At its March 11 regular meeting, it was disclosed that the city of Kimball may soon need additional water storage capacity: either a new water tower, or a new underground tank. The current tower holds 100,000 gallons, and current usage is 90,000 gallons. With a growing community and growing need, the city may soon exceed this capacity. (Sewer capacity should be okay for awhile yet.) The city will conduct an inventory of current lead or copper pipes on properties throughout town, an inventory that is due in October.
The council heard from Austin Ruehle representing the Kimball Express about their two-year fundraising plans for updates at the city ballfield. (No decisions were made.)
The council discussed hiring a seasonal worker or two this summer.
At its Feb. 26 meeting, the council approved hiring Mitchell Fischer as a full-time permanent Public Works assistant.
The council also changed the way employees qualify for and receive benefits based on scheduled hours worked per week. They also set a limit of 100 hours of comp time that can be accrued or carried over.
At its Feb. 5 meeting, the council approved hiring Mitch Fischer onto the Kimball Fire Department, bringing them to 30 members.
The council approved the every-three-year cleaning of the water tower.
The council approved a 6-percent pay raise for city employees, retroactive to Jan. 1 at 3 percent. There will be no additional pay raise in September, and pay scale will be discussed with the 2025 budget work.
The council agreed to proceed with advertising for bids for a re-bid of a new public works building.
At their Jan. 22 meeting, the council approved purchase of a new Ram 2500 truck for Public Works, trading in three city -vehicles to do so.
The next regular meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 1; that meeting will include the Board of Appeals.