'Hats off!' to Hillsboro
Some people judge a town by its water tower; others make up their mind by driving down Main Street. Families with children want fun things to do, so they'll check out the swimming pool.
We're convinced it would be difficult for any town anywhere of 3,000 people to make a better first, second, and third impression than Hillsboro.
Chamber of commerce officials and local politicos had reason to gloat this past Thursday at the open house to celebrate the newly-improved water treatment facility. In addition to adding a spiffy new spire to the city's skyline, the $3.5 million project assures that visitors will leave our town with a good taste in their mouths.
Our present city council led by Mayor Delores Dalke can take credit for three milestone achievements that would be big accomplishments in towns twice our size: the beautiful Main Street renovation, awesome Hillsboro Family Aquatics Center, and, now, the cool water treatment facility upgrades.
Add the community's wi-fi wired public schools, Tabor College, municipal golf course, museums, and well-kept neighborhoods, and that equals a community which chamber of commerce leaders can, and do, crow about.
"I think all of these projects matter because they relate to the quality of life in our community," said Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce president Jim Elliott.
"Hillsboro in general has a great quality of life," he adds, "and when we can enhance services that are going to benefit businesses and families considering coming here, all of these projects are extremely important to our community."
While not as visible as the past three projects, the next big project for Hillsboro is a $5.3 million improvement to its wastewater treatment facility, due to begin early next year.
Of course, not everything is just as it should be in our community. There are significant challenges, such as attracting new businesses to the industrial park and maintaining strong retail establishments downtown.
The city also must catch up in its repair of streets, and help find a solution to the shortage of day-care providers in the city.
But if the most recent accomplishments are any indication, these problems also will be solved with alacrity.
This is a time to say, "Hats Off!" to Hillsboro City Council members (Matt Hiebert, Byron McCarty, Len Coryea, and Shelby Dirks), Mayor Delores Dalke, city administrator Steve Garrett, water plant manager Morgan Marler — everyone responsible for helping our city look, and taste, so good.
— GRANT OVERSTAKE
