Hillsboro City Council approves land acquisition near industrial park
Staff writer
Hillsboro city council met at 4 p.m., Tuesday. The final act of business at the meeting was to approve the acquisition of land east of the industrial park for sewage treatment.
The meeting's agenda included a proposal from Carl Long for paving the golf course parking lot.
The option preferred by the golf course board for the construction was a bid from Vogts Construction o North Newton for $66,170 that included six-inch reinforced concrete, removal and replacement of the driveway to 26 feet, and the possible addition of extra excavation and a concrete flume to prevent erosion.
Other options for construction of the parking lot were a six-inch asphalt estimate for approximately $55,000, and a bid estimate for six-inch concrete both from Reiss and Goodness Engineers of Wichita.
According to Long, the issue has been on the table for 12 years, and he urged the board to make a decision.
"We need something done out there," said Long.
The council took no action on the proposal. Mayor Delores Dalke and city administrator Steve Garrett, agreed that the city needs to wait until some of the other projects they are working on are complete before taking action on the parking lot issue.
The council reviewed a bid for concessions at the sports complex from the Lions Club. The language of the contract did not include complimentary refreshments for visiting officials and umpires, and granted the bidder sole control of the concession stand and all receipts. The council deferred action on the bid and plans to contact the Lions Club regarding changes to the contract.
Other business included renewal of tax abatements for Golden Heritage Foods, Countryside Feed, and Container Services. The council voted to pass resolution 2005-01 regarding the waiver of general accepted accounting principals in the preparation of financial reports for the city, and also approved the signing of a contract with South Central Kansas Economic Development District, Inc. (SCKEDD) to administer the Small Cities Community Development Grant (CDBG) which may be awarded to Hillsboro in 2005.
The council voted to pass resolution 2005-02, a proposition to add a one-half of one cent retail sales tax question to the April ballot. The revenue collected would be used to finance the proposed aquatic center. According to council members, the resolution is worded so that if the city has revenue in excess of what is needed to pay the bond, the money could be used for other recreational facilities.
Regarding the aquatic center, Mayor Dalke wished to go on record as stating that "children will not be charged three or four dollars a day to swim at the pool."
She said that a price had not been set, but that the city did not plan to make admission so high that children couldn't come to the pool.
Parkside Homes addressed the city council requesting improvement revenue bonds (IRB) for construction and equipping of additions to the existing health care facility in order to become licensed for assisted living.
The council voted to approve Parkside's request, resolution 2005-03, issuing IRB in a principal amount of not to exceed $6,105,000.
Board appointments were renewed for Marion County Development Board, the Airport Board, Recreation Commission, the Public Library Board of Trustees, Hillsboro Community Planning and Development Commission, and Tree Board.
Returning and new board members are Steve Garrett and Cari Garbo to the MCEDB; Mike Knak, Terry Hagen, and Edith Darting to the Airport Board; Stephanie Sinclair and Wendy McCarty to the Recreation Commission; official recognition of Janet Whisenhunt to the Public Library Board of Trustees; Gaylord Goertzen, Lynn Penner, and Lowell Goering to the Hillsboro Community Development Commission; and Paul Jantzen, Gary Fields, Cheryl Bartel, and Jonah Kliewer to the Tree Board.
The council approved a lease to Kent Thompson of Southwest Industries, a spa dealer, to locate a warehouse out of the AMPI area at the end of North Main.
In his report to the council, Garrett said that the surveying for work on South Main Street was done, and the city plans to open bids for sewer work on South Main soon. Garrett is looking into Land and Water Conservation Fund Grants to fund a portion of the pool. The board also agreed to add the cost of striping the streets each year into the annual budget.
Following an executive session, the council voted to have Mayor Dalke sign a letter to the Cottonwood Cheese Company of Hutchinson. The letter offered 10 acres with the provision that construction begin within two years, city financing of a pretreatment facility for wastewater repayable within 10 years, applicable tax abatement, and utilities to the meter of the facility.
A land acquisition was approved following a third executive session. The council voted unanimously to purchase property east of the industrial park from Kim and Kathy Koop for the purpose of a waste treatment facility.
The next Hillsboro City Council meeting will be at 4 p.m., Tuesday, March 1, in the city building.
