City may lift fireworks ban
At the end of a routine — and fast — meeting of the Hillsboro City Council Tuesday evening, one of the final items discussed should please any kid (or kid at heart) living in Hillsboro.
Mayor Delores Dalke wants to make fireworks legal again within the city limits.
Currently, the city has an ordinance in place that makes it illegal to shoot off fireworks in town. But with the county giving the OK to fireworks out in the country — if a person gets a permit — Hillsboro may loosen its own fireworks guidelines.
Hillsboro's current anti-firework ordinance dates back to 1980, when an extremely hot, dry summer combined with fireworks equalled a multitude of fire calls for the local fire department. But the calls have lightened up since then, and fireworks might be more feasible now, Dalke said.
Another benefit for Hillsboro residents, besides the typical "fun factor" involved, would mean increased dollars into the local economy if fireworks are sold in the area.
Right now, people in the county who shoot off fireworks are buying them outside the area, said councilmember Matt Hiebert.
Also, in the past, local Boy Scout troops have sold fireworks as a fundraiser, Dalke said.
The council decided to discuss this subject further at future meetings.
Also at their Tuesday evening meeting, council members learned that the city plans to commission a detailed map of the Hillsboro water system.
The current map of all local water valves and lines is outdated and inaccurate, said City Administrator Steve Garrett. A new map would utilize precise GPS technology.
The company EBH & Associates would be in charge of developing the map. The city is working with this company with the developments at the water plant.
Although Garrett didn't have the exact cost of the map, the very most it could cost would be $18,000. A map costing that much to create would mean that the city has no data at all of its water systems — which is not the case for Hillsboro.
In other City Council business:
— The council was scheduled to approve a final bill from Flaming Metal Systems for the construction of the new electric shop. According to the invoice, the city still owns $13,294 on the building.
But councilmember Shelby Dirks voiced a concern about the building. He said that he noticed an additional "I-beam" on the side of the building, which is bolted down on a pillar.
Dirks doesn't know what the I-beam is for, he said.
"It sticks out like a sore thumb," Dirks said.
The council agreed to look into the situation further before approving the final bill from Flaming.
— The council gave the go-ahead for the city to draft a new ordinance changing the trash fees for Hillsboro residents.
The change, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2003, subtracts the city's charge for trash disposal, which is now $6.25 per house and $10.50 per business. Those disposal charges will now be levied by the county, who purchased the waste transfer station in Marion this year.
— In board appointments, Tina Olson and Becky Nuss will remain as Hillsboro representatives on the Marion Councy Economic Development Council. Their terms were set to expire on Dec. 31.
Three more residents were also kept in their positions on another entity: the airport board. Terry Hagen, Edith Darding, and Mike Knak will both stay on the airport board for another term; their terms were also set to expire at the end of this year.
