What level of courtroom security can Kimball County provide?

That was a topic of considerable discussion at the Board of Commissioners meeting on April 6.

Both county and district court are occasionally in session at the same time. The courtrooms are on different floors in the courthouse. Prisoners often have to be escorted from the third floor jail to the two courtrooms. Security inside the courtrooms has been requested. Wanding of visitors to the courtrooms is sometimes required.

The commissioners, sheriff and magistrate discussed what methods might be utilized.

Board of Commissioners Chairman Rick Soper said the county could afford to secure one courtroom a day but not two. He said no county agency had the budget to pay for such security and associated equipment.

Soper said the need for security in exceptional situations is easy to understand. The need for it on a day to day basis are hard to understand.

He said that if (added) security had to be provided for both courtrooms at the same time, someone would lose their job (to free up money to pay for the added security.)

Soper said he would be glad to approve a security plan that solves the problem at a cost the county can afford.

Commissioner Brower was designated to represent the commissioners as part of a group to study the matter and make recommendations. Brower is a former state trooper and has responsibilities for county buildings and grounds.

The prospect of county and city sharing a zone administrator was raised by City Administrator Harold Fararr, who was sitting in on the meeting. The commissioners expressed interest in such a situation and scheduled discussion on the topic for next meeting.

Jim Christensen requested the help of the county road department in a project to seed grounds around the old high school building with buffalo grass. The Plains Historical Society owns the building and grounds. The building is used as a museum of historical artifacts.

Permission for county participation in the project was granted, road department priorities permitting.

Highway/Weed Superintendent Robbins said the staff has been dealing with winter road damage and is doing considerable dirt hauling to fill soft spots in the northwest part of the county.

Robbins agreed to Soper’s request that Robbins and his three area foremen serve as spotters for the Local Emergency Planning Committee.

Soper reported on a meaningful meeting between the governor and the governor’s party and city/ county officials in the course of the governor’s Kimball visit of Mar. 26.

Soper also reported on a meeting between himself, Mayor James Schnell and Dick Cutshaw. Cutshaw is Project Manager for High Point Motor Speedway.

This meeting centered on HPMS desire for city/county to become involved in the financing of the speedway.

Soper said he did not have authority to commit the Board of Commissioners to such a matter.

In other matters, the commissioners set a date of Apr. 20 at 10 a.m. for a liquor license hearing for Mulligan Steakhouse.

The Board of Equalization, meeting earlier in the morning, set a morning date of Apr. 20 for a hearing on a tax exemption request for a First Baptist Church van.