Kimball council to change pool ordinance

Three people came to Monday night’s Kimball city council meeting (June 1) to hear about the city’s ordinance regarding temporary swimming pools. Because of liability issues, the city must have an ordinance regarding these pools, and they must enforce it. The problem has been that the current ordinance was written long before the types of pools available now. The city will change its ordinance to be more in line with the types of pools, now termed “storable pools,” that residents may use.

A public hearing will be held at the council’s next meeting, at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, June 15, to review a change in the ordinance. Meanwhile, the current ordinance is in force: a 5-foot, non-climbable fence must enclose a temporary swimming pool. (The council plans to change the ordinance to require at least a 4-foot fence, and chain-link will be acceptable.)

The bottom line on pools in Kimball: no fence, no pool.

Other business

Jim Zilka from CenterPoint Energy presented the city with a $2,000 grant to the Fire Department. Chief John Gohmann accepted the check which will be used to purchase another infrared thermal imaging camera for the department.

Jim Frilstad gave the police report.

An accident occurred at the baseball field recently: a ball was hit out of the ballpark and it broke the back window of a parked car nearby. The city’s insurance (through the League of Minnesota Cities) denied the claim because the fence is the required height to prevent such accidents. The city has learned that the Kimball Express baseball team does not have insurance. The council discussed making such insurance a requirement for the Express. (School ball teams are covered by the school’s insurance, and other individuals using the ballfield would need to use their homeowner’s insurance to cover such accidents.) The team manager will be invited to the next council meeting to discuss insurance for the team.

The issue of the ballfield fence leaning has been submitted to the city’s insurance. If movement of the wall was caused by wind, it’s covered; if it was caused by earth movement, it is not.

A conflict with use of Willow Creek Park also was discussed. On one Sunday in June, two parties have scheduled the shelter, and another group wants to use the ballfield and grill throughout the park. Because of exceedingly dry conditions, it was agreed that grilling in the park should not be allowed.

Librarian Carla Asfeld discussed issues that have come up after renovations in their space. Since the false ceilings were removed, sound bounces throughout the building; while traffic noise booms from one side of the building to the other, it is hard to hear library patrons right next to her. Eric Loewen is looking into sound treatment alternatives for the library space. She also addressed clean-up issues after the sheetrocking and painting work; her summer programs begin June 8, and they will be using the council room space.

Plans are progressing well with the expansion of Heritage House. Storm water issues on the site are currently their biggest issue, but they are working with engineers to solve them. They will need a public hearing for setback variances, as their property abuts residential properties, and the side setbacks will be less than the required 50 feet.

The plans still include space for a clinic and pharmacy, and there are reportedly three clinics and two pharmacies interested in working out of this space.

Heritage House still plans to seek Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for this project.

The next council meeting is at 7 p.m. Monday, June 15. Anyone wishing to address the council should get on the agenda (by calling the city clerk at 398-2725 several days ahead of the meeting). An open forum is provided at each meeting, but time is limited, and this is usually at the end of the meeting.

Council meetings are open to the public, and anyone may attend them. Agendas are posted at city hall, and minutes are posted on the city’s Web site at www.cityof kimballmn.org.