Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
But Decision Still To Come On Playground Equipment
The Kimball Police Department received the Kimball City Council's approval to acquire this 2019 Dodge Charger and trade in a 2021 Chevy Silverado it has used.
The discussion on Gotti Park playground equipment and surfacing consumed a significant amount of time at the Kimball City Council meeting on Tuesday evening, Nov. 21.
A variety of colors for the playground surfacing were discussed, but no decision was made. Concerns were raised about the heat retention and pricing of the surface. Other suggestions included matching the surface with the red, white and blue structure.
A cost difference between the current funds and expenses for the playground equipment at Gotti Park will be about $34,000, and area citizens will be asked to make up the difference with donations. From the citizens attending, Donnie Lonsdale piped up with a quick first donation of $2,000 from his business and $1,000 from him personally.
In other business, the council meeting dates for the next three months were set with one meeting per month. The dates are: Dec. 14, Jan. 16, Feb. 20 and March 19.
The agenda continued with the approval of Mayor John Morrison's signature on an updated Interlocal Agreement with Kimball County for landfill charges. The city will take over the billing of county residents after the first of the year. The landfill charge is $23 in December with a $2 late fee. The county will transfer all the credit county residents have paid and provide a list of residents with credit. When the city takes over in January, there will be a $25 monthly late fee. The landfill bill for rural residents is expected in April to increase to $27.90.
With a resignation, a position opened up on the Board of Public Works, and Tim Carlson, a chemical engineer from Clean Harbors Inc., expressed interest and intends to make his home in Kimball. Mayor Morrison reported that he had interviewed Carlson and felt he would be an excellent candidate for the board. Carlson was unanimously approved.
The Kimball Police Department received approval for the purchase of a 2019 Dodge Charger for $36,850, but the addition will include artwork, console, cage and gun lock, and statewide radio for a total of $47,451. The all-wheel drive vehicle is already equipped with $10,000 worth of police equipment. The department's 2021 Silverado will be traded in for $26,000.
The Kimball Police Department also received approval to purchase a system including 12 body and in-car cameras, a wireless route system, and wireless video transporter software. Chief Jose Ruiz said the system will improve accountability for the police department. The system will cost $24,649.99.
In Morrison's verbal report, he said that various projects are moving ahead and not much can be done during the winter, but everything should be in place and progress quickly.
The Recycling Center, according to City Administrator Annette Brower, is getting a facelift with new stucco, new windows and fresh paint.
Brower also said that all the water valves have been replaced on Second Street, and they don't anticipate any more problems.
She continued that preparations are being made, and work is being done with engineers for the Clean Harbors apartment complex on Seventh and High School streets. In addition, Brower said that footings are going in for the Anderson car wash on the east side of town.
The Police Department report included a laundry list of calls taken from traffic stops to missing person calls. A variety of other calls included seizure of meth, the Oct. 31 shooting on the east side, child abuse and a deceased person.
