County Looks To Cash In Near I-80

The Kimball County Commissioners voted on Feb. 7 to sell the High Point Welcome Center of Western Nebraska and adjacent lots.

Sealed bids will be accepted until March 17 at 4 p.m. Bids for the property will be opened at 10 a.m. on March 21. The board reserves the right to accept or reject any bid.

An appraisal of the property came back with a value of $243,000 for the center and lots, but the assessed value is $384,000. The commissioners determined that the fair-market value considering the potential area growth is $750,000.

The commissioners are hoping to negotiate an agreement for the continued operation of the High Point Welcome Center until it can be relocated.

A public hearing was conducted earlier in the meeting to hear comments for and against the sale of the property.

Dan Graves from Graves Development out of Omaha spoke on behalf of his company and Stephanie Risk McElroy and Ryan McElroy. The trio is working together on a housing development project west of the welcome center which would include around 580 houses along with some commercial projects like apartments and a truck stop. All the work would be done in phases. Graves and McElroy were for the sale of the property.

Long-time Kimball County resident Rod James also spoke but insisted that the State of Nebraska should buy and improve the property. James also mentioned that he thought the valuation was too low.

Speaking last at the public hearing was resident Kim Sharples. She merely asked questions, with the first being how much the county paid for the property, which was $250,000. Sharples commented that the appraisal was less than what the county paid, and the answer she received was yes. She continued her questions, asking why the commissioners wanted to sell this land. No comment from the commissioners. Then Sharples asked what the plan was for the money from the sale of the land. They did not comment.

The decision to sell came at the end of the meeting after the board went into an executive session to strategize.

Another public hearing on Ordinance 2023-1 was also conducted at the Kimball County Commissioners meeting.

The 9:30 public hearing heard public comments for or against the adoption of Ordinance 2023-1 regarding Snow Emergency and Abandoned Vehicles on county roads.

Public comments were received from Mike Schadegg from Schadegg Motors & Towing. He was in favor of the ordinance but cautioned the commissioners to check out insurance on storage plus having a "hold harmless agreement in place."

With no legal counsel present, County Clerk Cathy Sibal suggested tabling the adoption of the ordinance to research insurance on storage, harmless agreement, and additional concerns.

Kimball County Sheriff Dave Hottell gave his first update in which he provided the January numbers. In the future, updates will be given quarterly. On January 5, Hottell said he conducted an inventory of the Sheriff's office.

In January, the Sheriff's Office had 118 calls for service, 152 911 calls, and 16 people were arrested and booked into the Kimball County Jail, although they now are housing 11 inmates, which totaled 279 inmate days. Dispatch received 487 calls for service.

Fees for paper service totaled $792.76, VIN inspection fees were $280.00, and $55.00 was collected in gun permit fees.

In other business, Zoning Administrator Sheila Newel reported to the commissioners that Paul Reed Construction submitted an application for a conditional use permit for a concrete batch plant. A public hearing was set for February 21, 2023, to receive public comments for or against the Conditional Use Permit Application from Paul Reed Construction and Supply, Inc.

The zoning administrator received inquiries on the following subjects: building permits, zoning jurisdiction, communication towers/non-nonconforming uses, and minimum lot size. Other counties inquired about campgrounds, fees, setbacks for wind turbines, firearms/ammunition sales, and illegal structures.

County Highway Superintendent Randy Bymer's update reported roads south of town last night were blowing and icy. Bymer asked the commissioners if any other roads needed to be put on the 1/6-year plan besides the road south of Dix, Road 59.

A motion was approved to increase the hourly rate for snow removal on private driveways. The rate now for snow removal on private drives is $75 for the initial entry and $75 per hour after that. It had previously been $50.

The commissioners entered into an agreement with Community Building Solutions to upgrade the boiler, chiller, windows, and remodel the clerk's office.

The next Kimball County Commissioners meeting will be Tuesday Feb. 21, 2023.