Sheriff Expresses Safety Concerns

Kimball County Sheriff Dave Hottell updated the county commissioners Tuesday on business in his office.

Hottell said that he and a couple of deputies traveled to the Super Max prison in Colorado to pick up Vencil Leo Ash III. Ash completed his federal prison term, and the Kimball County Sheriff’s Office transferred him to the Nebraska State Prison to serve his life sentence for the murder of Ryan Guiton in Kimball County.

Ash was found guilty in two separate trials in Kimball County for the murder of Ryan Guitron in 2003. Ash was found guilty in 2012, and the Nebraska Supreme Court overturned the ruling and ordered a new trial. Ash was convicted again in 2015 for the same murder.

Guitron’s body was found south of Bushnell.

Other issues of concern to Hottell include beefing up courthouse security. He said the courthouse and courtroom are sources of tension, some of it centered around people upset about their taxes or court rulings.

In addition to local citizens’ frustration, he mentioned that Kimball is the location of two busy highways and of course Interstate 80. Hottell’s other security concerns centered on the possibility of foreign threats due to the numerous missile sites located in Kimball County.

Addressing the courthouse security issue, Hottell presented the commissioners with a proposal for four additional cameras and a new keycard door entry for the basement of the courthouse, where the 911 server is located. The board approved the proposal.

Other department heads for the county reported to the commissioners, including those with the road department, KCTS, the Veterans Service Office, and building and grounds.

Randy Bymer, road superintendent, told the commissioners that the road department is returning to five 8-hour days, and they have started bridge inspections. They continue to blade, mow, and gravel roads. The most recent graveling project to be completed was Road 17. They continue to work on Road 19, near Bushnell, and to fix soft spots.

Bymer participated in the city meeting to discuss the intersection traffic at Chestnut and 2nd streets. The City Council voted to make it a four-way stop but have delayed the installation of the stop signs to conduct a traffic study.

Bymer said that he thought it “wasn’t a good idea” and “it would back up traffic” if stop signs were installed on Chestnut Street. He said that if three cattle haulers are traveling together they could block the entire street.

Bymer will meet with the Air Force, Northrup Grumman and the state on Tuesday to get information on roads and bridges for the Sentinel project.

Kimball County Transit Service administrator Christy Warner announced the Cheyenne route will start on Jan. 22. KCTS is hiring and training to replace six employees.

Financially, KCTS has paid the general fund $84,432 in fiscal year 2023 through October. Federal tax dollars returned to Kimball totaled $737,392, and state tax dollars that have been brought back to Kimball to date are $179,904.

The commissioners approved the purchase of a new 2022 Ford transit van for KCTS.

City Administrator Annette Brower met with the commissioners to inform them of a rate hike for the landfill.

Veterans Service Office and building and grounds representatives also reported to the commissioners.

The next Kimball County Commissioner meeting is Nov. 21 at 9 a.m.