KIMBALL -- The City of Kimball announced Tuesday utility rate changes that will go into effect Jan. 1 and will appear on residents’ January 25 bill. 

“Unfortunately, inflation goes up, and the city has to adjust rates as well,” said City Administrator Annette Brower. 

Sewer rates: 

  • In-town minimum rate: $35.25 per month compared to the previous rate of $33 per month. 
  • Out-of-town minimum rate: $52.50 per month compared to the previous rate of $49 per month. 

Sewer rates were approved in a public meeting Nov. 11 based on the USDA mandated rate increase requirement for the USDA loan. 

According to the minutes from the Nov. 11 meeting, Board Member Jim Cederburg opened a continued discussion from the previous meeting on reviewing the suggested future wastewater rate increase requiredper USDA. 

The board decided to divide it into three steps to gradually implement the increase. 

“The sooner we can start this, the better we will be able to spread it out,” Cederburg said. “The first step can be taken in January 2026, the 2nd step in October 2026, and the third step in August 2027.” 

The next increase will be effective Oct. 1, 2026

  • In-town minimum rate: $37.75 per month 
  • Out-of-town minimum rate: $56 per month 

The third increase will be effective August 1, 2027

  • In-town minimum rate: $40 per month 
  • Out-of-town minimum rate: $60 per month

Landfill fees 

  • City of Kimball residents: $41.52 compared to the previous rate of $39.98
  • Kimball County residents: $29.30 compared to the previous rate of $27.90

The Board of Public Works held a special meeting Oct. 21 to discuss the landfill going from measuring in cubic yards to tons because they have a new scale, which is also when the new rates were approved.

Gering and Kimball are also in the early stages of discussing a potential partnership for Gering to use Kimball’s landfill. It was discussed in a BPW meeting July 29. 

“Their landfill is reaching the end of its life, and they need to find a permanent place to move their trash, and in the meantime, we may look at partnering with them,” Brower said. “It is in the very early stages that we don’t even know if it’s something we can do. There are so many moving parts to this, including what they would pay."  

The proposed agreement would begin in 2027. 

“That would be great,” Brower said. “It would be good for us and potentially it would mean rates could go down, but we won’t know that quite yet.” 

Scrap tires 

  • Passenger tires: $10 per tire compared to a previous rate of $7
  • Truck tires: $20 per tire compared to a previous rate of $14
  • Tractor tires: $110 per tire compared to a previous rate of $46
  • Construction Machinery tires: $184 per tire compared to a previous rate of $81

“Tires are so expensive to recycle and remove,” Brower said. “The biggest jump is the tractor tires, but a tractor tire is massive. We as a city request a grant from the state every year to try to recoup the cost, but it’snot guaranteed.”

Gate fees 

  • Kimball County residents: $16 per trip compared to a previous rate of $13.40  
  • Non-Kimball County residents: $52.25 per trip compared to a previous rate of $43.75 
  • Unseparated loads: $29.75 per trip compared to a previous rate of $24.85 
  • Uncontained loads: $33.50 per trip compared to a previous rate of $31.90