City approves wall at Memorial Park
Hillsboro City Council gave the American Legion Post #366 the OK to build another memorial wall at Memorial Park.
City administrator Steve Garrett said, "I support having another wall there. The park is a memorial park, but because it is a public park, the Legion has requested the right to put up the wall."
"Each unit holds 110 names," said Legion representative James Carr. The new units will be the same style, size, and design as the existing one.
According to Garrett and Carr, Legion members will take care of most of the construction work.
Casey's General Store presented a formal request to allow the sale of alcohol on Sunday.
"All cities go 'wet' on Nov. 15, which means a business owner could establish a liquor store in the city," said city attorney Dan Baldwin. "Hours and days for sale do not change automatically. The city can expand the hours or limit the hours a liquor store can operate."
The request from Casey's is for cereal malt beverage.
"I would not be opposed to continue this to the next agenda," said Garrett.
According to Mayor Delores Dalke, no other stores selling alcoholic beverages in the city have requested Sunday sales.
"I'm sure Casey's has sent this request to all communities where they have stores," said Dalke. "The other sellers of 3.2 alcohol in town have not added in to this."
Council member Len Coryea expressed his opposition to Sunday sales of alcohol.
"The city has to act on allowing liquor stores to have Sundays sales or not," said Baldwin. "All towns will go 'wet' unless the city takes some action to prevent that. Sunday sales are prohibited, and the city will have to take some action to allow it. If the city chooses to take no action, an election could be forced."
The council tabled the issue.
Renewal rates for city employees' health insurance will decrease by seven percent. Monthly premiums for an employee will be $203.78; employee/child, $394.55; employee/spouse, $437.25; and family, $628.03.
Council passed Ordinance No. 1109, the uniform public offense code for Kansas cities and Ordinance No. 1110, regulating traffic within corporate limits of the city.
Police Chief Dan Kinning presented bids for a new police vehicle.
"We're replacing the Crown Victoria which is almost 10 years old and has approximately 100,000 miles on it," said Kinning.
Kinning received two proposals — one from Hillsboro Ford for $21,714 and one from Wright's for $23,300. Council approved the higher bid from Wright's because it included an electronic stability program and built-in radio console.
"I have a question," said Dalke. "I had a call from some very unhappy people about why the sign for the girls' track state championship has never been put up. They have called Steve and Megan [Kilgore] and can't get an answer."
According to Garrett, there is not enough room on the current board located by Hillsboro Municipal Golf Course and there are two signs that need to be erected. Both signs are at the chamber office.
"We need to get it done right away," said Dalke. "They are calling me now because they haven't gotten a response from anyone else."
Garrett's report included the publication notice that the city is going to be seeking the rehabilitation grant again. Council members Byron McCarty and Matt Hiebert and Garrett attended a meeting on open meetings and open records.
"It was very informative. It brought out some things we are going to need to address in the reorganization of Hillsboro Management Board due to the presence of public money," said Garret.
Bill Callaway director of utilities for the Public Utilities Commission in Clay Center, gave a presentation about Kansas Power Pool.
"Our Westar franchise is going to be over soon," said Garrett. "We are looking for ways to help control expenses of purchasing power."
In other business council:
— Approved the city budget as published.
— Dalke re-appointed Marcia Williams to the housing authority.
— Heard Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce report from president Becky Nuss.
