KIMBALL -- The City Council previously decided to upgrade the Gotte Park equipment; however, the location to install the new equipment is now up in the air.  

The city has already purchased the playground set; it just needs to be installed. Mayor John Morrison says he was informed that Gotte Park may have a gas line in the way of redoing the park equipment. He was also told that City Park is in higher need of an upgrade. 

Morrison will put the issue back on the agenda for a future city council meeting, possibly in May where the council will need to decide whether to move the location of the playground set or sell it on a surplus site. 

The playground set includes a swing set, slides and various climbing sections. 

The installation would take roughly 30 days to complete, Morrison says, which would include installing rubber tiles as the platform underneath the playground set. 

Morrison says even though the square rubber tiles are more expensive, he chose that option instead of woodchips because it would be less maintenance. 

“If one square goes bad, you just take it out and replace it,” Morrison said. “Wood gets washed out and worn out, so we felt [the tiles] were a better long-term solution.” 

The rubber tiles will cost $30,000, and the city has received a $3,000 donation already. 

Morrison adds that replacing one of the parks’ equipment will be a good thing for Kimball. 

“The equipment we have is worn out and it needs to be replaced. It’s time,” he said.