Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

City, Hometown Hardware Settle

Council Decides To Place New Playground Fixtures In City Park, Not Gotte Park

At the Kimball City Council meeting on Wednesday, May 15, the City of Kimball announced a settlement with Hometown Hardware, Inc., regarding an incident involving a waterline break that occurred July 12, 2021.

As a result of the incident, Hometown Hardware claimed property damage. The city’s insurance company settled in the amount of $210,000 through mediation. State law requires notice to the general public of any municipal settlement. No council action was required.

In a variety of action items for the council, the new playground equipment originally purchased for Gotte Park will now be installed at City Park. While Gotte Park has been updated several times, City Park has not had an equipment update for some time. The new equipment will provide a facelift to City Park that some say is much needed.

Other matters that required action involved liquor licenses. The council voted on one new and one renewal license. The outcome of the votes were a 3-1 approval, with Don Muench being the dissenting vote on both. The licenses are for Legacy Coop DBS as Main Street Market and TT’s Pub and Grub, now preparing to open on 2nd Street.

Continuing with action items, the Bushnell Fire Department applied for and received $2,000 in Keno money. Bushnell Fire Hall is remodeling the meeting room and kitchen. The $25,000 project will include new ceiling tiles, painting, new flooring, new countertops, and new plumbing for the sinks. Freezers and refrigerators will complete the update. The Bushnell Fire Hall is a community shelter equipped with a propane generator.

City street projects that will be completed this summer are the 7th and Vista Drive intersection, 6th Street pavement repair (near Chestnut), and Evergreen Pavement Repairs (near 8th Street). The Washington Street pavement repair is up in the air due to the total project cost being $50,000 over budget. The chip seal project, which includes parts of High School, Marion and Cedar Streets, remains on the list of improvements.

The council reviewed final plans for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Rehabilitation Plans and Specifications. The plans were approved with the next step in the process to be submission to Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, and the bidding process will begin.

It is anticipated that construction work will be done next summer. While the wastewater treatment plant is shut down for repairs, the city will use a lagoon system.