The Kimball County Commissioners had a morning full of emergency management communication, ongoing building repairs, upcoming additions, distress warrants, and the planning commission at their regular meeting, Tuesday, Sept. 21.

The planning commission appeared before the board to explain, evaluate, and reword the regulations for zoning and subdivision presented to Danny McCrystal, representative of Generation Energy, for the proposed wind farm south of Kimball.

The wording in several areas concerned McCrystal and he brought this to the attention of the committee as well as the commissioners. Four specific changes needed to be made in the document to ease McCrystal’s mind before moving forward with the project. In most cases one word or phrase concerned McCrystal.

Other requested changes included the time lines for approvals and extensions. The “fall zone” is the area in which a tower will collapse in the event of a structural failure. In the regulations set before him, the word ‘guyed’ appeared.

However, windmill towers are not guyed. He asked that the sentence have the phrase “or un-guyed” added to it. McCrystal also asked that the word “eliminate” be changed or struck from the regulations in regard to shadow flicker.

After discussion, it was decided that, while impossible to eliminate all shadow, that particular regulation was to minimize disturbance to area residents. Shadow flicker is measurable and there are time guidelines in place for it at the state level to ensure the least effect possible on citizens.

County Attorney, Dave Wilson suggested that the company provide a shadow flicker study before beginning construction.

Soper further requested that McCrystal provide the study within two weeks for review by the commission.

McCrystal offered an analysis that has already been completed from his office immediately.

“There is not a lot here that can’t be addressed right now,” Chairman Rick Soper said of the requested corrections.

Once the hearing was closed, the planning commission, the commissioners, and McCrystal were able to come to agreements regarding the document and made the necessary changes.

A number a distress warrants on delinquent taxes were struck from record at the meeting as well. According to City Clerk, Cindy Rahmig, these delinquent taxes were on vacant or missing properties, mainly mobile homes. A total of $3596.92 in delinquent taxes were stricken. Striking a delinquent tax does not cancel  the tax. Subsequent collection can be made if the opportunity arises.

Along the same lines, the Kimball County Sheriff made a distress warrant return to the Kimball County Treasurer, Diana Quicke. The total amount collected was $13,815.53 out of $31,508.66 in distress warrants issued. The difference is comprised of $1,239.25 discharged in bankruptcies and $16,454.18 in uncollected warrants. The sheriff also collected an additional $299.25 in interest and fees and partial payments from Sagir, Inc. in the amount of $6,400.00. Those payments were made on a cell tower that is now out-of-use.

Jerry Robbins, Highway Superintendent, reported to the commissioners on the bypass progression as well as County Rd. 45. According to Robbins, he received information on grant monies available for snow removal from Director of Economic Development, JP Komorny.

County buildings are currently being repaired. Sidney Glass is working on the courthouse windows, with an estimated one week completion. Weathercraft and B&C Steel are making other necessary repairs on county buildings as well.

An estimate for the stained glass has not been received. Three bids for the construction of a garage addition to the annex building were received. After some discussion with Mark Brown, owner of Kimball Builder’s Emporium, the board decided to rebid the job. Brown had questions concerning specifics of the building, stating that the answers to those questions would determine the bid amount he presented.

In an effort to be fair to all bidders, the board will ask for new bids with the new specifications. Sheriff Harry Gilway informed the board that the state would like to share use of the county’s north communications tower. The state has offered to offset additional expenses for that use and help the county make updates to the tower as needed. Gilway also spoke of a network available to Kimball County that would link all radio systems, allowing better communication throughout the state. Nebraska Emergency Management Agency  (NEMA) received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to cover the costs associated with updating the emergency communications networks. Soper expressed concern of a fee for use of the system, based on the wording of the document. Gilway responded with an assurance given to him that any fees are covered in the grant from FEMA to NEMA.