City office remodeling plans considered
Staff reporter
Plans were reviewed Dec. 20 by Hillsboro City Council to remodel the city's front offices.
Hillsboro City Administrator Steve Garrett said the improvements would streamline work processes and provide access for disabled patrons.
Desks will be replaced with work stations.
Mayor Delores Dalke said some of the issues of the configuration were addressed by auditors regarding accessibility of cash drawer, computers, and waiting on customers.
The office floor is higher than the floor of the outside window, which causes employees to "look down" on customers. The improvements would allow eye-to-eye contact, said Dalke.
To lower the window, a masonry wall would be cut.
Some of the work would be completed off-site, said Garrett.
Estimates for construction materials is $2,500. Work stations would be additional.
Work will begin after the first of the year but not until other city projects are completed, Garrett said.
In other business:
— Water plant improvements are near completion. Don Heller of EBH Engineering reported outside concrete work is 95 percent completed, and only two percent of outside piping remains to be finished. The building is completed.
A fence will be erected when weather permits.
During the week of Jan. 15, the water plant will be shut down and won't produce water to allow implementation of the improvements.
"The goal is to change everything over within 48 hours," said Heller. "If everything is full of water, there's a good chance we won't have to purchase water from a rural water district."
Garrett asked if the work will be completed as scheduled. Heller responded that if the contractor can secure the necessary equipment, it should be completed one to two months ahead of schedule.
Heller said there may be $100,000 of grant funds still available. The funds, if available, could be used to replace valves on filters, windows, and painting of the roof.
— The pool bottom of the city's aquatic park was to be poured, reported Jodi Stutzman, pool manager.
Garrett said he wants to plan a work session in January with the council to review the pool report.
Stutzman showed samples of the stone and color of siding for the bath house. She also showed diagrams and locations of the water features.
— City clerk Jan Meisinger reported all city employees will be required to participate in a direct deposit program for paychecks.
The direct deposit will be a time saver for city employees and be a more efficient way for paychecks to be distributed.
Meisinger also reported the billing of city utilities will change from a card to a full sheet in an envelope.
The city will need to purchase a program for $1,000 from Data Tech for the new billing program. Training of city employees will take place in February.
Meisinger will check with Baker Brothers of Hillsboro, for quotes to have the utility bills folded and stuffed in envelopes for mailing.
She has a March 1 goal for the new billing to be implemented.
— Garrett reported he and city attorney Dan Baldwin attended incident command training in Alabama. Their attendance will assist the city in applying for grants for emergency equipment.
— Garrett plans to attend a watershed restoration seminar Jan. 26 in Salina.
— Councilman Len Coryea asked Garrett about the city's policy to clear snow. Garrett said major thoroughfares are cleared first, followed by those streets that are impassable.
— Dalke presented a report of the convention of National League of Cities she attended.
She said she heard Robert Reich, former secretary of labor, speak about business recruitment. Reich emphasized that cities cannot recruit businesses by only offering free land, tax abatements, reduced labor costs, and other financial incentives because there are other communities who are "cheaper." Communities must sell quality of life, education, and other items that make for a "good life."
Dalke said she attended a session regarding obtaining a fair share of federal funding. She said the lobbying group that presented the seminar may be able to assist the county regarding the blue-green algae issue at Marion Reservoir.
She also attended sessions regarding retail development and revitalization, building partnerships for disaster response, using arts and recreation to enhance economic vitality, how to make Community Development Block Grant funds go farther, and offering broadband services to the public.
