City council approves funding for chamber of commerce

The City of Kimball approved funding for the Kimball Banner County Chamber of Commerce and a KENO grant for the Kimball Lions Club at the regularly scheduled city council meeting on March 3.

The city council voted to approve $450 each month to the chamber for additional part-time help.

Josh Enevoldsen, president of the chamber, sought the monthly support to allow for additional help. This would be in addition to Larissa Binod, the chamber director, who was recently hired to that part-time position.

“I’ve always believed that chambers and cities should always work together,” council member John Morrison said. “For some reason, Kimball has never supported the chamber since I’ve been here.

“I would prefer that we look at it every year as part of the budget. As much as I’ve been involved with the chamber over the years, they have done a lot for the city. They can get into areas that the city can’t. I see no problem with this, I think we should be doing this every year, no matter what.”

The agreement drafted between the two entities allows for the support as long as the city maintains its current level of funding. The support will be reviewed annually during the budget process.

The council passed the request unanimously and expects to hear updates from the chamber at least twice each year, according to the terms of the agreement.

“Hopefully next year we won’t need it because we will be in a better situation,” Enevoldsen said.

Additionally, the council heard and approved a request from Sonny Porter, president of Kimball’s Lions Club, regarding a KENO grant application seeking $2,000. The money would be used to benefit the community through the club’s service projects that provide glasses for children, a scholarship for the Kimball High School student of the month and the Jenna Lee Fund, which provides travel and lodging expenses for medical care.

The Kimball Lions Club was established in 1920 and is the second oldest in the state, Porter said.

“We are trying to revive it now,” Porter said. “With the funding we usually get from membership dues which isn’t here currently, we put on our fundraisers so that we can continue to operate. We have developed a list of potential members for our club. So we are trying to save this club and make it stronger.”

Council member James Schnell stated that just last year the local service organization donated a 60-inch television to the Kimball County Manor for residents activities.

“That is one of the biggest days for residents (of the manor), twice a week when they play bingo,” Schnell said. “That meant the world to them.”

In addition to supporting the local chamber and the Lions Club, the council considered refunding the Main Street Design and Improvement Program by $10,000.

Though the program is named for the city’s main street, businesses throughout the city can take advantage of the matching funds, according to Economic Development Director Wilson Bowling.

“I am requesting that we move $10,000 from LB840 into this (Main Street Design Program) account so we can continue helping businesses throughout the year,” Bowling said.

The funds do not come from local sources and they have already been budgeted through the city.

“Everybody here has probably heard me preach that we are not giving away our tax dollars,” Schnell said. “We are using sales tax money that came from out-of-town people. I wish we had to refund this thing every six months.”

“Speaking with the businesses, besides the two (applications) we have here, I know of three that are going to putting in applications when it warms up,” Bowling said. “This program has taken a while to gain traction, but this year we have a lot of companies trying to do a lot for their businesses and just for the general look of Kimball.”

“You have your money Wilson,” Mayor Keith Prunty said. “Go out and spend it.”

The first local business to receive funds at the meeting was Beer and Loathing, a local bar that sought matching funds totaling $1,567.23.

“If you have driven down the street, you have definitely seen the work that they have done,” Bowling said. “It is now a purple building with green trim and a bright green, blinding sign. They have done a lot of work.”

Panhandle Co-op also asked for matching funds, totaling the full amount allowed, which is $2,000. They spent $35,217 for their work on the corner of Highways 30 and 71.

The improvement of the corner included tearing down the existing building and gas pumps then rebuilding those and adding a message center.

“I think it adds a lot to the community, being able to put up not only their prices but different news for the town,” Bowling said. “It really does add to the aesthetic of the town as you drive up and they have put a lot of money into this.”

The council approved the application for both businesses and considered amendments to the program allowing for more improvements in the future.

“In speaking with the Main Street Design board, we feel that if someone is willing to put the time and money into making their building better, some of the (ineligible) criteria should be added,” Bowling said. “Our thought behind it is that it’s great that the city is going to help you paint the front, but what good is that if your roof is falling in?”

Though the committee can bring any ineligible improvements to the council, they asked for more power in making those decisions themselves.

Schnell said that some of the ineligible actions are covered by insurance, such as windows, doors, roofs and gutters under certain circumstances.

“I think with the discretion of your group, you can maintain that people wouldn’t abuse that,” Schnell said. “I think we can work around that like you are suggesting.”

“I don’t want you to faint, but I think you should increase the amount to at least $3,000,” former council member Ann Warner said. “If you have tried to fix up anything lately, you can’t even come close to put a driveway in for $3,000, you can’t paint, you can’t put gutters on.”

“I believe there is really nothing we can do that would not help improve the look of our downtown. I believe that you guys have great members on that committee to look those applications over and make a decision appropriately and I would hate to limit a business from improving their looks over something like that,” council member Christy Warner said.

The council recommended that the committee consider adding sandblasting as well as increasing the amount of funds given and that Bowling return with those amendments for approval.