Council hears results of audit
Auditor recommends minor changes
Hillsboro City Council heard Tuesday from Amy Burton of Swindoll Janzen Hawk & Loyd, LLC, McPherson, that the city is in statutory violation in two areas.
Burton, who worked on the audit, said one violation is the lack of unencumbered cash records. She recommended the city maintain a list of encumbrances at least monthly so unencumbered cash records can be properly maintained.
The other violation is noncompliance with budget law. The city's expenditures in the general operating fund exceeded the lawfully budgeted amount by $12,504. Burton recommended the city closely monitor each fund's expenditures to ensure they don't exceed the budget appropriation for the year. Another option is to amend the budget.
Utility Contractors of Wichita, low bidder, was awarded the water plant improvements for $2.453 million. APAC-Shears, Wichita, was given the contract to replace the water lines on South Date, Willow Road, and Juniper Road for $214,844. Pittsburg Tank and Tower will paint the water tower for $55,120.
According to Bob Previtera of Reiss and Goodness, the project is $100,000 under budget.
Larry Nikkel, president of Tabor College, updated the council on proposed changes on the college's campus. The college has purchased three houses to use as living quarters for some of next year's students, and the dormitory building project on Madison Street is on hold.
According to Nikkel, the college intends to tear down houses it currently owns on Adams Street and build townhouses to add at least 80 beds for living quarters for students is part of the building plan. (The projected completion date is August 2007.) The college is proposing closing Madison Street from B Street to just past Loewen Science Building.
The council approved the purchase of light poles for $9,238 as requested by city administrator Steve Garrett.
Garrett asked for the council's guidance on handling claims against the city's insurance.
"Once we turn over a claim to the insurance company, as far as I'm concerned, we are out of it," said Garrett. "The insurance company's determination is final."
The council concurred that should be the city's policy.
Garrett also asked for the council's position on the use of Memorial Field.
"We have a constant battle with the use of the baseball field," he said. "Is it a baseball field or a parking lot?"
The consensus of the council was that Memorial Field should only be used as a baseball diamond. There was discussion about fencing the field.
A special council meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday. Nancy Ronto of Burbach Aquatics will discuss plans for the family aquatics center.
In a public hearing required for rural development funding, the site for the lagoon project was confirmed.
"We have found a suitable location," said Garrett. "We looked at other options which were not feasible and went with the sewer lagoon."
Trips to three sites of cities using lagoons were made in response to concerns of landowners in the area.
"The lagoons work as advertised," Garrett said. "They are low maintenance and use no chemicals."
The site for the lagoons will be east of Industrial Park on land the city has the option to buy.
In other business council:
— Approved Ordinance No. 1106 which authorizes the issuance of $1,150,000 health care facilities refunding revenue bonds; $4,000,000 health care facilities improvement and refunding revenue bonds; $955,000 taxable heath care facilities revenue bonds; and $955,000 health care facilities refunding revenue bonds, all for Parkside Homes, Inc.
— Approved an ordinance changing the speed limit to 30 miles per hour on a section of Ash Street from the co-op to past First Mennonite Church.
— Approved payment to APAC-Kansas, Inc. for $80,617.15 for Main Street improvement from A Street to D Street.
— Approved payment of $19,000 to Reiss & Goodness Engineers for engineering services for Lincoln Street project and $5,775 for inspection of Main Street improvements.
— Approved Mayor Delores Dalke's appointments of Lowell Goering and Shawn Edwards to the board of zoning appeals.
— Approved Policy No. 15 which provides guidelines for reserving city dump trucks.
