Speed Limits Lowered In City

Kimball Street Superintendent Jim Shoup asked the City Council to change the speed limit on south Chestnut Street at the March council meeting.

The change will occur from FVC to Sixth Street. The speed limit will be 35 mph, which is a decrease of 5 mph. From Sixth Street to Fourth Street, the speed limit will be 30 mph, and from Fourth Street to the stoplight, the speed limit will be 25 mph. The council approved the decrease in the speed limit presented.

In other business, Potter-Dix Post Prom received $400 in Keno Funds to purchase local gift cards for their Post Prom. Kirk Evertson was appointed to the Kimball Housing Agency and Paula Tarango was appointed to the Planning Commission.

Linda Stahla requested a change to the Conditional Use Permit for RV Park. Instead of privacy fencing, she asked that trees or bushes be acceptable to the council. The council maintained that a privacy fence would hopefully eliminate future problems with RV park residents and the current neighboring properties. One of the concerns was the length of time it would take for trees to grow. No motion was required, as no change was made.

In related business, the second reading and the public hearing on the application for rezoning at Lot 2 from Residential Rural to Residential Mobile Home Park was opened and closed without comment, but a short time later, the public hearing was re-opened with Dar Gardner and Marshall Mossberg speaking about the issue.

Amy Sapp, representing Twin Cities Development, reviewed and explained the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The council approved a motion for the City of Kimball to work with Twin Cities Development on the DPA Program, which is a housing program. No matching funds are required.

The council also approved entering into an interlocal agreement establishing a Western Nebraska Regional Land Bank. According to city attorney Matt Turman, the only Land Bank that existed before now was in Omaha, but the Unicameral decided to create another Land Bank which will be in the western part of the state, including Kimball.

A land bank, which is a legal entity from the city, can take rundown properties, get them rehabilitated and get them back on the tax rolls. This is an extra redevelopment resource, according to Turman.

An informational discussion was held about the status of the “aged-out” power plant which was built in 1956. City Administrator Annette Brower said that maintaining the power plant is financially irresponsible, although it is an excellent source for MEAN and has some financial advantages. Therefore, Brower presented to the council the possibility of purchasing used generators which could be substituted for the power plant.

Looking to the future, Brower also told the council that an electrical study is needed and a company will present on the advantages of the study and options available.

Finally, an update on a housing study for present and future housing needs in the Kimball County area was prepared by Western Nebraska Economic Development and included in the council packet. The survey is widely available for the public.

The next council meeting will be held April 19.