By ADAM STEWART

Staff writer

Fredrick Waterproofing-Roofing of Wichita was the sole bidder to restore the William F. Schaeffler House Museum.

Four other contractors expressed interest in the project, but ultimately they decided requirements for bonds and historic preservation were too much, architect William Morris told Hillsboro City Council Tuesday.

The company has done a satisfactory job on other historic preservation projects, Morris said. Fredrick Waterproofing-Roofing’s bid was $93,391.

Mayor Delores Dalke asked why the project wasn’t divided into smaller portions to attract more bidders. It is much easier to work with a single general contractor, Morris said.

After grant money is applied to the project, the city’s share of the cost will be $18,679.

The council also approved spending $4,154 for plans to reconstruct the Heinrich Bartel House north of Hillsboro and move it into town. As far as the Hillsboro Museum Board is aware, the house is the only remaining stone Mennonite Polish/Eastern European style house in existance.

Polish-German immigrants to the area are too often overlooked in favor of Russian-German immigrants when talking about history, Dalke said.

In other business:

• The city will fund one-half of the cost to re-do the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce’s billboard on U.S. 56. The new design will mention the Hillsboro Family Aquatic Center to attract families with children, chamber office manager Tawnya Siebert said. The total cost of the project will be $652 plus sales tax.
• The city received a $3,400 matching grant for recycled tire material to use around playground equipment at Memorial Park.
• Randy Crawford and Lori Lalouette-Crawford will purchase a vacant lot in Willow Glen subdivision from the city for $5,000.

The next council meeting will be 4 p.m. May 4.