Main Street repairs should be priority
By JENNIFER WILSON
News editor
Repairing Main Street should be the priority in the city's capital improvement plan, the city council decided Thursday evening.
Hillsboro's capital improvement plan is a document that outlines projects the city would like to tackle using its designated capital improvement funds.
Each year, the city decides which projects should be completed first, and at Thursday's meeting, council members discussed three main potential projects: Main Street repair, a new swimming pool, or a new safety center.
The city's CIP priorities can change each year, said City Administrator Steve Garrett.
"It's a fluid document," he said.
Most council members agreed that repairing Main is the most important task right now, and it should be started as soon as possible.
"I don't want to see a multi-year project start six years down the road," said council member Mike Padgett. "Let's fix what we have before we build something new."
Member Matt Hiebert agreed. Recent snow and ice storms have already damaged the streets, and they need work, he said.
It's also important to keep Main Street attractive in order to attract potential businesses — especially new businesses that will fill some of the vacancies on Main, Hiebert said.
Mayor Delores Dalke agreed with the need to repair Main. The street has cracks that need to be filled in, and parts of the surface need to be worked on, she said.
Despite the obvious needs of Main, the pool also needs repairs of its own, stressed council member Len Coryea.
"Somehow we've got to sink some money into a pool, because it may break down someday," Coryea said.
Matt Hiebert agreed.
"It definitely would be an asset for the community," he said.
One definite project the city will undertake this year is the repair of the Adobe House barn roof. The city had originally planned to repair the roof in 2003, but Hillsboro has enough money left in the 2002 capital improvement fund to get the project started now.
With the repairs on the barn roof, the city should spend approximately $240,000 in capital improvement funds in 2002.
Possible 2003 improvements include the repair of two alleys, curbs, and waterline on First Street from Ash to Main and the repair of a waterline on C Street from Adams to Wilson, Garrett said. In 2004, the city hopes to improve the section of Ash Street between Third and the railroad.
At Thursday's city council meeting, the council also approved the transfer of the Barkman Honey property lease to the new entity of Golden Heritage Foods. Golden Heritage is the product of a joint venture between Barkman and Stoller's Honey of Latty, Ohio.
In other city council business:
— Hillsboro financial adviser Jerry Rayl recommended that the city continue to allow property tax abatements for Container Services, Countryside Feed, and Barkman Honey. The council approved the request.
— The council voted to allow $150,000 in temporary notes to be devoted to improvements at the water treatment plant. The money will be financed at 3 1/2 percent over two years.
— The council approved the a new set of bylaws drafted by the Hillsboro Recreation Commission. The new bylaws don't replace any previous ones, Garrett said.
