Plows Take On 13-Foot Drifts

Highway Road Superintendent Randy Bymer summarized the effects the recent blizzard had on Kimball County roads.

He started his report with the phrase, "We're pushing snow," then explained that one plow is down while there is trouble with another one, but they are busting through drifts as high as 13 feet in certain areas of the county.

On Tuesday, crews were still widening out roads in the wake of the blizzard. Real troubled spots are generally a result of trees planted years ago south of Dix, south of Kimball and near County Road 46.

A disaster declaration was signed by Chairman Larry Engstrom, stating that "Kimball County has suffered from a disastrous blizzard that occurred on Dec. 13, 2022 through December 16, 2022 causing severe damage to public and private property, and endangered the health and safety of the citizens of Kimball County within the disaster area. This event result in 100% of road closures into, out of, and within Kimball County causing Kimball County to expend all available local resources."

The declaration continued: "The expenditure of emergency funds from all available sources, the invoking of mutual aid agreement, and the applying to the State of Nebraska for assistance from the Governor's Emergency Fund and any other resources he/she deems necessary in the fulfillment of his/her duties."

Bymer then went onto an equipment issue but admitted it was "not planned in the budget." Bymer looked into purchasing a snowblower that would attach to the payloader. Prices ranged from $150,000 to a used snow blower being $55,000. Discussions centered on whether it was necessary. Bymer also said that Z&S could be hired for $236 an hour with an operator. Due to the fact that there are just a limited number of areas of concern, no purchase decision on the snow blower was made.

A lengthy discussion with numerous examples surfaced on the need for a policy for the removal of semi-tractor trailers stuck on country roads when they were trying to go around highways that were closed. Instructions were provided for a written policy.

Bymer also wanted direction on when to clean driveways. Commissioner Larry Engstrom said, "Open the roads." Bymer re-stated, "Once we get the roads open, then we will come back and get driveways." The priority of the road department is to get the school and mail routes opened first. The county road department charges for cleaning driveways, but they will be cleaned after the county roads are cleared.

Kimball County Transit Service agenda items included an update and consideration to seek a bid to purchase two vehicles to replace Sprinter vans that could not be purchased. The motion by Commissioner Carl Stander to purchase two more Ford Transit vans for $115,428 each died due to the lack of a second.

The KCTS update included pending revenues reports for October, November and December, which totaled over $200,000. The total rides taken in November of 2022 was 2,794, which was 900 more rides than in November 2021.

In other KCTS news, NDOT is conducting another audit, one sponsor has committed to the Sponsorship program, and two others will soon make a decision. In addition, the employment rides have started with early morning Scottsbluff to Clean Harbors/Hospital rides and rides for local GRI and Kimball County Manor employees.

Two large financial transfers occurred, with $125,000 transferred from the General Fund to the Transit Fund and another $125,000 transferred from the Inheritance Fund to the General Fund. It was stressed that those funds were budgeted to be transferred, with the reason being to not do as much in tax requests. The sum of $600,000 has been budgeted to be transferred.

As of this week, the Kimball County Visitors Center has been closed and winterized. Re-opening will occur in April.

The county board approved the appointment of Sheila Newell to fill the remaining term of Dianne Pruett on the Kimball County Manor Board.

The next regular meeting of the Kimball County Commissioners will be on Jan. 5 at 9:30 a.m., but the newly elected officials will take their oaths of office on Jan. 5 at 8:30 a.m.