Staff writer
Hillsboro City Council approved an engineering contract with Evans, Bierly, Hutchison & Associates, P.A., Tuesday for a comprehensive plan for the city airport.
The company will receive $15,000 for a feasibility study and $25,000 for phase one of an airport development plan. Because of a grant from Kansas Department of Transportation, the city will only pay $2,000 of the project.
The plan should make it easier to apply for future grants for development of the airport, City Administrator Larry Paine said.
Then, at Paine’s request, the council tabled a contract with the engineering firm for design and construction services for Adams Street between U.S. 56 and the former railroad right of way, First Street between Ash and Adams streets, A Street between Main and Washington streets, and Industrial Road from U.S. 56 to Commerce Street.
Paine asked to table the contract because he said the design budget was excessive compared to what he expects for bidding documents. He wanted more time to negotiate with the company.
The contract called for $96,000 for design services and up to $175,000 for construction services.
Sparklers approved
The board granted Joanna Pyle’s request to have sparklers at her wedding reception Aug. 27 at the Scout House.
Fireworks, including sparklers, aren’t usually permitted in August, but the city has authority to grant exceptions, Paine said.
Council member Shelby Dirks said he was OK granting the exception, but he wanted Fire Chief Ben Steketee to have discretion to revoke the exemption in case there is a major danger of fire.
The council approved the exemption, subject to Steketee’s discretion. Pyle said she would arrange specifics with him.
In other business:
- Paine requested scheduling the 2012 budget hearing for Aug. 16. However, Dirks will be unavailable that week, and council member Marlene Fast was absent Tuesday and may be for some time because of health issues. Paine said he would try to find a day and time that works well.
- Robin Ottoson was appointed to Hillsboro Library Board. She is Tabor College’s director of library services.
- Paine met with the board in closed session for five minutes to discuss personnel. No action was taken on return to open session.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting will be 4 p.m. Aug. 2.