Arne Christensen, baker, bakery building owner and former bakery owner, took City Council to task for the dirty appearance of downtown at the Council’s Feb. 25 meeting.

Christensen’s appearance  was a late addition to the Council meeting agenda. He requested permission to discuss upkeep and maintenance of the downtown business district, especially since the Jan. 2 fire which destroyed the adjoining Corner Bar building.

Christensen said his insurance would pay for some of the cost of repairing and restoring the appearance of the wall that had been common between the Corner Bar and the bakery. Christensen owns the bakery structure.

He said some damage to the bakery was caused by the toppling of the common wall parapet that extended above the bakery. The combination of toppled building stones and firemen on the bakery roof caused damage.

City Administrator Harold Fararr said he did not think the city had any insurance that would contribute to the situation. He would check.

Christensen said he had gotten the bakery repaired, up and running in six weeks following the Corner Bar fire. He said that the city had not cleaned the street or repaired sidewalk damage resulting from fighting the fire and cleaning away the rubble during that same period of time.

Christensen said, “My property around town is well maintained and I want to keep it that way.”

He said the sidewalk outside the bakery is not presentable. He is disappointed that the city has not fixed the sidewalk while the time the bakery was being repaired.

Mayor James Schnell said wet conditions prevented refill of the Corner Bar basement crater and delayed sidewalk repair or replacement. He said that when the weather cleared, the men and machines of Z & S Construction were tied up in other work.

Council member Kim Christensen asked, “What is the time frame (to repair sidewalk?)”

Arne Christensen said, “There have been lots of nice days since Jan. 2.”

He said, “A lot of dirt comes out of the corner location. Cheyenne and Pine Bluffs have clean streets. Why does Kimball have dirty streets?”

Christensen went on to say, “The flower planters look awful - dead weeds in dirty containers. The (antique) light posts are no longer an honor to those commemorated on their nameplates. The underpass looks terrible, sidewalk cracked, broken posts are leaning.”

He said the city needs to take care of city property.

Schnell replied that there have been no takers on (matching) city funds for business upgrades.

The discussion went on.

Christensen concluded by saying that, “I am seeking no personal gain. I am looking for a return of pride (in the appearance of  the community.)”

Council then considered Resolution 2010-03, a ballot question to amend the Economic Development plan for the rail spur project and committee structure. The question reads, “Shall the city of Kimball, nebraska, amend its Economic Development Program described here by appropriating annually from local sources of revenue an estimated $400,000 in fiscal years 2010-2011 through 2030-2031 or such greater amount up to .4 percent of taxable valuation of the city as may be be generated from the sales tax previously approved for such Economic development Program and from City property taxes, making present annual cost of such economic development program $40.00 per ten thousand dollars of assessed valuation?”

The ballot issue also involves combining two committees which oversee LB 840 money into one committee of five to nine members.

Citizen Don Sharp raised the point that the new committee membership was specified as  containing six members from the professional community. The common property owners would not be represented, even though property tax on residences would pay 65 percent of the city cost of the project.

Council amended the ballot proposal language to include representation from the public at large and passed the resolution.

In other actions, Council approved a sign permit for Kim Adrian’s ANU Day Spa & Salon. A Keno grant for a Kimball Girls Scout trip to Denver was approved.

A Keno grant requested by the City to purchase 10 automatic external defibrillators was also approved. Citizen James Merryfield raised questions about continuing maintenance and contact pad replacement policy and costs of the defibrillators.

Fararr gave assurance that it would be provided.

A financial statement reflecting fiscal year 2008-2009 was presented by Contryman Associates, P.C. and approved by council.

Council agreed to discuss the underpass and other downtown conditions at an upcoming meeting.

Economic Development Director J. P. Komorny reminded council of the rail spur presentation at the Event Center at 5 p.m. on March 2.

Next council meeting will be March 3.