Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
The Hays Contracting building on East 3rd Street will be leased to Kimball County for housing KCTS vehicles. A parking lot will replace the lawn in front of the building. The sod has been transplanted across the street at Woody's Liquor.
The Kimball County Commissioners split the vote on the final agenda item on June 20's Kimball County Commissioners meeting, which was to discuss and consider any action to enter into a lease for additional garage parking space for KCTS transit vehicles.
Commissioners Elyse Lukassen and Carl Stander approved the contract, while Commissioner Flores voted no and refused to pen his name on the lease agreement as chairman of the board.
The commissioners, in the 2-1 vote, approved a five-year lease for $4,000 a month with building owner RECK LLC, which Shane Hays owns, to use the building across the street and one block east of the courthouse. This building at 205 East Third will house six Ford Transit vehicles that begin their routes on July 11. Federal and state funds will cover 90% of the building's lease payment.
Hays is already making upgrades. The upgrades include pulling out the grass for a parking lot with parking stalls and making an ADA-accessible bathroom.
In an email, KCTS Administrator Christy Warner stated: "If we rent, the building stays on the tax rolls, and we have an opportunity to leave the building in the future."
When the route service starts, buses can pull through the driveway, and the buses will be off the streets to load or unload.
The new building will add parking for buses and employees, provide a safe transfer spot and house transit buses. The Nebraska Department of Transportation approved the acquisition.
In a follow-up meeting, The commissioners met in a special session on Tuesday, June 27, to discuss and consider any action concerning the lease between Shane Hays' Reck Investments LLC and Kimball County (dba Kimball County Transit Services) for the property at 205 E 3rd, Kimball Nebraska.
The board went into closed executive session at 9:02 a.m. and returned to public session at 10:27.
The executive session of the commissioners regarded lease negotiations related to additional garage space for Kimball County Transit vehicles. The commissioners had voted, 2-1, on June 20 to lease a building owned by RECK LLC for $4,000 a month. Commissioners Elyse Lukassen and Carl Standers voted in favor and Rich Flores was opposed.
At 10:27 a.m., the special meeting was adjourned after the executive session without further public discussion.
