Council holds public hearing
Lincoln Street project and housing rehabilitation discussed
Hillsboro City Council met Tuesday for a public hearing and in regular session at the city building.
The purpose of the public hearing was to consider submitting an application to the Kansas Department of Commerce for Small Cities Community Development Block Grant funds under the Community Improvements Water/Wastewater Category.
The specific project, the Lincoln Street project, is water line replacement from the north railroad right-of-way to one block south of F Street, consisting of 3,700 feet of 8-inch water line, six 8-inch valves, six fire hydrant assemblies, four fire hydrants removal, 80 user reconnections, 3,750 feet of pavement removal and replacement, three connections to existing water mains, and site clearing and restoration.
The estimated cost of the project is $311,000 with the grant request for $155,500.
The original plans called for 6-inch pipes for the proposed water line, but Rose Mary Saunders of Reiss & Goodness told the council the 8-inch lines are needed.
"The city will have to pay the difference between the 6-inch and 8-inch pipe," she said. "The cost could be approximately $7,400."
Ten or 11 surveys from residents on Lincoln Street are needed to complete the process.
"We need an 80 percent response rate," Saunders said. "We have met the low-moderate income requirements. We need more responses."
The second part of the public hearing was for the purpose of considering a grant application under the Community Improvements Housing Category.
The specific project is housing rehabilitation and demolition of existing structures in an area generally bounded by Third Street on the north, the center line of Madison Street on the east, First Street on the south, and the center line of Main Street on the west.
The estimated project cost is $400,000, with the grant request for $400,000 of the project.
"A goal of this project is to add 20 years of useful life to the eligible homes in this area," said Saunders. "Notices were sent to the eligible homeowners. The city has received 12 applications."
The grant has a $400,000 ceiling, allowing Hillsboro approximately $20,000 per home for 16-18 homes to be rehabilitated.
Council member Matt Hiebert and mayor Delores Dalke were elected to serve as delegates Oct. 2-5 at the League of Kansas Municipalities annual conference in Overland Park. City administrator Steve Garrett and city clerk Jan Meisinger were elected as alternates.
The council approved an invoice from Evans, Bierly, Hutchison & Associates for $8,671.50 for engineering services for preparing a facility plan for wastewater treatment plant upgrades. Core drilling will begin today at the possible site of the new lagoon.
Garrett reported the city had been denied a Critical Infrastructure grant from the Governor's Council on Homeland Security. The state received 87 applications with total funding requests of $5,751,044 and only $1,296,567 in funding available.
Garrett also reported city sales tax collected for July was $18,519.79 and county sales tax, $11,988.42. The year-to-date city sales tax is $131,351.39, compared to $106,292.22 for the same time period last year.
"We've had more sales," Garrett said. "I don't know to what to attribute it."
FEMA has declared Marion County part of a disaster area for wind and water damage and representatives will be in Hillsboro later this week.
Garrett and senior water treatment technician Morgan Marshall attended an Army Corps of Engineers meeting Wednesday to discuss the algae problem at the reservoir.
Garrett also reported the water plant feasibility study should be finished by mid-September.
The council received a list of possible city projects from Garrett. The consensus of the council was they should meet sometime soon to study the projects and prioritize them.
In other business:
— The council approved Ordinance 2004-04 authorizing the completion of an application to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment regarding a loan from the Kansas Public Water Supply fund.
— The council approved Resolution 2004-05 certifying legal authority to apply for the Kansas Small Cities CDBG program for the KDC and authorizing the mayor to sign and submit such an application.
— The council approved resolution No. 2004-06 assuring the KDC that funds will be continually provided for the operation and maintenance of the water system to be financed with CDBG funds.
— The council approved Resolution No. 2004-07, the residential anti-displacement and relocation plan under section 104(d) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.
— The council approved Resolution No. 2004-08 certifying legal authority to apply for the 2005 Kansas Small Cities CDBG program from the KDC and authorizing the mayor to sign and submit such an application.
— The council approved Resolution No. 2004-09 a residential anti-displacement and relocation plan under section 104(d) of the housing and community development act of 1974, as amended.
— The council heard from Hillsboro Management Board about the success of the Community Fair held Aug. 27 at Tabor College and upcoming events.
