The Board of Commissioners discussed the need for quicker notification of impending severe weather conditions, particularly when hail storms were possible.

There were only a few minutes to notify the public by reverse 911 from the issuance of a Hazardous Weather Outlook on May 24 at 10:57 a.m. by the National Weather Service Cheyenne, Wyoming and the onslaught of the hail storm in Kimball.

Once the hail started, the county communications system was flooded with phone calls. With many phone users making cell phone calls at the start of the storm, the communication towers may have been overloaded and could not function quickly.

Agreement was reached to send storm watch messages as well as storm warning messages out over Reverse 911 so residents would have as much time as possible to take action.

Highway Superintendent Robbins reported that dirt work will resume on the Kimball Bypass on June 14 and will be carried through to completion. More dirt  work, particularly on approaches, remains to be done and then time for earth compaction will be allowed. Concrete work will follow on a schedule yet to be announced.

Dave Hottell will be promoted to Assistant Superintendent in the County Highway Department. Hottell has completed necessary course work and has much on the job experience.

Robbins reported skylight and window damage at the Highway Department shop in Kimball. One county truck had glass breakage.

Repair of glass breakage caused by the hail storm is an important issue. An application for window replacement at the courthouse had been made before the storm but the issuing agency has not yet approved the grant.

Leakage in the courthouse drain system has been located and work to expose the pipe and replace it could begin next week.

Chairman Soper asked for a cost estimate before any work is started.

Soper signed documents transferring ownership of the fair grounds from the county to the Ag Society. The documents contain language that would cause the Arboretum’s right to activity on part of the grounds to revert to the Ag Society if the Arboretum group did not perform. The fair grounds themselves would revert back to the county if the Ag Society did fulfill its responsibilities.

Bob Mueller’s claim that he was not responsible to pay a landfill rate increase that took place after he had prepaid for a year of service at a specified rate was upheld by the commissioners.

With the County Planning Commission setting a June 16 7:15 p.m. public hearing for Zoning and Subdivision Regulations, discussion on how regulations should be administered took place. The possibility of sharing an administrator with the city or with an adjoining county, using the assessor’s or highway department and employing a part-time contractor for to do the work were all discussed. No decision was reached.

The needed for an ambulance board and the duties that would fall to such a board were discussed.

Soper said he thought such a board should deal with policy, procedures and compliance.

Soper went on to say that he thought a resolution stating what an Ambulance board is to do was necessary. It would be a buffer between the  ambulance service and the commissioners.

Commissioners Bashaw and Brower think the commissioners should handle the contract negotiations.

Soper said he would ask if Kimball Health Services could oversee the ambulance service while not incorporating Ambulance Service costs into the Health Service cost stream.

With Ambulance Service contractor James O’Brien out on an ambulance run, no decisions were reached on the matter.

Next Board of Equalization and Board of Commissioners meetings will be held on June 15, commencing at *:30 a.m.