Murdoch Joins Sheriff's Office

Text 911 is now available in Kimball County.

Alicia Downey from the Sheriff’s Department explained to the Kimball County Commissioners on Tuesday that texting 911 would work with the communication desk texting back and forth to the “caller.”

Downey said calling 911 should always be the first option, but in some cases where coverage is limited, texting is a great option. The other reason to text to 911 is a possible domestic situation, and the “caller” must be silent. Texting 911 is nationwide and in Nebraska, the Public Service Commission is covering the yearly cost of the service.

With Sheriff Dave Hottell dealing with another matter and not in attendance, Downey reported that former Kimball Interim Police Chief Dwain Murdoch would be starting for the sheriff’s office full-time on June 7, and Mike Youngquist will start Monday on June 12.

The commissioners met with Henry Heeg of Heeg Enterprises, Inc. Heeg was requesting approval of a Special Designated Liquor License for Vince’s Golf Tournament on July 8 and 9.

This is the 14th year of the tournament, which has boasted 150 golfers for the two-day event. With the Windbreak closed and the pro shop without a liquor license at this time, Heeg intends to put a tent on the tennis courts and serve beverages. Heeg’s request was approved for a Special Designated Liquor License that will cover the golf course and the tennis courts for the two-day event.

Both Kimball Health Services and the Kimball County Manor provided updates to the county board.

The project team from Kimball Health Services – including Ken Hunter, Cassie Gasseling, Jim Cederburg, Nicole Snyder and Troy Kurz – gave specifics on the new hospital’s construction progress.

According to Troy Kurz, tours of the facility are ongoing. Kurz said construction is going well, the west side exterior is being put up, and a weather barrier has been installed in preparation for the stucco exterior. The inside is framed, and half of the facility is roughed in with sheet rock installed.

Kurz said, “It is starting to take shape.”

Unfortunately, there is a three-month delay in the electrical gear. Kurz said, “They are working through a plan of action” with temporary power being installed. According to Kurz, the facility is 60% complete and should be completed by Spring 2024.

Kimball Health Services CFO Cassie Gasseling said that February and March were slower months with no surgeries, but 15 surgeries were conducted in April and 29 in May. Gasseling said Kimball Health Services continues “looking at profitability and trying to improve.”

The agenda continued with an update on the Kimball County Manor.

Administrator Sarah Stull said that the manor has a 96% occupancy and assisted living is at 83%.

Dr. Jessica Ott is the medical director, and Jennifer Griebel will do weekly rounds beginning June 1.

Other agenda items included the renewal of a contract with USDA Wildlife Specialist Matt Anderson. He spent 227 hours in Kimball County, dealing mostly with coyotes and prairie dogs. The contract with Anderson was renewed with a 5% increase for the year for a total of $10,646.

Kimball/Banner Counties Extension presented past highlights of the program throughout the year and noted some changes coming. The livestock auction will be changed to Saturday for the first time to promote more buyers. Nathan Rice said that Northrop Grumman has agreed to sponsor all the individual 4-H t-shirts and some of the trophies.

The next meeting for the Kimball County Commissioners will be June 20.