Council considers pros and cons of accepting Longhorn

After approval by the Planning Commission, the matter of a dog kennel license was discussed at the April 19 regular City Council meeting.

Kathy Chapman addressed the board to ensure they understood that she was not seeking a commercial kennel license on Monroe St. in Kimball, but instead was looking for a conditional use permit so she and her husband, Rick, could keep their five dogs.

“When we lived in town before I walked into the City Office, applied for a kennel license, I paid $25, gave them all the shot records and got the license,” she said.

They moved outside of city limits for some time, but purchased a home on Monroe Street. Upon returning to the city of Kimball, Chapman found the requirements for a license had changed.

“I don’t want to sell the house we just bought, I would prefer to be able to get this license,” she said.

Following the planning commission meeting, the Chapmans put up a privacy fence as one neighbor requested.

“She is good with it, and we are good with it,” Chapman added.

According to City Administrator, Dan Dean, the Chapmans met all of the conditions for a conditional use permit and during the meeting the couple agreed to further modifications to make neighbors as comfortable as possible.

“They (the Planning Commission) also recommended four conditions that be applied if Council does approve the recommendation from the Planning Commission,” Dean added. “Those conditions are that the owners construct a privacy fence consistent with zoning regulations along their north property line; the owners will notify the City when any of their dogs are permanently removed, and once a dog has been removed the number of dogs allowed will be reduced; when the number of dogs they maintain drops to four, since the conditional use will no longer be required the conditional use permit will be revoked at that point and the conditional use permit may be revoked after a hearing before the City Council if it is determined that the owners have failed to comply.”

Though some neighbors were concerned regarding the permit, their concerns were heard and addressed at the Planning Commission meeting. Council unanimously approved the conditional use permit for the Chapmans, with the exception of Christy Warner, who was absent.

Council moved on to discuss the pros and cons of accepting the Longhorn building from current owners, a trust that has no assets.

“The people in charge of that trust are not personally financially obligated to the trust,” Mayor Keith Prunty said. “There will be no decision made tonight. I want this to go to public hearing at our next meeting.”

Anything done to the building, which contains asbestos, will be at the cost of City of Kimball, whether that be restoring or destroying the building.

Taxes are due on the building, which the trust is unwilling to pay; the cost of demolishing the building could cost upwards of $60,000 and burning it was strongly discouraged by the State Fire Marshall and local Fire Chief Rick Wynne.

According to City Attorney Kent Hadenfeldt, there is no legal avenue for the City to collect the taxes.

The matter will be open for public comments and questions at the May 5 City Council meeting.

Other action taken by the Council:

Approved the Kimball Handyman Project and accepted the grant for the same.

Approved adding Annette Brower to the Points West Community Bank signature card.

The Council presented the ACE return funds to the Friends of the Goodhand Theatre.

Discussed the status of Keno funds. The grant fund currently shows a negative amount. Dean suggested, and council approved, a moratorium until that fund reaches acceptable levels.