County, Transit Look To Future

In an update on the Kimball County Transit Service, director Christy Warner said driver Karen Hottell won first place in the 2022 Roadeo Driving contest. Karen won the van division at Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky.

The event draws drivers from all over the country to compete for scores that test their skills on every level. Still, the primary focus is on safe operations and passenger sensitivity.

In other transit news for the commissioners at their regular meeting, officials from the state met with the county board via Zoom to discuss planning for the future. Kari Ruse from the Nebraska Department of Transportation Transit said that they have the funding and want to support Kimball County in the future. She said Kimball's transit budget is about $600,000, but they estimated that in a few years it would be over $1 million dollars.

County Road Superintendent Randy Bymer met with the commissioners and said they had been blading and graveling. The department has finished the work on Road 20 south of Bushnell, which took longer than expected due to the late snowfall. Minor repairs have been done to JD 770D. In addition, other issues affecting the county road department were the electric garage door in Bushnell is malfunctioning, and the Kimball office and shop need new doorknobs.

Bymer said that the "enlarged or increased speed zone" has been completed. The zone area is on south Highway 71. The speed limit has been lowered to 40 mph, and a warning sign has been installed.

A brief discussion ensued on "Who enforces these speed limits in this area?" It was determined that this area would be within the city's jurisdiction.

Although not an agenda item, Bymer said that John Deere Co. received the state bid for road graders. Bymer said, "I know we didn't budget for a grader" this year, but the county can get a 2023 grader at $296,00 on the state bid.

Attorney Matt Turman asked for the discussion to wind down as it wasn't on the agenda, it was decided that it would be put on next month's agenda for discussion.

Bymer has received three requests for driveway approaches this past week, and he asked for a policy for driveway approaches. NIRMA has a policy that Bymer presented, and he would like a permitting process to occur. Bymer said it takes quite a bit of time away from other duties to create an approach. It was suggested that Bymer talk to zoning and planning to see what policies they are working on.

No decision was made.

Continuing with road issues, Ray Freeburg has asked permission to put a cattle guard on a minimum road. He would stand the cost of the cattle guard.

In a lengthy discussion on the cattle guard and road issue thoughts arose about vacating Forsling Road, which is the minimum maintenance road Freeburg wants a cattle guard on. The process, according to Attorney Turman, includes first a resolution to direct Bymer to do a study, have a public hearing, and see the outcome.

The county had two different issues on the agenda for obtaining financing. Andy Forney, V-P Public Finance Banker for D.A. Davidson and Co. met with the commissioners in a public meeting to approve and adopt a resolution authorizing the county to enter into a lease-purchase agreement for a new sheriff's vehicle. The rates approved in the documents were at 5% but will probably be lowered to 3.75%. The amount financed will not exceed $40,000.

In another finance manner, Forney was at the meeting for approval for rates and terms of the limited tax bonds and related closing documents for the construction of the new hospital.

Forney cautioned, "If for some reason the hospital can't pay, then the county must pay. "Forney said he just wanted to make sure that everyone understood that information. D.A. Davidson has lined up a buyer for the bonds."

Forney said, "This is a big deal," and he was pleased that the interest was now locked down. The commissioners approved and adopted the resolution.

CEO of the Kimball Hospital Services Ken Hunter, said the demolition crew will be here Monday, May 23, to take down the KHS north campus and by the fall of 2023, the company said that they would have the new hospital completed. Hunter said, "the hospital has been profitable year-to-date. Census in the hospital has been really good."

Another company, similar to Community Building Solutions, checked out the courthouse and came up with the same items needing attention in the building. Millig Design Co. from Lawrence, Kansas, determined the need for new windows, replacing the 20-year-old HVAC chiller, and modernizing the 1989 boiler. The Millig Design Company mentioned increasing security and revamping the clerk's office. They introduced themselves as an engineering and construction firm.

Discussion and action items included approving the transfer of $20,747.50 from the Visitors' Improvement Fund to the Welcome Center Bond Fund, Blue Cross/Blue Shield healthcare rates that increased over 17%, accepting the resignation of Jim Calvin and appointing Steve Warner interim building and grounds superintendent.

The next meeting for the county board is Tuesday, June 7.