Commissioners ask sheriff about use of cars

The Kimball County Commissioners asked Sheriff Harry Gillway about the use of vehicles during the Dec. 16 meeting.

Commissioner Tim Nolting expressed concern for a subject that had been brought to his attention several times recently regarding the use of sheriff’s office vehicles.

“I have had a few people call me telling me that the sheriff’s vehicles were at Cabela’s and that they were unmarked. They want to know why that was the case,” Nolting said.

Gillway was invited into the commissioners meeting to explain the issue to the commissioners.

“We are getting a new sheriff’s vehicle and we needed to remove the decals on the current vehicle to make it ready for trade-in,” Gillway said. “We ended up doing this early because we were involved in prisoner transport, and we thought it would aid us in being discreet to not have the decals on our vehicle. That could make us a potential target. Once we get that new vehicle we will be putting the decals on as soon as possible.

“One of our vehicles has magnetic decals so that it can be used for things involving investigations and drug busts. We certainly did not mean to create an issue for the citizens or the commissioners and those decals will be on as soon as possible.”

The commissioners thanked Gillway for his explanation and advised him to make the commissioners aware in advance the next time something like this arises.

The commissioners met with Jerry Berggren, of Berggren Architects, in order to discuss possible upgrades to the county courthouse. Berggren made updates to courthouse in the 1980s.

Berggren presented the commissioners with possible updates that were previously discussed. He expressed a possibility in working in conjunction with the plans drafted by 360. Berggren finished his presentation and said he would check back in with the commissioners in the new year.

County Highway Superintendent Dave Hottell gave a brief update on roads at the meeting.

“We got all that snow Sunday (Dec. 14) night and into Monday (Dec. 15). We didn’t do much plowing because we tried, but those guys plowing couldn’t see and with the wind blowing like it was the plowing wasn’t doing much good,” Hottell said.

Hottell went on to explain that he would rather get complaints that roads were not plowed than go out and cause an accident. As the weather cleared a bit, Hottell said his crew was able to get out and clean up some of the roads.

Robert M. Brenner submitted a letter of withdrawal from the civil counsel for the board of commissioners. The commissioners accepted this letter and received another letter from the Kovarik, Ellison, & Mathis P.C. offering their services for consideration in the new opening of civil counsel.

The next meeting is set for 9 a.m. on Jan. 8.