Staff writer
Hillsboro city council approved a proposal during Tuesday’s meeting from street supervisor Dale Dalke to have Vogts Crushing of Newton provide concrete crushing services at $7 per ton.
Dalke and city administrator Larry Paine have been looking for uses for a big pile of concrete that has been growing in the street department yard, where contractors and the city have been storing concrete from various demolitions.
By crushing the existing concrete, Hillsboro could avoid purchasing rock for future projects, as well as truck expenses of bringing product to the yard.
“Hopefully it can save people money along the way,” Dalke said. “Now we get to use it. Base rock is the most ideal, but alleys, or the few gravel roads we have, we could use it there.”
Dalke received three proposals from different companies, but suggested Vogts Crushing due to their methods of crushing the rock.
“Vogts has a little better process to get the metal out of it,” Dalke said, “and we’ve worked with Al before and his brother Mark, so we know them pretty well for doing a good job on things.”
In other business, the council approved a 1.5 percent salary cost of living adjustment for city employees.
After a 30-minute executive session, the council also approved a 1.5 percent COLA increase for city administrator Larry Paine.