Hillsboro City Council signs contracts for water system
Hillsboro Mayor Delores Dalke signed three contracts Tuesday at the city council meeting for water system improvements and upgrades: Utility Contracts of Wichita, water treatment plant improvements for $2.453 million; APAC-KS, Inc., Shears division, water distribution system improvements for $214,844; and Pittsburg Tank & Tower Co., Inc., elevated water storage tank improvements, $55,120.
The council voted not to sign Resolution 05-07 which approved a plan for neighborhood revitalization for the whole of Marion County. The interlocal cooperation agreement for administration purposes must be signed by each entity that wishes to be included in the plan.
"My position is the purpose of the revitalization plan is to provide incentive for people to do some improvements they weren't planning to do," said city administrator Steve Garrett. "I don't think we need that incentive for construction in Hillsboro."
"We need to go on record as having said yes or no," said Dalke.
The council unanimously voted against signing the Marion County neighborhood revitalization plan interlocal agreement.
Hillsboro Community Medical Center's chief executive officer Mike Ryan attended the meeting to ask the council for approval of $11,685 for a whirlpool bath system.
"It isn't feasible to repair the old system for a reasonable amount of money," Ryan said.
According to Ryan, the hospital staff saw a demonstration of the new system and was impressed with the ease of use.
The council approved the purchase of the bathing system from Enneking Medical Inc., Kansas City, Mo.
John Wiebe, Mennonite Brethren Foundation, submitted a request to make the alley between Washington and Lincoln streets one-way between B and C streets. Mennonite Brethren Foundation plans to add a new parking lot and a one-way alley would allow them to use angle parking and accommodate additional vehicles.
"This is a residential area. Why give permission for a parking lot in a residential area?" said Dalke. "What about the people in the area who don't want a parking lot in their backyards? This is a zoning issue."
The consensus of the council was to turn the matter over to Hillsboro Planning Commission.
In a public hearing held at 4:30 p.m., Arlene Schale, mother of Steve Schale who lives in close proximity to the proposed lagoons, read from a prepared statement opposing the lagoons.
"My son bought this farm six years ago and has made improvements to the property," Arlene Schale said. "Do you [council members] want the lagoon in your backyard?"
Arlene Schale proposed the city buy Steve Schale's farm at a relocation price.
"The city purchased the property for the lagoons at a price which no one could turn down," she said. "Why not purchase my son's farm?"
Steve Schale proposed building the lagoons west of the airport by the curve where no one lives.
The next public hearing about the lagoons will be at 4 p.m. July 5 at the city building.
"We're not required by law to answer questions," said Garrett. "Some of the questions we can't answer, but if we can answer them, we'll try."
No council members responded to the Schales' proposals or questions.
According to Garrett the Lincoln Street project will begin between July 5 and 18.
The council agreed by consensus to allow fishing at the pond in Hillsboro Heights. The council recommended that adults be required to throw back their catches and children be allowed to keep theirs.
Recently a local citizen erected a sign asking people who fished the pond to throw back what they caught.
"We have no signs at other city ponds," said council member Matt Hiebert. "Allow kids to catch fish within legal limits. The signs need to come down."
"If kids fish it out, they fish it out," said council member Len Coryea. "This is not a country club fishing area. Let's tell adults to fish and release and allow kids to keep their catches if they want."
In other business council:
— Approved agreement, with changes in dates, for mutual aid in fire protection.
— Approved the 2004 audit report.
— Approved request for Tabor College to bore under C Street for placement of communication wires.
— Went into a 10-minute executive session at 4:55 p.m. to discuss trade secrets.
