Star-Journbal Editor
Flag-waving democracy and a fresh-baked cake with red, white, and blue frosting were both on display April 17 at Hillsboro City Hall.
City Clerk Jan Meisinger asked the two newly-elected council members and the re-elected mayor to raise their right hands, and repeat after her.
And, together, they said:
"I [Shane Marler, Bob Watson, and Delores Dalke] do solemnly swear, to support the Constitution of the United States of America, and the Constitution of the State of Kansas, and faithfully discharge the duties of [council member] [mayor] of the City of Hillsboro, to the best of my ability, so help me God."
There was a clap or two of applause, and Dalke invited everyone to enjoy a piece of cake with patriotic frosting.
Friends and employees from Emprise Bank, located next door to City Hall, were on hand to see their boss, bank president Robert Watson, take office. And everyone was delighted that Watson was feeling well enough to attend the ceremony after undergoing major surgery on election day, April 3.
In the gaiety of the moment, or perhaps on a sugar high from all that frosting, new council member Shane Marler asked, "Does this happen every week?"
And everybody laughed.
Because, well, no, it doesn't.
But it was a fun way to begin.
Watson, 59, assumes the ward one west seat occupied by Len Coryea, who spent eight years in office before choosing to devote more time to teaching and coaching high school football.
Marler, 31, defeated three-term incumbent Matt Hiebert for the ward two east seat by a total of 110 votes to 83.
Marler, who ties Shelby Dirks as the city's youngest incoming council member, interjected more humor to the proceedings during a discussion on the City Hall entryway doors, which are in disrepair and need replacing.
When Dalke said, "[The doors] were put in when the building was built in 1976. It was a Bicentennial project."
Marler said, "Just like me."
"You are a Bicentennial project?" asked Dalke.
"Well, I'd have to ask my parents, but yes, I was born in 1976."
Everyone laughed, and then one council member groaned, "That makes me feel old."
When this two-year term is over, Dalke will have served as mayor for 16 years, which is longer than any other citizen in the city's history, except for Harold Wiebe, who served 18 consecutive years, from 1973 until 1991.
"I also served as a council member from 1984 to 1990, and before that I was on the planning commission, the housing board, and the recreation commission.
"It's kind of amazing isn't it?" she added, sounding as if she was somewhat amazed, herself.
In other business,
— The council's first order of business was to elect Shelby Dirks as president of the new council. He would become the acting mayor if the mayor should be unable to finish her term.
— In a legal proceeding, the council recessed long enough to convene a special meeting of the Public Building Commission, and to elect Bernie McCarty as its chairman for the coming year. The commission owns the Hillsboro Community Medical Center, and the Hillsboro Family Aquatics Center.
— The council heard an upbeat update on $450,000 Adams Street improvement project from city engineer Bob Previtera, who said that despite the recent bad weather, the project was right on schedule.
"We were helped because the snow came on a Friday," he said.
Most of the underground storm sewer and water main work has been completed, he said, adding that the steps would be laying the base soil, and then the new pavement, on Adams between D Street to B Street.
Residents living between the barricades were told March 26 to expect 120 days for the project to be completed in front of their homes. In the meantime they've been parking in the alley.
Pleased with the progress report, the council agreed to release a $55,654.78 payment for work done thus far to APAC,-Kansas, Inc., the contractor on the project.
— In an effort to keep a few city employees who insist on lighting-up near the flammable materials stored in the city's maintenance buildings from blowing themselves and perhaps others to kingdom come, the council voted 4-0 to add an amendment to the city's no-smoking ordinance to include all city buildings and vehicles, as well as inside the fence at the Hillsboro Aquatic Center, and in or near the bleachers at the city's sports complex.
— At the request of the city's planning commission, which recently received a request from someone who may put a new restaurant in the city, the council provided clarification on the city's ordinance governing the sale of alcoholic beverages at restaurants.
The council agreed that, in accordance with state law, the city would allow a restaurant to serve alcohol if it amounted to less than 35 percent of its sales, and if it was located no closer than 100 feet from a church.
"A lot of chains wouldn't put a restaurant into a town where they couldn't serve alcohol," McCarty said. "If we don't [allow this] we'll probably be limiting ourselves.
"We already have a liquor store," he added. "So it doesn't much matter now, anyway."
— Finally, in an effort to prevent ear-splitting cars and trucks from roaring through town, the council amended its long-standing noise ordinance to include vehicles operating without tailpipes, or with those new mufflers designed to make them sound like race cars.
"What about screaming kids?" Marler asked, before voting along with the rest of the council.
