Harold Farrar Appointed To Park & Rec Executive Committee

Interviews were held for the open position on the Park and Recreation Executive Committee at the Kimball County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday morning. Individuals interested in the position were Maggie Laughlin, Gabe Miller and Harold Farrar. All three individuals had completed an application.

Maggie Laughlin was interviewed via phone, while Miller and Farrar had an in person interview in open session.

After the interviews, Chairman of the Board Rich Flores made a motion for Farrar to fill the position, and it was seconded by Carl Stander.

Both the road department and building and grounds department updated the board on happenings in their departments.

Buildings and ground personnel continue to maintain the old Kimball hospital facility, checking the heat, water system and boiler on a daily basis. The vacancy and winter weather cause concern for upkeep on the large, older building.

Repairs were reviewed on the lift at the annex building. The lift doors were damaged and require repair, as does the emergency lighting system for the lift. The estimate for the repairs is slightly more than $8,000.

The road department continues blading and mowing. Two road graders are out for repairs ranging from transmission issues to oil pan issues.

The board tabled any action concerning an upgrade to the county’s telephone system. Bids will be opened after the IT committee has met with recommendations.

The board approved a resolution to transfer $50,000 from the Inheritance Fund to the General Fund to cover the submitted claims. The transfer of money was an approved budgeted item, and the Inheritance Fund will not reclaim the transfer.

Kimball County resident Irene Mader met with the commissioners to discuss her disapproval of landfill bills. Mader lives four miles outside of Kimball and is required to pay a county landfill fee. She also has Packrat pick up her dumpster, and he charges a fee for pickup and, she thought, for dumping.

She feels that she is being double-taxed for the landfill, which she doesn’t even know where it is located.

After a lengthy discussion with Mader and the commissioners, it was explained that the county, by state statute, is required to charge residents a landfill fee. As she left, she still felt she was paying a double fee for landfill use but was appreciative of the information.

The next commissioners meeting is 9 a.m. Dec. 3.