2007 brings Kimball a new mayor, new council, new police chief

The Kimball city council met Tuesday, Jan. 2, with a new mayor (Tammy Konz) and two new council members (Eric Loewen and Joe Krippner). All had been sworn into office in advance of the meeting. The council accepted the resignation of Todd Rohloff as chief of police in Kimball. Rohloff has accepted a full-time position in Glencoe; Jan. 31 will be his last day as full-time chief in Kimball. The council will offer him a part-time officer job in Kimball as of Feb. 1. Kimball’s police dog, Viper, will go with Rohloff to Glencoe; at 6 years old, Viper is nearing retirement age. Rohloff and Viper will still live in Kimball. The council offered the job of police chief to Jim Frilstad. Frilstad has been a part-time officer in Kimball for some 15 years. Salaries for both positions are in limbo until union mediations are completed. DuWayne Orbeck was appointed acting mayor; he has the most years of service on the council. Orbeck and Konz will serve on the parks committee, and Chris Jansky and Konz on the personnel committee. The State Bank of Kimball, Atwater State Bank, and United Bankers Bank of Bloomington were designated official depositories of the city for 2007. The Tri-County News was designated the official newspaper for the city’s publications and notices. And Young Brown & Pagel was re-appointed the city’s law firm. In a minor change of format, the city’s “open forum” at council meetings will be held at the end of each regular meeting rather than in the middle of it. “If it’s important enough,” said mayor Konz, “they can get it on the agenda. Otherwise, it’s at the end of the meeting.” To be placed on the council’s agenda, an item must be received in the city office no later than the Monday before the next meeting (usually one week in advance). Chad Johnson of the public works department discussed repair and replacement of some of the bridges in Willow Creek Park, and the possibilities of getting youth and non-profit organization help. Flag lights in Veterans’ Memorial Park will be professionally replaced. “No parking” signs will be installed on the south side of Linden Avenue near Main Street, and speed limit signs will be installed within the Greeley Edition. Johnson also discussed the moratorium on water and   sewer permits imposed on Kimball by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The city cannot issue new permits without prior approval by the MPCA. The city was required to provide the MPCA with documentation of all new hookups and water/sewer expansion throughout the city since the early ’70s. The city is working on expanding its sewer capacity, which should ultimately lift the permit moratorium.  The next meeting of the Kimball city council will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22 (instead of Tuesday, Jan. 16). A special meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 22 to meet with new police chief Jim Frilstad. Council meetings are open to the public.