The Kimball County Board of Commissioners voted to terminate the County’s membership in Region 21 of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, at the regular meeting on Tuesday July 7.The commissioners concluded the county is receiving no services for the near $17,500 cost of membership in Region 21 of NEMA. They noted a lack of communication between Kimball County and the Region 21 Director. Repeated phone calls and letters have brought no response. Commissioner Brower was instructed to inform Region 21 of Kimball County’s action at the next Region 21 meeting.Among other events, Region 21 Director Jim Collins abruptly terminated Kimball County Emergency Coordinator Mike Schadegg for not attending a meeting that was called off for lack of a quorum. Schadegg also lacks completing some training courses.The commissioners appointed Sheriff Harry Gillway to act as Interim Coordinator until the position can filled. Gillway has completed the appropriate training. The commissioners instructed him to call on Sam Gingrich as needed. Gingrich has completed most of the training.The Emergency Coordinator has Severe Weather Awareness duties as well as radiological transport, disaster and hazard mitigation responsibilities.NEMA is headed up by Major General Timothy J. Kadavy, Commander of the Army and Air National Guards.The commissioners decided to seek a full-time Highway/Weed Superintendent to replace Terry Flick, who has resigned effective the end of July.Flick spoke of being available on a part time basis until a replacement is in place. Commissioner Soper said, “Bring in a proposal that we can make into a motion and get two commissioners to agree on.”Cris Burks, the Inspection Specialist for the state Noxious Weed Program, told the group of spotting 20 noxious weed violations during a two hour inspection drive in Kimball County. Flick replied that rain had kept his crews busy repairing roads and not spraying weeds, He has sent out 17 warning letters that instruct land owners to take care of the problem.Burks recommended the county hire and train a full-time weed control person.This did not sit well with the commissioners.The commissioners heard Jim O’Brien’s proposal for county purchase of a used ambulance to replace a 13 year old ambulance now in use by KL and CD Corp.The proposed purchase has 37,000 miles of use and the purchase price given as $47,000. Expense money of $400 was authorized for a go-see-it trip and authority to purchase at a price no more than $47,000 was granted.The commissioners approved Max Williams request to build a mulch pathway through Arboretum grounds . The project would fulfill some requirements for Eagle Scout rating for Williams.Linda Williams, County Communications Director, was instructed to use the Reverse 911 system to alert the public about severe weather warnings at any time of day or night. Calls are to be made for severe weather warnings only. There will be no warning calls made on severe weather watches.The commissioners heard comment from Vickie Lawson, Director of Youth Services for Community Partnership of Western Nebraska. Lawson requested budget support for the programs under her direction.During the course of the meeting, Soper reported that county agencies are currently spending about $1.3 million per year on health insurance. The insured group includes County, Kimball County Manor and Kimball Health Service employees.Soper said, “Health insurance is rapidly approaching 20 percent of the total county budget.”There was general agreement that a new solution needs to be found.Timelines for budget processing were approved, along with other routine items of county business.County Assessor Alice Ryschon reported that 21 tax valuation protests have been received and a schedule to hear the protests was approved.Next meeting of the Boards of Equalization and Commissioners will be during the morning of July 21.