park permits, funeral expenses and many more.
The meeting concluded with the board signing a lease agreement between Chappell Senior Center and the County of Kimball dba Kimball County Transit Service.
May 17 will be the next commissioners meeting.