KIMBALL -- The Kimball citizen who recently filed for the recall of Mayor John Morrison is now collecting signatures.

News Channel Nebraska reported a few weeks ago that Ron Buchart requested a recall petition filing form in hopes of removing the mayor from office.

Buchart said in a statement on Facebook Wednesday night, “After a lengthy process I have the petitions in hand ready to sign. NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD.”

In his request, Buchart listed five reasons the mayor should be replaced before his term ends in December of 2026. He lists concerns with the tax levy, potential conflicts of interest, the time it took the mayor to replace a resigning city council member, the mayor’s treatment of concerned citizens and failure to represent the needs of the people of the City of Kimball.

In Morrison’s public rebuttal, he states that the City Council passed the new city levy after several budget meetings, he has no conflict of interests, and he consulted with the Nebraska Attorney General and received approval to extend the time to replace the resigning city council member.

“I treat everyone with courtesy,” he added. “Everything I have done and will do in the future will be done for the betterment of Kimball.”

Buchart said he would like to see a mayor who “leads with respect and dignity towards the community, spends tax dollars more responsibly and with the community in mind, assesses a way to lower utilities and the tax burden to a manageable rate that folks can afford, and has more openness, communication and transparency with the community.”

For those interested in signing the petition, get in contact with Buchart by phone at 303-601-6516 from noon - 1 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. and by text any time. He will also be posting on Facebook the times and locations of when he is circulating the petitions.

To sign the petition, you must live in the City of Kimball and be a registered voter.

Buchart has been given 30 days to collect 280 signatures. Should the signatures be collected in time and the clerk's office can verify them, the city office will be instructed to schedule a recall election.