Visitor Center's Fate In Focus

High Point Visitor Center will close for the season from Oct. 1 through April 1, 2023, according to the motion made and approved Tuesday by the Kimball County Commissioners. A vendor from the center, Kim Sharples, questioned the commissioners with concerns for the 30 vendors who have souvenirs and other items for sale at the visitors center.

In the following motion, the commissioners approved contacting an appraiser to obtain a fair market value for the High Point Visitors Center property. However, the commissioners assured people they were not closing the center – but could be relocating it.

According to comments from officials, different parties have expressed interest in purchasing the property.

The county paid $250,000 for the property in 2014.

Officials said the building requires a lot of maintenance, is challenging to heat and cool, that they have received no applications for the vacant tourism director position, and there is continued cost of making yearly payments for the building.

According to the records, operating expenses for the visitors center for the previous fiscal year were $120,000, and the lodging tax that helps support the center was $61,000.

In other business, the commissioners met briefly to hear an update from the road department, then recessed at 9:30 a.m. for the funeral of former Commissioner Val Deane Snyder.

Roads Superintendent Randy Bymer said the department was “blading, pulling shoulders, and controlling the weeds.” With one truck, they are graveling Road 29.

Bymer said that two new employees would be starting on Monday. He used Zelle for one hire but not the other hire.

Bymer said that he should be getting a bid for propane which was $1.55 last year but is expected to be closer to $2.19 for September to May.

The county board reconvened at 11 a.m. to finish the regular meeting.

An agreement was approved and signed with Creative Revolution Marketing Agency to market the Kimball County Transit Service.

Owner of Peak to Peak Organizations, Jon Heidemann, gave an overview of his Sept. 17 Antelope Stampede Bicycle Race in Kimball and Kimball County. The races will start at 7:30, 8 and 8:30 a.m. for the 50 and 100-mile rides. Heidemann said he was expecting between 50 to 100 bike racers for the second annual event. The race day will conclude with a town BBQ at Gotte Park.

A special commissioners meeting will be held Sept. 13, followed by the county budget hearing to hear public comments for or against setting the 2022-23 Final Property Tax Request.

The next regular commissioners meeting is Sept. 20 at 9 a.m.