Staff writer
Hillsboro City Council approved a resolution Tuesday that would allow Golden Heritage Foods to refinance industrial revenue bonds from projects dating back to 2003 and 2006.
The resolution would remove the city from the bonds and remove Golden Heritage’s property tax abatements.
“The company wants to do some construction that they wish to finance themselves,” City Administrator Larry Paine said. “With the resolution, the city will be done with the IRBs and the company can move into private financing.”
The council awarded two awards to thank employee Glenda Stoppel for her 30 years of service, and Mike Duerksen for his 25 years of service.
Both received a certificate. Duerksen received a pair of binoculars, and Stoppel a world globe.
The council also approved to accept three quitclaim deeds for property along U.S. 56. The three properties went through the eminent domain process and was granted a permanent easement.
Obtaining the deeds allow the city to fulfill a requirement for a grant to add a right turn lane on U.S. 56 eastbound.
To promote local contractors to purchase and use construction codebooks, the council approved a license fee waiver for any contractor who purchased a codebook for their specific license.
The exemption is available only when new books are released by the city every three years. Those who received the exemption in 2012 will be unable to receive the waiver for a 2013 license, however, if a contractor wishes to apply for an additional license and purchases a codebook for it, the fee can be waived.
Paine said seven local contractors took advantage of the waiver during 2012.
“We want to encourage contractors to use the codebooks,” he said. “The books are expensive and this will help decrease the contractor’s costs.”
In other news:
- Mayor Delores Dalke appointed Nikki Jones to the Housing Authority.
- The council approved a 24-month liquor license for La Cabana.
- Paine said city crews will be testing for leaks and bad connections in city sewer lines Nov. 18 through 22. Specialized smoke bombs will be released into the lines to show crews where cracks are located. Residents are asked that if they see smoke in their homes to not panic, but still report it to the fire department to be checked out.
- The city was given an award and a 5 percent discount on their insurance premium from the Kansas Mutual Insurance Trust for their work with city employees to teach and enact safety procedures. The discount totals around $2,500.