By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Hillsboro city council on Tuesday approved applying for a $3.1 million loan to improve the city’s water system.

The council held a brief public hearing, during which no one spoke about the proposed loan application.

Afterward, the council approved a resolution to apply for a loan through the Kansas Public Water Supply Loan Fund. The loan program is administered through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Hillsboro mayor Delores Dalke said if the city’s application is approved, the money will be used to replace water lines and meters.

Dalke said if the loan is not approved, the city’s next step would be to apply for a smaller loan from the state department of health. KDHE’s loan program is a 20-year term program, but the loan program approved for application Tuesday has a 40-year term.