The City of Kimball is forming a committee to look into a crystal ball to determine the city’s future. The new committee will advise the council on what developments would be best for the city, where to place houses and new businesses and how these areas would be supplied with city sewer and water. With new contractors interested in developing land around the city, the committee would be beneficial to the council and the future growth. The city council discussed specifics of the new committee. The council agreed that the committee would have 5 voting members, one council representative and include City Zoning Administrator Chris Jeppesen. The latter two positions of the committee would be non-voting members. Councilmember Steve Edwards was appointed to the committee. The council has asked community residents to apply for the board. Applications are due Dec. 10. For more information on the board, see the planning committee notice on page 1. In other business, the council: • Discussed the closing of City Hall from 12-1 p.m. for lunch breaks. “We are a service business, why can’t we figure out some way to be open during these hours,” questioned Edwards. Other councilmembers informed Edwards that it was decided to close the office during the noon hour as a way to prevent overtime. The council also noted that these closed hours are given on the city’s answering machine and posted. • Approved a motion to write a letter to request $950 from the American Legion’s gambling fund. • Received a flag from American Legion Commander Mike Olk. The flag is to be put outside of city hall. Olk also informed the council that the Legion has another $950 to donate to the city from the Legion’s gambling funds, after they receive a letter requesting the funds. This funding will be voted on at the American Legion meeting, Tuesday, Dec. 2. • Talked with Jerry Fitzloff about developing residential land within the city. The land is located away from the city, where sewer and water currently is not connected. The council discussed options of constructing a community septic system for this land as extending sewer and water would be too costly. Fitzloff said he would bring his plans to Stearns County as the city doesn’t have an inspector for individual septic systems. The city will continue to work with Fitzloff on this issue. • Heard about a septic system problem on Larry and Karla Davis’s property. Karla removed herself as mayor to discuss the issue with the council. City Engineer Randy Sabart told the council that an old sewer pipe from the Davis’ property was connected to the new sewer line during the Hazel Avenue reconstruction project. Because of the confusion, the Davis’s basement has flooded many times and sewer has backed up. The problem is being addressed and the correct plumbing system is being connected to the city lines. After hearing about the problem, the council passed a motion to submit the claim to the city’s insurance. Mayor Davis did not vote on this issue. • Approved a motion to prohibit “the erecting of mailboxes in public sidewalks.” This motion was passed as mailboxes in the sidewalk on Hazel Avenue have become a problem. After discussion, the city amended the ordinance by adding that the erection of mailboxes would also be prohibited in the “right of way without council approval.” The council determined that existing mailboxes will be grandfathered into the system and will not have to be removed. • Voted against Randy Sabart serving as the city engineer and the engineer for construction projects. Councilmember Andy Maus presented a motion to keep Sabart in his current position with SEH as the city engineer and working with Keek Developers. Councilmember DuWayne Orbeck seconded this motion. All other councilmembers voted against the motion, hence keeping Sabart on as the city engineer and asking Keek Developer to find a new person to work with. The councilmembers voting against this motion felt Sabart’s dual roles were a conflict of interest. • Approved Tom Crouch to purchase a portion of Don Stein’s land and develop it into residential area. The council noted they want Crouch to extend Elm Street into his new development. • Agreed the appointment of Jeff Hilsgen as a new firefighter and granted approval to purchase equipment for him. Hilsgen who worked with the Watkins Fire Department, has already been trained. • Passed a motion for the Public Work’s employees to take snowplow training from Todd Rohloff. • Adjourned the meeting at 9:36 p.m.
