Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Plan’s Impact On Kimball Ballfields, Four Winds Golf Course To Be Determined
Last week’s Observer article “A Look At Kimball Land Swap Plan” stirred some discussion among residents on the practicality of the land swap.
Under the Kimball Rec land swap plan, four ballfields on 44 acres at the Rec Center would be exchanged for 4.5 acres that include the former Windbreak Restaurant and two golf sheds. The Windbreak Restaurant would be remodeled into a Four Winds Golf Course pro shop with a possible bar.
The entity in charge of the land swap or conversion is the Park and Rec Executive Board. Residents have expressed interest in knowing who is on the executive board. The voting members of the board are the four Kimball City Council members (Creg Pike, Don Muench, Christy Warner and Gabe Ingram) and three Kimball County commissioners (Rich Flores, Carl Stander and Elyse Schlake Lukassen), along with County Attorney Dave Wilson.
After the plan passes through the executive board, it then goes to the Nebraska Game and Parks and, finally, to the National Park Service for approval.
The issue would not be an election ballot issue.
Another concern of locals is where the ballfields would be built in town. Mayor John Morrison answered this question with “We don’t know.” He said they wouldn’t move the ballfields until they find a spot.
Another area of interest has been who would own the ball fields once the conversion has taken place. Mayor Morrison said he wasn’t clear on that, but probably the city or city/county. Morrison speculated that they plan on hiring a developer to build housing on the 44 acres, and there probably would not be an acreage requirement.
If residents have concerns they are invited to come to the Park and Rec Executive board meetings. There is no set dates for the meetings, but according to the Nebraska Open Meeting Act the date and time of the meetings must be advertised in published legal notices.
Federal funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund were used to build the rec area more than 50 years ago.
Many questions have arisen about this plan, and no doubt more will come up.