Star-Journbal Editor
Like Darth Vader, Hillsboro Fire Chief Ben Steketee's voice used to sound low and ominous when he barked orders from behind his face mask at the scene of a fire.
But due to all of the noise at a fire scene, the other firefighters couldn't always immediately understand his muffled commands.
But now, with the new voice amplifier systems that arrived last week, Steketee will sound more electric and tinny — like a teen-ager at the drive-through.
The important thing is that the chief's voice can be heard loud and clear, which, of course, makes it much easier for the (volunteer) force to be with him.
"Now you can hear me clearly through here," he said last week, as he showed some of the fire department's new gear to Hillsboro City Council.
Hillsboro's new (used) lime-green fire fighting machine has arrived and is now ready for service.
Finding a replacement for old, broken-down fire engine No. 2 had been a priority for Steketee, since it broke down three months ago, with the cost for repairing it estimated at $25,000.
The chief found a used pumper in McPherson at the bargain price of $12,500.
The four-wheel drive, three-passenger, 1985 International is equipped with a 1,000 gallon per minute water pump, with a water cannon mounted on top.
The vehicle will be paid for by the rural fire district of Risley, Lehigh, Liberty, and part of Menno townships.
Hillsboro will use the truck in exchange for providing fire protection to the townships, and providing space to house the truck at the fire station.
In addition to demonstrating the voice amplifier, Steketee showed council members how much lighter the new composite air bottles are compared to the metal ones that firefighters had been using.
"Which one would you rather carry?" he asked.
The new equipment was paid for through a $20,000 grant from the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, a donation facilitated by the city's insurance broker, Insurance Management Associates of Wichita.
The funds were used to purchase two "buddy-breathing air packs" ($2,182 each), 18 air tanks made of a light weight composite material ($500 each), 11 helmet-mounted voice amplifier and speaker systems ($290 each), and 17 form-fitting face masks ($170 each).
The chief ended his presentation by thanking the council for making the effort to secure the grant, which equals about half of the entire annual budget for the department.
In other business,
— The council approved the payment of vouchers in the amount of $204,771.80.
— At the mayor's invitation, Marion County's new economic development secretary, Teresa Huffman, presented to the council some of her projects and future goals, as she works under the direction of the county commissioners.
Huffman, who began her position Nov. 1, has been meeting with businesses in the county, to find out what their needs are, "Answering the questions they have, and seeing what we can do to work together," she said.
Her priority is working with existing businesses, she added, "To see what we can do to shore them up and help them expand their businesses.
"I'm working with 11 businesses with planned expansion," she said. "I received another call this morning from someone needing to visit with me about an expansion."
Huffman added that she planned to invite the interested parties to meet with her at the county courthouse, to facilitate the process.
In addition, Huffman said that increased tourism would bring additional income to the county.
"Marion County is way behind in tourism," she said. "We could do so many things. You know, take people on a tour to hardware stores, quilt stores. Barns. I didn't know there were so many people interested in old barns."
At the end of her presentation, Huffman said, "I haven't been to Hillsboro yet. I've been working in the really small communities. Not that I'm opposed to Hillsboro, but Hillsboro does economic development. You are doing it very well and have been for quite awhile, and I applaud you for it. It's great here."
— The council met in executive session to discuss trade secrets.
— The council gave the mayor permission to sign the final agreements with the McPherson Dental Group, clearing the way for construction to begin on a state-of-the art dental facility at 101 S. Washington (at the southwest corner of Washington and Grand Avenue).
McPherson Dental Care dentists Jon Julian, Brian Kynaston, and others, hope to be drilling and filling at the new satellite office by May.
— Garrett presented to the council a final draft of the newly-proposed zoning map for the city, as prepared by the city planning and zoning board.
Included on the zoning map is a square area outside the city limits that the city would like to annex from Marion County. But Garrett told the council that the county commissioners were not eager to surrender the land.
When asked by Dalke how the city should make its case, Garrett said that more discussion with the commissioners was needed.
"We just go and beg?" Dalke asked.
"I don't want to use the word beg," Garrett replied. "Plead, maybe. We make our case. I think we have a strong case. I think it's a case that the other cities with zoning issues should be making as well."
Dalke said, "Regardless, it's something we must try because I think it's in everybody's best interests to pursue that, especially ours."
— The council met for a special meeting on Dec. 29 to finalize an agreement with former Hillsboro developer Eldred Kunkel, who was unable to pay for 2006 special assessments of $21,000 for new streets, water and sewer on his unsold lots in the Willow Glenn subdivision. Instead of collecting the fee, the city agreed to accept 10 fully-developed lots in Willow Glenn, which will be sold.
The council directed city administrator Steve Garrett to find out how other cities are promoting housing start-ups in their communities and to come up with some recommendations for developing the property now owned by the city of Hillsboro.
