additional money for welding school renovation project

By SUSAN BERG

Staff writer

The cost to remodel the former AMPI building, now owned by the City of Hillsboro, comes with a larger price tag than officials originally predicted — about $20,000 more.

In June, the council allocated $40,000 to be used to update and refurbish the building to attract the Butler Community College welding program.

At the Sept. 16 meeting, Hillsboro City Council heard that more money was needed.

Estimates from Jantz Construction, Inc. of Tampa revealed $17,850 in repairs and improvements to transform the former dairy operation into a classroom and welding training area. An estimate for an additional $14,946 was presented by Flaming’s Inc. of Marion for a new furnace, water heater, and other items.

The council agreed that the project was worth the investment and approved a total of $60,000 be allocated for the project.

City administrator Larry Paine reported that the welding stations were in place and a ribbon cutting ceremony will be at noon Oct. 15.

The first day of classes begins at 1 p.m. Oct. 15. Enrollment is available through the Butler of Marion campus.

In other business:

• Sewer lagoon pay requests were approved to APAC-Kansas, Inc., Shears of Hutchinson for $162,654 and $21,986 to engineers Evans, Bierly, Hutchison & Associates of Great Bend.
• An additional $1,170 to EBH was approved for pre-treatment issues, not related to the new sewer lagoon project.
• Auditor Jan Nolde of Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk & Loyd of McPherson presented the 2007 audit report. Segregation of duties continue to be a problem as with other small offices. There was one statutory violation noted when the city’s industrial fund exceeded the budget and the third quarter publication for the budget was not published in a timely manner. The council approved the report as presented.
• Following the audit presentation, mayor Delores Dalke noted that it was apparent to her that the city’s utility rates need to be adjusted because they weren’t covering the expenses.
• Paine informed the council that McPherson County Recycling District will increase its rates at the first of the year from $1.80 per customer per month to $1.85. The city will increase rates to its customers next year to cover the increase.