The Board of Commissioners approved a contract calling for $131,000 in county funding for next year’s ambulance service at their June 16 meeting. One major contract change calls for a quarterly financial accounting of county funding as it relates to items mentioned in the contract such as insurance, licensing and training.There were several other rather minor changes made to the contract as presented by Jim O’Brien, operator of the ambulance service.O’Brien presented a year-end review of fiscal 2008-2009 operations. The report showed that receipts equalled 68 percent of billing for the year ending 2009, compared to 57 percent for the previous year. Number of calls and revenue per call are also up. The county has received $179,534 for ambulance services for the year ending April 30, 2009.The revised contract was approved with Commissioners Bashaw and Soper voting yes and Brower voting no.Jim Collins, Region 21 Emergency Management Coordinator, was scheduled to appear at the meeting but he was not able to attend.The dicussion centered around Kimball County not having a Deputy Director for emergency situations, like last week’s severe weather. Mike Schadegg has performed the duties for the last 30 years but was unexpectedly released from the job by Collins. Training issues were cited as the reason for the release.After hearing discussion on the matter, the commissioners directed a letter be sent to Region 21, telling of the county’s problem with communications to and from Region 21, and asking that Schadegg be reinstated until either he complete the required training or a trained person be placed in the position.The resignation of Highway/Weed Superintendent Terry Flick was accepted with regret. Flick said the recent amount of regulation and certification required by various regulatory bodies had a strong bearing on his resignation. He will make his services available to the county on an as-needed basis until the position is again staffed. His resignation will be effective July 31.In other highway/weed items, Flick brought in two bids for concrete work connected with the county’s fuel storage tank. One bid was in the range of $18,000 and the other close to $30,000. The $18,000 bid was chosen.Flick said the recent rains have damaged many county roads and, at the same time, prevented road repair work using heavy equipment. He estimates it will take three weeks to get the roads back into shape, provided there is no rain in the meantime.Chairman Soper said, “Wheat harvest will start about July 10 and the roads will be used, ready or not.”The commissioners told Flick to use overtime hours if needed. They also instructed him to provide a map, showing principal maintenance roads, to be put on the County’s web site for public access. The principal maintenance roads are a combination of mail and school bus routes plus missile roads.A contract for wildlife control was renewed at a cost of about $5,700. Matt Anderson, a USDA wildlife specialist, provides the service to Kimball County and several other counties.During part the past year, Anderson has responded to about 85 situations and exterminated three racoons, four skunks and 31 coyotes.His services are available to rural Kimball County. Phone 605-695-7553.The commissioners heard that all property must be removed from a tract near Exit 20 must be moved soon. This includes the KIMBALL oil derrick which the commissioners think belongs to the Chamber of Commerce.Soper reported for Park and Rec Board that May has been a good month of golf income at Four Winds. He also said that turning on the lights for baseball is costly and that Park and Rec asked for daylight scheduling whenever possible.During the meeting opening Board of Equalization session, a tax exemption for the parsonage of the Oak Street Baptist Church was approved. It was noted by Assessor Alice Ryschon that there is a For Sale sign up at the church building itself.Ryschon said Evaluation Notices have been mailed and there have been seven requests for protest forms. No appointments for protests have been requested to date.The dates of July 7 (1 to 3 p.m.) and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 13 and 14 were then scheduled for protest hearings. The consulting firm retained for oil/gas valuations will be on hand at the July 13 session.Citizens desiring to protest valuations are urged to file a protest and attend the earliest possible session. The sessions are open to the public.Ryschon said informational letters have been sent out along with ag land valuation notices and some feedback has been received. The letter gives a web site where a map of the property in question can be viewed.Several tax corrections were made. Four of them involved a misplaced property line that affected four tracts of land.The next meeting of Boards of Equalization and the Commissioners will held on July 7.