On March 13, 2012, the county will hold a special election on the proposed taxpayer funded drag strip. According to Kimball County Clerk and Kimball County Election Commissioner, Cathy Sibal, the county will allow early voting as well as absentee ballots, in addition to opening polling locations on election day.

“I hope that there is a good turn out, as I do for every election,” she said. “I will do everything in my power, as an election official, to encourage people to get out and understand the issues, and vote accordingly. “

Sibal will give notice when the ballots are available for early voting.

There was some discussion at this weeks regular meeting of the county commissioners about holding a public forum for voters interested in hearing more information about the potential benefits and costs of the proposed project, operated by a neutral party.

“We have had forums in the past on this issue and they have gotten testy,” recalled board chairman Dave Bashaw. “We will have representation from law enforcement, and certain rules and guidelines.”

No definite date or time was given for this public forum.

Bashaw declared in the meeting that he would like the public to become familiar with the data and the possibilities before the election. He raised a series of questions pertinent to the informed voter: “How long is it going to take to build it?  How long is it going to be before we get revenue?  Where do we have to buy the land?  Who do we have to employe to operate it? Who is going to set up the board?  Who’s going to be members of the board?”

Although the ballot will ask for a simple yes or no, there are many implications for county residents.

“This is a farm and ranch community, and a lot of the farm and ranch people in this community already pay seventy-five plus percent on taxes,” Bashaw said.

“I have a list of ninety-three counties here, and if the race track goes through, it is important to know  that Kimball County will be the highest county in taxes, in the State of Nebraska,” commissioner Larry Brower added.

“There’s always two sides,” responded Dick Cutshaw, representing the group advocating a publicly-owned track. “The fact of the matter is that the exact profits that go to the County Commissioners, if all scheduled events happen, is $400,000.”

But the commissioners heard a big ‘if’ in that statement.  “A lot of it is speculation,” Bashaw replied.