Steps are being taken to follow up on the High Point Motor Speedway through the city council, Mayor James Schnell said, at the regular meeting on Wednesday, March 2.

Schnell advised the board that the county commissioners are looking into the current interlocal agreement between the City of Kimball and Kimball County and have asked county attorney Dave Wilson to review legalities concerning an extension versus instituting a new agreement.

He suggested the council also direct city attorney Kent Hadenfeldt to do the same thing, and to work in conjunction with Wilson on the matter.

Council members Scott Haun and Kim Christensen are expecting Dave Schaff of MC Schaff, an engineering firm out of Scottsbluff, to come to Kimball and do a walk through of the premises as well.

This meeting will give council a better idea of costs. Schnell stated that he had hoped to set the meeting up for Thursday, March 3 but instead it will be the following day.

He said the council has been researching the matter since the joint meeting one week prior. The council asked other city’s representatives during the annual League of NE Municipalities meeting in Lincoln the last week as well, according to council member Kim Baliman.

“They were all very agreeable and positive about it,” Baliman said.

Haun agreed, saying, “Dave Schaff was pumped up about it. I want you all to know we’re taking this seriously.”

“We are trying to get all the information together, it’s just not been available in the last seven days,” Schnell said.

City Administrator Harold Farrar reminded the attending public that municipalities had to operate differently than private entities, and that they are trying to make sure all matters have been thought of and looked at.

Baliman also said that the council is hearing from the opposition as well. Though the joint meeting was well attended, it was made up largely of supporters for the project.

“I had a couple of people bring up and question how much it would cost to check viability with a third party,” council member Ann Warner said, “Another questioned a 50/50 split. They thought it would be better to do it per capita or making sure that if county residents pay more in taxes, the county should get a larger split.”

The council directed Hadenfeldt to review the current interlocal agreement and work jointly with Wilson on the review.

Another discussion was held with the State as well, this one concerning the stop light at the intersection of U.S. Highways 30 and 71.

The State of Nebraska Department of Roads spoke with city electrical superintendent Bill Hinton. The state is willing to enter into an agreement to share the cost of a new controller and cabinet.

The agreement will cut the cost of repairs significantly from the estimates previously received on those items. This agreement will do nothing for the heads or pedestrian signals.

Other options include a blinking four-way stop or losing a signal altogether due to reduced traffic at that intersection.

“This is good news,” Baliman said of the cost sharing.

Haun questioned whether the new controller would allow the dispatcher to interrupt the signal for emergency vehicles, to which Hinton replied that originally that was the product of Action Communications and he was sure that something could be managed.

After discussion, the council voted in favor of the agreement, which places  the city’s share around $4000.

Council read the second reading of Ordinance 670, requiring contractors to register with the city before doing work in Kimball.

Haun moved to waive the third reading since no one has offered any comments against the ordinance and it is the first step towards enforcing codes for the city.

“Personally, I think you ought to wait until after the contractor meeting on March 7, so they all have a chance to be there,” Jim Merryfield said after a motion was made to vote immediately and waive the third reading.

Council members disagreed, stating that no one had stepped forward with issues against the ordinance after the first two readings. Council members also said ample opportunity to speak was given during the council meetings, but no one had complained.

With a motion on the floor the council was compelled to vote on the matter and the ordinance was passed without the third reading.

The meeting on March 7 will be for anyone who wishes to attend. It will cover the next steps in code enforcement, according to Schnell. Including input from the attending contractors, electricians and plumbers.