Developer eager to begin work at business park
Fire chief appointed building inspector
Hillsboro City Council approved a contract with Reiss & Goodness Engineering Nov. 6, to engineer the city's new business park, contingent on city officials' review.
And the engineering cannot be completed soon enough.
Mayor Delores Dalke said a developer was anxious to get started at the newly platted business park but was waiting for drainage and elevation work to be completed.
Dalke asked if building permits could be issued while the city awaited the engineering work. City engineer consultant Bob Privatera of Reiss & Goodness said the elevation work had to be completed before permits are issued. He said he planned to have the information to the city by mid- to late November.
Floodplain issues also need to be resolved with an area in the business park being removed from floodplain maps.
City administrator Larry Paine said there also was interest in Lots 2 and 3 in the park which is why it is important for the city to plan the entire development. Privatera said the council needed to determine the scope of Phase I for bidding purposes.
— With the departure of Hillsboro Building Inspector Martin Rhodes more than two months ago, the council approved the appointment of Ben Steketee as building inspector.
Paine reported he had recruited and interviewed candidates for the position and recommended the hiring of Steketee.
Currently Steketee is Hillsboro Fire Chief.
Paine explained that the building inspector position is full-time while Steketee is being trained. After training is completed, the inspector will be used in various city capacities.
Dalke said she was pleased with Paine's selection and Steketee was a great candidate for the position.
Dalke said the city received a lower ISO (Insurance Service Office) rating because inspections were not conducted in commercial buildings.
ISO ratings are from -2 to 10, with -2 being nearly perfect and 10 being the lowest. Ratings generally are based on the area's water supply and distance from fire stations. The ratings are given to insurance companies which helps to determine insurance rates.
