By Jean Doran Matua, Editor
A public hearing was held at the start of the Nov. 13 Kimball city council meeting for Ideal Energies LLC installation of ballasted solar arrays atop both the Kimball Elementary and High School buildings. Fire Chief Mike Schneider expressed concern for shut-offs and he was told there would be one on the roof, another on the ground, and possibly others as well for each building. There will be 70-some panels in each array, just under 40 kW each. There are no moving parts, and a 25-year warranty on the tempered glass panels. Everything required for the arrays will be located on the roofs. There will be no cost to taxpayers but there will be a 20-percent savings on electric costs to the district for 13 years. A third party will be the capital lease-holder and bear tax ownership, while the school owns the system outright from the day it’s installed. The council approved both installations unanimously.
The council expressed an interest in the city doing something similar with Ideal Energies.
Brad Donnay requested an increase in Firemen’s Relief retirement payments, from $1,250 to $1,450 per year for each year of service. Firefighters are 60-percent vested after 10 years of service, with an additional
4 percent each year until 20 years and full vesting. The department currently has about $389,000 in investments, more than sufficient to cover all obligations. There are no impending retirements in the department. The council voted to approve this request.
Emergency Management Director Brian Kiffmeyer reported that Stearns County received a grant for weather stations. Kimball and several other communities will receive advanced weather stations, one to be installed at the Kimball fire station. He is in the process of updating Emergency Operations Plan contacts and more, for approval at the Dec. 17 meeting.
Fire Chief Mike Schneider reported about 180 calls so far, the biggest year yet for the Fire Department. Most of the calls were medical calls, with a few false alarms. There were about 167 calls last year, and that was a busy one too. He requested a change in the department’s credit card policy, to allow purchases from the Internet (currently barred); the council agreed as some needed equipment can only be purchased on the Internet. The department needs to update its computers, planning to purchase three new computers, two printers, and new software; the bid is $4,148. They plan to use “I Am Responding” app whereby responders can indicate that they are on their way to the station in response to a call, and the chief can plan accordingly.
Police Chief Jason Mehr presented his monthly report; crime has slowed down because cold weather has set in. He submitted his resignation to the city, giving a two-week notice with Nov. 27 to be his last day. “When you’re driving down the road and don’t want to come to work anymore, it’s time to go,” he told the council. DuWayne Orbeck expressed concern about the personnel meetings and attorney involvement; “I don’t feel that whole thing was necessary,” he said. Mehr added that this is not a good time, as there are currently no part-time officers in the city, and both full-time officers just had their six-month review. He suggested talking to both full-time officers about covering days. The council voted to accept his resignation (with Aaron Dahlinger voting against), and voted unanimously to pay out 100 percent of his PTO. “I don’t want to be here if people don’t want me here,” Mehr added, “so it’s time to go.” The council will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, to finalize the capital improvement plan, and to discuss what to do about the police chief position.
The council approved the snow removal agreement with the county, with no rate increase. Matt Serbus of Public Works reported that the water tower mixer had to be removed and cleaned of its calcium build-up; the quote is $4,700 and the company’s recommendation is for the city to purchase a second mixer (at $18,500) that could be swapped out each year on a maintenance plan instead of a warranty to prevent this same problem. The council approved only getting the old mixer back, now that it’s been decalcified. Serbus will install Christmas decorations on the poles allowed by Xcel Energy (i.e. not any with distribution lines). The city will get inspection books for all city vehicles for yearly inspections after a serious problem with the plow truck.
The council canvassed the Nov. 6 election. There were 483 voters registered the morning of the election, and 270 voted that day plus 26 who voted absentee. Cindy Stelten and Kyle Christensen were elected to the council for four-year terms.
The council will approve a new ordinance on hunting and weapons within city limits after it has been posted on the city’s website for 10 days; it will be published here after it is approved.
Al Roth of A.T. Group did not attend the meeting to present health and dental insurance renewals for city employees. The current health plan is no longer available, and he had recommended something similar; the council approved. The council renewed with Traut Brothers dental insurance.
The next regular meeting of the Kimball city council will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4 with Truth In Taxation, and the second December regular meeting is at
6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18 (NOTE earlier time). There is a 6 p.m. special meeting Tuesday, Nov. 20, to discuss replacing the police chief, and to finish the capital improvement plan. Meetings are always open to the public, and there is an open forum time at the end of each regular meeting.