Staff writer
Midway Motors’ plans for a new building at Hillsboro Business Park could create traffic problems at the intersection of Ash Street and U.S. 56.
The company wants a driveway directly across from Alco on Ash Street. Engineer Bob Previtera said he had concerns about vehicles entering the drive after turning off U.S. 56.
There is sufficient space in the existing road to include a left-turn lane, but there isn’t much room to spare, he said.
Joe Palic of Kansas Department of Transportation had no worries about the plan, Previtera said.
“In my opinion, it seems like it could be a little too much clutter,” Councilman Shelby Dirks said.
KDOT plans bid-letting for reconstruction of Ash Street in December, and work will begin in spring, Previtera said. The project will be paid for primarily with a federal grant.
Audit favorable
Jan Nolde of Swindoll, Janzen, Hawke & Loyd accountants presented 2008 audit findings. There were no unexplainable irregularities, the audit found.
There are weaknesses of the city’s accounting system, primarily because of Hillsboro’s small size.
One such weakness is a lack of segregation of accounting duties. A system shouldn’t provide the same person a chance to create an irregularity and conceal it.
The audit cited a lack of an agreement between the city and golf board for use of the golf course as an issue. No agreement spells out the city and board’s financial responsibilities.
The council approved the audit.
In other business:
- The city granted a demolition permit to Emprise Bank for a building between the bank and Prudent Tours. At Paine’s recommendation, the council included conditions for the permit — insurance against damage to Prudent Tours, an agreement with the company, and a landscaping and maintenance plan. The bank will have six months to begin work, or the permit will lapse.
- Boy Scouts received permission for a July 1 fireworks demonstration in Memorial Field’s parking lot by Memorial Park. The scouts sell fireworks as a fundraiser for camping and equipment.
- Scouts Jesse Meier, Matt Reeh, and Franklin Jost attended the meeting as a requirement for Citizenship in the Community merit badge.
- Council members met in closed session for 30 minutes to discuss personnel. No action was taken on returning to open meeting.
- The city will hold a party at 2 p.m. Friday to celebrate City Clerk Jan Meisinger’s 30th anniversary with the City of Hillsboro.
- Council members met with department heads for a budget work session.
- The next meeting will be at 4 p.m. July 7 in the city building.