$62,500 Repair Job For Grader

The Kimball County Board of Commissioners met May 22 with appointed heads of department Randy Bymer, highway superintendent; Matthew Meyers Veterans Service officer; Monica Todorov, interim building and grounds superintendent; and Christy Warner, administrator of KCTS; along with elected official Sheriff Dave Hottell.

Bymer explained that while he was on vacation, an unfortunate incident occurred at the county shop. An inexperienced individual was servicing the 2018 CAT 120M long block when due to miscommunication he put all the oil into the transmission and the engine compartment was filled with no oil. The road grader was started up and ran for 80 seconds – and the damage was done. The servicing error was an expensive one, as the engine on the 2018 CAT had to be replaced, costing $62,500.

Bymer’s report addressed other road department business, including the pricing to stripe 2.3 miles of North County Road 41 to the bypass that would cost $1,300 a mile. The striping has not been scheduled and no vote was taken. 

In addition, Bynder said an overhead door in the Dix shop was repaired for $8,235.

Bymer also discussed with the commissioners options to purchase a new motor grader using the Murphy Tractor Co. state bid or to refurbish a used motor grader. More discussion will follow, but it was confirmed that the county is still paying on two graders. The new price for a grader is $390,391, and refurbishing a grader is around $200,000.

With the continued business, Matthew Meyer, Veterans Service officer, discussed pay options and a possible town hall meeting with veterans. No decisions were made.

An appointment to fill the vacancy for the Park and Rec Operating board was approved. Four individuals – Klent Schnell, Mike Schedegg, Jenna Miller and Mike Kelley – submitted their names for consideration for the position. The board voted to seat Jenna Miller on the board.

At the request of the commissioners, KCTS administrator Christy Warner has developed bylaws for an advisory board for the transit service. An application for individuals interested in the Kimball Transit Advisory Board was approved.

The board also reaffirmed the purchase replacement of three wheelchair vans for KCTS, which were purchased in January 2021 but have just become available. The county’s purchase price is 10% of the total price of the vans.

Sheriff Dave Hottell reported that his office is waiting for the state patrol to release fingerprint machines, and he suggested that a camera be installed in the server room to maintain the integrity of the server.

In other business, the commissioners decided in a 2-1 vote, with Carl Stander voting nay, to explore possible options for purchasing the Windbreak restaurant. Am agenda items stated the entry into a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Kimball and Kimball County to purchase the Windbreak property, but the commissioners will explore options at this time.

Meanwhile, the year-long human resources contract with Zelle was terminated by a letter from legal counsel Matt Turman, and the county approved Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance rates, which will 8.7% effective July 1, 2024.

The next regular commissioners meeting is scheduled for June 4.