Council offers suggestions for snow removal
Hillsboro City Council discussed snow removal Tuesday and approved a municipal policy for city fuel purchases.
Council members were appreciative of the city crews' work on the streets. However, a suggestion was made by council member Len Coryea for the city to purchase a blade for the front of a truck that will not damage the curbing on Main Street.
"You could go to the curb and pull the snow away from the curb," said Coryea, "without damaging the curb."
Comments were made that private crews at businesses had done a better job than some snow removal on the streets by city crews.
Other comments were made about the city purchasing equipment that lays down a treatment while blading, resulting in only one trip.
Byron McCarty, council member, asked if salt or sand could be used at the intersections.
Garrett answered the city used calcium which usually works better than salt and sand.
Another suggestion by Coryea was to treat the high traffic areas by the schools.
Delores Dalke, mayor, said the city needs to look into the necessary equipment to distribute a brine solution before a storm. Garrett said he would follow up on the suggestion.
Council members discussed vehicles parked on the main snow routes during the time the crews were removing the snow.
Coryea suggested a policy of no vehicles on Main Street while crews are removing snow.
Matt Hiebert, council member, suggested a phone call to the vehicle owners along Main Street.
Garrett presented a proposal which would rotate monthly fuel purchases with Hillsboro retailers.
The first month, beginning March 1, the electric and water department employees will purchase gasoline at Ampride/Co-Op, street and park at Jost Service Station, and police, fire, and sewer at Vogt's Hometown Market. Departments with vehicles that require diesel will rotate between Ampride/Co-Op and Vogt's.
Other stipulations in the policy were to use self-service pumps when fueling, all tickets must be signed by the city employee, along with the vehicle number or description on the ticket.
In other business:
— Garrett reported the Hillsboro Community and Planning Commission met with John Riggs, zoning consultant, regarding the zoning of adult entertainment.
"We can't outlaw it but it can be regulated," said Garrett. An ordinance will come to the council following a public hearing.
— A meeting has been held regarding a wholesale water feasibility study. A grant is available to pay 50 percent of expenses up to $12,500 to study a shared use between Hillsboro and Marion.
An interlocal agreement with Marion will be drawn to research possibilities.
— An institutional district overlay was discussed by Garrett regarding college, schools, and city properties. Currently, all are located in residential districts.
Garrett said updates will be made to the city's zoning regulations regarding high density residential overlay district. Currently, 2 1/2 feet is required for side yards. The change would be for side yard setbacks be a minimum of five feet.
— Membership dues for KMU (Kansas Municipal Utilities) were approved by the council in the amount of $2,161.
"This membership is a benefit to the city as we pursue options with the gas line," said Garrett.
— Council approved the following board appointments: Tree Board, Richard Wall, reappointed, Cynthia Fleming and Martin Rhodes, new appointments, all for three-year terms.
Max Heinricks was appointed to the Recreation Commission to fill an unexpired term.
— Megan Kilgore, Hillsboro Management Board and Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce director, reported the annual chamber dinner went well. The February chamber meeting has been moved to Feb. 18.
Kilgore said that Jared Jost, chamber president, has written a letter to Kansas Department of Transportation regarding a Hillsboro sign at I-135 by McPherson.
— Vouchers in the amount of $49,815 were approved.
The next council meeting will be at 4 p.m. Feb. 17 at the city building.
