Council gets update on police K9 program

The Kimball City Council was presented with an updated policy regarding the Kimball Police Department canine program at its regularly scheduled meeting held April 7.

Police Captain Andy Bremer presented the updated policy to the council in Chief Darren Huff’s absence. According to City Administrator Daniel Ortiz, Huff stated late last week that the department would be retrofitting a vehicle currently in its fleet as opposed to purchasing one for the canine program.

“We can’t get into too much detail just because of the nature of it being an operational policy for the police department,” City Administrator Daniel Ortiz stated. “So you can’t discuss, nor combat, just you have it before you, unless you have any broad questions in regards to this policy.”

The council discussed where requests for the canine unit should come from, whether agencies have priority and the legitimacy of requests for demonstrations.

Ortiz stated that while requests from law enforcement agencies would be considered legitimate, demonstration requests would need to go through Huff and the department would need to consider when additional officers are used in terms of overtime pay.

“If the handler is off-duty, who makes that determination in terms of sending that officer out on duty and incurring overtime costs?” Ortiz asked.

“I know we are associated with WING (Western Nebraska Intelligence and Narcotics Group), and I know we have had participation with WING in busts down here where they have brought other dogs in,” council member James Schnell said. “In case we are asked as a team member to bring our dog to one in say Sidney or Potter, do we do an MOU?”

City Attorney Kent Hadenfeldt stated that an agreement already exists with WING and the canine program would simply operate under that MOU.

Schnell also asked if an agreement exists between the city and the county with its canine.

“I don’t believe there is anything in writing, but I have called out Brandon (Loy) and worked with him,” Bremer said.

Schnell stated that the chain of command should be clearer as far as who makes the determination to call the handler and dog into a situation.

Bremer stated that the policy the council was considering is the policy he worked under in Alliance, prior to coming to Kimball.

“The wording needs to change to fit what we are here,” Bremer said.

The council heard that all requests for the canine would be logged as well as if the handler and canine responded to the request or why the team did not.

Schnell sought clarification of the DEA rules on the training material for the dog. Mayor Keith Prunty pointed out that the one-page DEA policy was included in the packet Bremer submitted to council.

“We are subject to an audit anytime by the DEA,” Bremer stated. “I talked to them and we won’t get the narcotics (for training) until I am certified.”

Schnell suggested that part of the policy that states training will be done inside the city of Kimball may be too restrictive and suggested that they may want to expand the training area to include the entire county.

Bremer will be going late this month for a three week training and will return with the canine in the Ford Explorer, which will be fitted with a temporary airline crate for travel.

Given the time frame, council member James Shields questioned how preparation for the dog could be completed in time.

“At this time it is going to take a little bit of running. Home Depot, they were kind enough to donate us concrete and rebar and an outside kennel. It’s actually sitting in my garage. I’ve been waiting for a ‘Go,’ before I put any of that up, but we can do that in a couple of days,” Bremer said. “We’ll switch into the Explorer. I’ll have to put a flight crate in the back of it for now because we are not going to have time to put an actual kennel in that car until we get back.”

Bremer is confident that all other accommodations can be accomplished prior to returning with the canine.

The policy is still in the draft form according to Ortiz, who believes that some modifications will still take place.

No council action was needed regarding the subject. The policy was updated to include only a drug enforcement canine.

Kim Baliman, chairperson of the All-Class Reunion sought $1,700 from the Keno fund.

“It is wonderful for our community in the form of economic development. We are captive audience for three days to people who already call Kimball their home in one way or another,” Baliman said. “So I am asking your help financially from Keno to help us with mailing and the task to make this so it is affordable for everybody to come home and enjoy their community.”

The committee is currently sending out 3,500 invitations and they hope to see at least 500 attend.

The council approved Baliman’s request for funds prior to hearing a second plea for the same from Keep Kimball Beautiful. The KKB application was tabled at the last council meeting. Spud Rowley, of KKB, was asked to gather additional information regarding the disposal of the electronic waste that has collected at the recycling center.

Rowley updated the council based on research into several transportation modes and companies that accept e-waste, such as microwaves, televisions and computer components.

While the organization was seeking $4,000 in funds, Rowley said they would be grateful for any financial assistance they could get.

“We all know that there are limited funds, and we are good with that,” Rowley said. “We are just asking for assistance just like others, not a designated amount.”

Consensus from council members at the previous meeting was that the organization has received ample financial aid and that the amount applied for was more than they were willing to approve.

Keno funds are down due to the reduced number of businesses serving Keno. Additionally, the city uses some funds from that budget each year for Ranch Rodeo and the fireworks display.

Rowley explained pricing for the disposal of e-waste for two companies, Action Recycling and IT Refresh.

“There is some offsetting costs, some stuff is free and some is not,” Rowley said. “Our biggest concern is the CRTVs. That is pretty much 90 percent of our e-waste, old computer monitors and TVs.”

Rowley explained that IT Refresh charges 25 cents per pound and Action Recycling charges $1 per inch on the Cathode Ray Televisions.

Rowley also contacted local trucking company 3 Schoe’s Inc. and IT Refresh for transportation costs.

“Everything is pretty comparable dollar-wise and hours,” Rowley said.

Schnell asked if the price was going to prevent the center from taking e-waste in the future.

“The CRT, the hazardous stuff, we can actually disregard it,” Rowley said. “It would be the landfill’s situation probably, in time, going through the dumpsters.”

The council discussed how much money was in the budget and upcoming expenditures for the fireworks show and the upcoming Ranch Rodeo. The council unanimously approved a $2,000 grant for KKB.

The council also:

- Approved an amended parks and recreation interlocal cooperation agreement.

- Appointed council members Christy Warner and James Shields as representatives to the compensation committee.

- Discussed amendments to the Kimball Main Street Design and Improvement Program and considered a request for funds from that program by 3 Schoe’s, Inc.

- Received an update and considered action on the renovation of the Kimball Event Center.

- Discussed an unsafe building located at 301 S. Webster Street.