COUNTY COMMISSIONER

Larry Brower

1. What is the biggest challenge that faces the office for which you are running?

Yearly the Board of Commissioners has hearings to approve the budgets of each elected official and their department. Cost of health insurance increases each year. Tax protests. Replacing equipment. Building maintenance.

2. How do you propose to rise to it?

We spend several days making sure that tax revenues will meet each one of the budgets. We also have many hearings to consider tax protests and go out to look at those properties to make a decision.

3. What program(s) do you propose to add, cut or change?

We have studied the insurance programs and we have found ways to save money by increasing deductibles. I have done an extensive study of gas prices and represent the county for gas choice.

4. How are you prepared for your area of responsibility?

By attending all board meetings and conferences for training. I represent Kimball County at the Panhandle Mental Health, Panhandle Public Health and Kimball County Manor. I have a background in law enforcement and I am a business owner.

5. At what sorts of events and affairs within the Kimball community are you ready and willing to represent and promote the needs of your constituents?

Manor, hospital, recreational area, schools, churches and Chamber of Commerce including Farmer’s Day.

 

 

Greg Robinson, County Commissioner

1. What is the biggest challenge that faces the office for which you are running?

I still believe the biggest challenge facing the area is to get people to move here. That will stimulate the economy, it creates new business, and broadens the tax base. We all need to work together to entice growth.

2. How do you propose to rise to it?

I think the county needs to become more involved in economic development right now with Forward Kimball Industries and the Community Development Agency. The county needs to participate more in the philosophical realm of development. It is important that we become more involved financially in the long run as well. We need to question what kinds of businesses we want to attract, and what would make them choose Kimball.

3. What program(s) do you propose to add, cut or change?

I don’t know that I would propose to cut or change anything. Those departments are largely statutorily defined. You can certainly have some input. I would like to know how they work and know they are providing the benefit they are supposed to, and if not is there a way to improve. I would spend time learning more to determine that.

4. How are you prepared for your area of responsibility?

I have had a lot of government experience. I was on the city council for 12 years and was mayor for eight. I am learning the vast differences between the city and county. I have been attending the commissioners meetings to introduce myself to the issues at present.

5. At what sorts of events and affairs within the Kimball community are you ready and willing to represent and promote the needs of your constituents?

I have always been a big believer of participating in community events. I feel as a business person, an elected official, and a community leader, it is important. I am willing to go to any events and I try to go to most to represent our business and county. This has been a long-time family philosophy.

 

 

Larry Engstrom

1. What is the biggest challenge that faces the office for which you are running?

Funding the needs of the county.

2. How do you propose to rise to it?

Because the budget is already done, the new commissioners aren’t able to change that.

I hope that it works right, and will pre-plan for next year.

3. What program(s) do you propose to add, cut or change?

I have no plans to do any of that yet. I need to see what is and is not working and then decide.

4. How are you prepared for your area of responsibility?

I plan to use listening skills, whether it’s with the Board of Education or anything else, to be able to understand, explain, and correct.

5. At what sorts of events and affairs within the Kimball community are you ready and willing to represent and promote the needs of your constituents?

Definitely at the events like county fair and Farmer’s Day, also anything involving economic development.

 

MAYOR

James Schnell

1. What is the biggest challenge that faces the office for which you are running?

The biggest problem facing Kimball has turned around. That being economic development and housing. The challenge now is to not rest. We have to keep moving.

2. How do you propose to rise to it?

We can’t rest on our laurels. We have the rail spur coming in and now we need to stay after companies that we can put on it.

3. What program(s) do you propose to add, cut or change?

I would like to institute a Code of Conduct for anyone who takes a check from the city. This includes employees, mayor and city council. We also need to have guidelines to adhere to regarding social media. Social media including things like Facebook, You tube and the like. As to cutting, I think the council has done a great job on the budget. We keep things in tight reigns there.

 

4. How are you prepared for your area of responsibility?

I have experience as a councilmember and have been mayor over the last year. I have attended various meetings and the League of Municipalities conferece. With the experience I have gained from the development with the rail spur project I have a better idea of what future projects could involve.

 

5. At what sorts of events and affairs within the Kimball community are you ready and willing to represent and promote the needs of your constituents?

All that I am physically able to and that my private life would allow.



 



in tight reigns there.

4. How are you prepared for your area of responsibility?

I have experience as a council member and have been mayor over the last year. I have attended various meetings and the League of Municipalities conference. With the experience I have gained from the development with the rail spur project I have a better idea of what future projects could involve.

5. At what sorts of events and affairs within the Kimball community are you ready and willing to represent and promote the needs of your constituents?

All that I am physically able to and that my private life would allow.



School Board

Danielle Reader

1. What is the biggest challenge that faces the office for which you are running?

Lack of funds. We have lost a significant amount of state aid and will be facing more. We need to keep these reductions as far away from the classrooms as possible.

2. How do you propose to rise to it?

We have begun community wide advisory boards and will be meeting with all sectors of consumers. We want information from them on things they don’t want to see cut and still maintain a quality education.

3. What program(s) do you propose to add, cut or change?

Currently we are working on raising our reading scores. We have a new reading program that we are looking at to improve those. We have a part time curriculum assessment coordinator who will be looking at test scores with teachers to find ways to improve them.

4. How are you prepared for your area of responsibility?

I have served on the school board for 12 years and have served as the president for the past few. I attend conferences when it is financially responsible to do so including NRSCA and NASB. I have reached a level 5 certification, I am very diligent about continuing education.

5. At what sorts of events and affairs within the Kimball community are you ready and willing to represent and promote the needs of your constituents?

I attend conferences and advisory boards. We have recently started a Board Breakfast which gives people and students a chance to come and talk to us about their concerns. I serve on the Hospital Foundation board too. I am willing to be at activities where we need to represent the school.





Steve Diemoz

1. What is the biggest challenge that faces the office for which you are running?

Taxes. State aid is killing us. We are supposed to be getting $2.2 million and are only getting $600 thousand. This keeps putting the burden on the local tax payer to make up that deficit.

2. How do you propose to rise to it?

There is not much we can do about it because there is more state senators representing fewer counties that determine where the money goes. We are getting the short end of the stick.

3. What program(s) do you propose to add, cut or change?

The only thing I would like to see back, if money is available, is a full time P.E. teacher and a vo-ag/automotive program./ I hated seeing that get cut.

4. How are you prepared for your area of responsibility?

I have served 6 years on the school board and have attended all kinds of conferences. You learn a lot at these conferences, including how much better off we are in Kimball. We have a good school system here.

This board has received the Outstanding Board award for 3 years now.

5. At what sorts of events and affairs within the Kimball community are you ready and willing to represent and promote the needs of your constituents?

I try to attend as much as I can in the schools and in the community. I am here for the kids. I am not afraid to vote No.





Theresa Keller

1. What is the biggest challenge that faces the office for which you are running?

The biggest challenge is dealing with a lower budget while keeping the best teachers, education and facilities possible.

2. How do you propose to rise to it?

Right now we need to see what state aid comes in. We need to look at all options to see what we can do to provide the best education possible to our students.

3. What program(s) do you propose to add, cut or change?

Nothing right now. There is a new reading program that has been implemented. Right now we need to support it.

4. How are you prepared for your area of responsibility?

I have attended school board meetings and have talked to past and present school board members to see what to expect.

5. At what sorts of events and affairs within the Kimball community are you ready and willing to represent and promote the needs of your constituents?

I attend most school events with my kids. I attend things pretty regularly.





Diane Wallace

1. What is the biggest challenge that faces the office for which you are running?

At this point it’s the lack of financial support from the state.

2. How do you propose to rise to it?

If the legislature follows through with further cuts we will have to adjust the budget.

3. What program(s) do you propose to add, cut or change?

Right now, I’m not proposing any cuts or changes. The superintendent is forming an advisory committee that represents the stake-holders, staff, administration, and students. We will follow their guidelines as much as possible.

4. How are you prepared for your area of responsibility?

I have served four years on the board and have attended state conferences and other workshops. I was previously and am also currently involved in education.

5. At what sorts of events and affairs within the Kimball community are you ready and willing to represent and promote the needs of your constituents?

I do try to attend at least one event for each extra curricular activity and will go to any event that any committee or organization  wants me to attend.



Rick Perry

1. What is the biggest challenge that faces the office for which you are running?

Naturally, quality education for students is the number one concern. You can feather that down a bit to what are the things challenging that, which is money. The tax payer, with real estate taxes, has always carried the brunt of it. In the past five years, we have seen a decrease in state funding from around two million to less than $600,000, and we could even lose most or all of that. It all falls back to local tax levees. How do we provide quality education when the funding keeps getting cut and the demands remain the same?

2. How do you propose to rise to it?

I am one of six, you do this collectively, as a board, good financial planning and budgeting with the superintendent. Combining programs, providing essentials, offering extras, but trimming the fat as they say. The board looks at the entire picture and makes decisions as to what may or may not save money, like increasing elementary class sizes to decrease the number of classes, and off-setting the costs of extra-curricular activities by having students or families cover some of the costs, that kind of thing.

Other places that may save, a big chunk is spent on staff, we need to decide what to offer, and what not to offer, with input from staff. I can bring up good ideas, but the decisions are made as a whole.

3. What program(s) do you propose to add, cut or change?

As an individual, I don’t plan to add, cut, or change anything. Collectively, decisions are made as a board. I don’t know that adding or cutting programs will happen unless it doesn’t offer a lot, like the auto mechanics class was having decreased benefits due to the expensive equipment necessary to stay up to date. So changes may be made, in that way. The ag program may essentially use bits and pieces of the auto program for something like small engine repair, those are the types of changes I would propose, if it works in the system, trying to reorganize and combine. One thing, even though it can cost, is distance learning for students to take that the district can’t offer. Those are things that I propose to further education with less financial support. Also, increasing the size of elementary classes to decrease the number of classes needed and the need for additional staff. We, the board, don’t cut staffing to save as a whole, we do that through natural attrition, like retirement and teachers moving, that needs to be done in a way that doesn’t effect lives and livelihoods here.

4. How are you prepared for your area of responsibility?

Combination of the number of years of experience and the desire to continue to learn and further my education as a board member. Attending state and district conferences so we can make effective changes with the feedback from the administration.

You have to be open and listen to the public, everything needs to be listened to, evaluated, and used if possible.

5. At what sorts of events and affairs within the Kimball community are you ready and willing to represent and promote the needs of your constituents?

Attendance at public forums to present information to the public about the district, financial needs, etc. Just being out in the public, you need to be receptive to concerns and discuss with the public what needs to take place. Make connections at different functions and meetings like the Lion’s club, in cooperation with the superintendent to represent the school district. A lot comes through communication with the superintendent and ideas and concerns are brought to the board where decisions are made. Much is done behind the scenes addressing questions and hearing ideas from the public.