High Point Motor Speedway still has a lot of track to cover, this according to County Attorney Dave Wilson.

Wilson joined the Kimball County Commissioners for a short amount of time to inform them that the current inter-local agreement between Kimball County and the City of Kimball cannot be expanded to include the High Point Motor Speedway (HPMS).

According to Wilson, the current Park and Recreation Board inter-local agreement is solely for the recreation area east of town.

In order for HPMS to use the current agreement, it would have to be built on that particular tract of land, which probably does not have the required space for the project.

Among other issues HPMS is up against the county is almost at its levy cap, a constitutional limitation on the amount of taxes that can be levied without authorization, by vote of the taxpayers, to pay above that amount.

People are leaving Kimball due to taxes, Commissioner Larry Brower said. He then added that he was not prepared to make any decisions without the full board present.

After hearing the information Wilson provided, HPMS project manager, Dick Cutshaw suggested a committee be formed to provide more information regarding the potential economic impact the project would be likely to have on Kimball.

Though Brower expressed interest in learning more about the economic impact as well as insurance and other particulars before any decisions could be made, he was against forming any committees to obtain that information prior to deciding if the board wanted to work on the project.

County Highway and Weed Superintendent Jerry Robbins updated the commissioners on road department work and addressed citizen concerns voiced to the commissioners.

Brower, acting in the chair position during chairman Dave Bashaw’s absence, asked Robbins about progress on the 1987 CAT motor grader, which has been in the shop for repairs since January.

Robbins reported the machinery was in Omaha last week awaiting a paint job, and the hold-up was due to a paint room needing repairs. He added the equipment is expected back in Kimball some time next week.

Concerned citizens had called the commissioners inquiring about the water used on the roads and its safety. Robbins acknowledged the calls made about Z&S Construction watering county roads and assured the board the State of Nebraska had given approval to the county for the use of excess production water on dry roads.

Following up on another concern voiced to Engstrom, Robbins suggests county surveyor Don Brush perform a survey on the area in question.

The call is regarding a potentially unsafe corner at the intersection of county roads 59 and 46, in the Dix area. The southeast corner of that intersection has strong steel pipe placed around it, which could be dangerous in the event of an accident.

The survey would tell the board if those steel pipes are on privately owned property or if they were placed on county property, Robbins stated.

Gearing up for a busy season, Robbins says he would like to hire another employee soon to drive the gravel truck. The wages for the additional employee have already been budgeted for the year, and gone unused.

Due to the fact that to date no one has been hired, an excess amount of about $11,000 is in the budget, which Robbins suggested be used to pay for the unexpected expenses on the 1987 CAT motor grader.

Those expenses came about when the electrical work was found to be more than originally planned for, requiring more labor hours on the equipment, according to Robbins.

In other board proceedings, John Blake, the community liaison for U.S. Congressman Adrian Smith, spoke with the board about, among other things, the 1099 mandate within the health care law.

The provision creates additional paperwork for small businesses, farms and ranches by requiring a 1099 be filled out for each vendor or contractor from which more than $600 in goods or services are purchased. According to Blake, Smith is working to repeal that provision along with others in Congress and the House of Representatives.

Blake answered the boards questions concerning the sale of real estate as connected to the health care bill as well. There will be an additional capitol gains tax on any sale over the amount of $200,000, according to Blake.

Summing up his concerns about the health care laws, commissioner Engstrom said, “Too many people are in the predicament- you either eat or pay for health care.”