Rail Spur money still waits at the ready

Where is the money?

Kimball residents and those in neighboring communities are again questioning where the rail spur project money is and how it will be used.

Kimball City Administrator Dan Dean, along with Mayor Keith Prunty and City Treasurer Annette Brower addressed the question last week.

“I thought everybody was informed. We have a sheet here outlining where the monies that came in went,” Prunty said. “According to our attorney, it was just another revenue stream for economic development that the people voted on.”

The funds, collected through a property tax levy, were collected into the economic development fund. Though that money was dedicated to the bond that was to be issued for the rail spur project, because that bond was never issued, the money simply remained in the economic development fund.

More than $900,000 was collected from property tax, through this levy, but after engineering costs and other preparatory costs were paid, what remained was $227,150.21.

The City stopped actively collecting funds in 2016 though some funds continue to trickle in from delinquent taxes that are being collected.

Currently the economic development fund has more than $1 million available and Kimball’s Special Projects Coordinator, Amy Sapp, has worked to implement programs designed to assist current and prospective business owners with those funds.

“She is diligently working to get that money out into the community,” Dean added.

This money remains available for other economic development projects, including the Business Facade Improvement Grant and Loan program as well as the Business Infrastructure Grant and the local Intern Program.

“We have the highest payout in the panhandle for our Facade Improvement Grant,” Prunty added. “Most cities give $1,000 and we are doing $4,000.”

Sapp, Dean and Prunty encourage business owners, and prospective business owners to use the funds to improve and further develop local business and Prunty further encourages citizens to reach out when concerns arise.

“Please call City Hall with any questions,” Prunty asked.