Star-Journbal Editor
Skeptical Hillsboro city officials said last week that the county's proposed $15 million justice center could become a debtors' prison for county residents themselves.
At a Hillsboro City Council meeting Jan. 16, city administrator Steve Garrett invited council members to join him to learn more about the county project at the county's hearing on the proposal later that evening.
"Every time they say they want to fund it through this tax, I go, hum, I'm not for that," he said. "Hopefully they'll have some other creative ideas there."
But at a special city council meeting Friday, Garrett said he was disappointed at what he'd heard.
"Quite honestly I will tell you, I hesitate to say anything, because anytime we say something it creates a whole new set of problems, because we're evil," Garrett said. "
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In the discussion that followed, concerns were raised that a sales tax increase would hurt Hillsboro businesses, especially car dealers, and that a proposed property tax increase would discourage people from buying homes or land.
The discussion took place between Garrett, Mayor Delores Dalke, city council members Matt Hiebert, Shelby Dirks, and Barney McCarty, and city attorney Dan Baldwin.
Council members, including Mayor Delores Dalke, also questioned the wisdom of the county's plan to operate a for-profit prison.
While Garrett was the only representative present at the public meet-
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ing from City Hall, the city of Hillsboro was well represented, he said.
"Car dealers were there, car salesmen were there, the chamber was represented, [Hillsboro Development Corporation] members were there," Garrett said. "We were very concerned."
In making his remarks, Garrett prefaced them by saying that he feared Hillsboro's concerns about the
new facility would be considered nay-saying. Nevertheless, the concerns need to be expressed, he said.
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Council member Matt Hiebert pointed out that if a sales tax were levied, a greater percentage would come from Hillsboro.
"And as much as you hate to say this, in a county that is as poor as Marion County, can you afford to hit your taxpayers that hard? Aren't we still in the bottom five out of 105 counties in Kansas as far as our spendable income?"
McCarty asked, "How are you going to get new people to move here when you have the highest tax rate in the state?"
Asked if the county had compared the cost of a new jail to the cost of housing prisoners in another county, Garrett said, "I've not seen anything that shows that they've ever looked at that."
Someone added, "You can drive to Chase County for a long time for $15 million dollars."
Hiebert asked, "What's the guarantee that if this is built that it's going to be profitable? What's the guarantee that it's not going to lose us money? What's the guarantee that it's not going to bankrupt the sheriff's department?"
McCarty asked, "What's the guarantee it's not going to bankrupt all of our car dealers in town?"
The mayor said she was skeptical that a larger jail facility would, in fact, be profitable. Making enough money to just pay the overhead would be a challenge, she said.
Hiebert asked if the county had considered the fate of Rice County, where he said the for-profit jail scheme failed.
"I'm not against a new jail," McCarty said. "I just don't like the way they're going to finance it. I think a new jail is fine.
"I think they're looking for a pot of gold over there, but it's not there," McCarty said.
In conclusion, the council agreed that the mayor should seek the support of Hillsboro business interests, to begin a dialogue with the county commission.
"I'd like for the discussion to be constructive," Garrett said. "All we can do is maintain our side of the street on this. But we do have a case that needs to be presented in such a way where we're not ignored or easily dismissed as [being against it]."
In other business,
The Hillsboro City Council met twice last week. In its regular meeting Jan. 16:
— The council passed a resolution authorizing a public hearing to discuss a tax abatement request by Hillsboro Industries. The resolution will be published prior to a hearing Feb. 6.
— The council also passed an ordinance that authorizes the city to begin drawing funds for the construction phase of the wastewater treatment plant and sewer lagoon project. The project will be paid for with a $750,000 grant, and $4.5 million in general obligation bonds.
— The council elected water plant supervisor Morgan Marler as the city's voting representative to the upcoming Kansas rural water meeting in Wichita.
— The council heard a report from Garrett who said there was a reason why the video camera being tested by the Hillsboro Police Department for possible use in its squad cars was priced so cheaply. "The cheap one doesn't work," Garrett said. "The brand we were looking at was supposed to be a lot better than it was. It's not user-friendly." Garrett added that the department will be testing a mid-range video camera in the coming weeks.
— Garrett presented a cost estimate of $9,281.22 from Deer Trail Implement of Marion, for a 60-inch cut riding mower to be used by city crews this summer. The city had hired a subcontractor, but decided it would be more economical in the future to have the mowing done by public works employees. The council asked Garrett to check to make sure the local price was the best price he could find.
At a special meeting this past Friday:
— The council met in a 15-minute executive session for the purpose of discussing real property with USD 410 superintendent Gordon Mohn. Afterward, the city passed a resolution authorizing the sale of 40 acres of city-owned property located just south of the Tabor College football complex to USD 410 for the proposed joint expansion of the athletic fields and additional parking. The city agreed to sell the property for $35,850, which, according to Dalke, was the amount it paid for the land. The land sale is contingent on the passage of a citywide bond referendum to approve the stadium project.
— Garrett presented an update on a plan to create a housing incentive program for the 10 lots in the Willow Glen subdivision which recently was turned over by the developer to the city.
— Garrett met with officials in Harvey County who set up a "simple and straight forward" program there. The proposal would provide cash incentives on houses under $125,000. Dalke indicated that $125,000 would be the maximum value of the houses qualifying for the program. The council asked Garrett to get as much documentation on the program from Harvey County as possible, and then turn the material over to the city attorney. Hiebert encouraged Garrett to proceed quickly, so the program can begin in time for the spring construction season.
— And, motorists soon will be able to see the Hillsboro billboard just west of Indigo Road on U.S.-50, even at night. The council authorized payment of $440 for its portion of the cost of putting reflective tape on sign, which was built by a class of Tabor College students who forgot to use reflective paint on the project. The $1,300 cost of retrofitting the sign will be shared by Tabor, the chamber of commerce, and the city.
