Land acquisition topic of special city council meeting
Hillsboro City Council met Feb. 23 in a special meeting. After an executive session of approximately 30 minutes, the city approved the purchase of 80 acres east of Industrial Park in addition to 62 acres previously approved by the council.
The approximately 80 acres, east half of the northeast quarter of 35-19-2, are owned by the Victor Jost trust and being sold by Myrna Jost, trustee.
The approximately 62 acres, part of west half of the northeast quarter of 35-19-2, are owned by Kim Koop and Kathy Koop.
The council agreed to purchase the land at $2,000 an acre. According to mayor Delores Dalke, the city is paying "the going rate for land in that area."
The city is purchasing the land for a possible site for the city's lagoons and needs 80 acres. The purchase of the land is contingent on the soil's being suitable for a lagoon.
"The good thing is that if things work the way we hope, we'll also have a lot of highway frontage that we will own," said mayor Delores Dalke.
According to Garrett, the city pays approximately $50,000 a year for electricity at wholesale prices to run the sewage treatment plant. If the city were to build a bigger sludge plant, approximately three employees would be needed to maintain it.
"Lagoons eliminate the need for a full-time person to run the plant," said Garrett. "Nature takes its course."
The council approved a contract for consultant services from Evans, Bierly, Hutchison & Associates.
"We need the company to help us through the bumps. This contract is for the incidental moments that we might need him," said city administrator Steve Garrett.
The city decided not to hire Burbach Aquatics to help with the sales tax increase on the April ballot.
"Burbach would come out and talk to groups of people," Dalke said.
"I don't think we need them," Garrett said. "If we're going to stay in the pool business, we need to get serious because the old pool is not going to last another 50 years."
"I would caution everyone that if you hear anyone talking about how high the rates are going to be at the proposed aquatic center, you tell them that is not true," said Dalke.
Cottonwood Cheese Company has agreed to continue discussions with the city of Hillsboro with regard to locating their production facility in Hillsboro. The discussions will include location; methods of property conveyance; type, construction, cost and payment schedule of the waste water pretreatment facility; maintenance and operation of pretreatment plat; sizing needs with regard to utilities; and other items.
The city approved hiring Milford Klassen's JAMM Mowing at $35 per hour or $21,850 for the 2005 mowing season to mow some city property. The mowing contract includes the museum complex; Memorial Park; fairground, baseball field, and arena; AMPI area; Hillsboro Heights pond area; and north welcome sign.
Garrett reported the city's burnsite passed KDHE inspection.
