Staff writer
Kansas Department of Commerce grant administrator Rose Mary Saunders met with Hillsboro City Council on Tuesday. Her mission, to guide the council through the approval process needed for the city to receive $400,000 recently awarded for street repair projects.
“Larry came to Wichita last Wednesday, as required, to pick up the contracts for this award,” Saunders said of City Administrator Larry Paine. “I am before you this afternoon to make sure the necessary steps are taken to put grant No. 12-PF029 into action.”
Saunders explained details regarding documents for the overall grant contract, a Community Block Development Grant authorized signature form, an environmental review form, a code of conduct letter, a fair housing declaration, and a grant procurement policy.
The council voted to approve all items as presented, updating several policies already in place through the procedure.
“We already have some of this,” Paine said. “But we are updating it so it meets CBDG language requirements.”
Tax abatements approved
Community business owners Darrell Driggers, representing Container Services, Inc., and Phil Wyssenbach, representing Flint Hills Industries, Inc., expressed their appreciation to the council for continued tax abatements in 2012. Golden Heritage Foods, Inc. was also included in the review and approval process.
“We thank you very much for your support,” Driggers said.
Wyssenbach echoed with similar sentiments, and shared information about the status of the former Butler County Community College supported welding school in Hillsboro.
“I just wanted to let you know that we are working very hard to get that welding school re-opened,” he said. “It has been shut down since spring semester last year and we are working to get new sponsorship to get that going again.”
Wyssenbach said he did not have solid information yet, but Hutchinson Community College was looking seriously at helping get the welding school up and running, with a goal of enrolling 8 to 10 full-time students.
“This community needs those workers,” he said. “It was sad to see it go down the path it did, but problems were likely economy- driven.”
In other business:
- Paine reported on recent street repair activity that centers on Adams Street and started with culvert repair on Friday.
- Paine said North Central Kansas Library Systems recently received a grant to enhance broadband access.
- Mayor Delores Dalke shared an invitation to the Kansas Prayer Breakfast with Gov. Sam Brownback on March 23 in Topeka and offered a ride to any interested council members.
- Council member Marlene Fast asked about the agenda for Hillsboro Community Hospital’s town hall meeting, scheduled for Tuesday evening in Hillsboro.
The next council meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. March 6.