Plans for Main Street improvements reviewed
Plans are being made for more improvements on Main Street.
Hillsboro City Council heard a report from Bob Privatera, engineer with Reiss and Goodness, regarding the improvements of two blocks on North Main Street.
The proposed improvements would begin where phase one of the Main Street improvements ended, north of the railroad right of way, and the next block. The improvements would extend to south of Third Street.
Privatera addressed drainage concerns in front of Central National Bank. He suggested concrete approaches to connect to private drives.
The plans would call for a concrete intersection at Second and Main streets.
A laid-back curb will be used in some areas due to space limitations and a standard curb will be used in the remaining area.
The same engineering specifications will be as used as were used in the previous Main Street project with seven-inch asphalt.
Steve Garrett, city administrator, said he had talked with Jim Ralston of APAC, the construction contractor for the phase one project.
Ralston proposed a negotiated contract to the city as part of phase one. Unit prices would stay the same.
Privatera stated this would be beneficial for the city due to the size of the project and the prices. Generally, a smaller project costs more per unit price because of the size.
One draw-back would be delaying the start time, said Privatera.
Delores Dalke, mayor, said the city would not want to start before June because of city events through the end of May.
Garrett will continue to negotiate with APAC before advertising for bids for the project.
Central National Bank and the senior center have contacted Garrett regarding accessing the alley during construction.
Garrett reported the alley is not in adequate condition to accommodate them during construction and asked permission to make it useable. Council agreed to do so.
In other business:
— Dalke and Garrett attended a meeting regarding a low-income duplex project. Garrett said the scope of the project has changed. He will have a full report at next week's meeting.
— Parkside Homes has requested an annexation of land near Park Village. Garrett said annexation by consent does not require public notification.
Len Coryea, council member, asked if the land was in a flood plain. Garrett answered it was. Dalke said regardless of the amount of land in the flood plain, flood insurance will be required for any structure.
Coryea asked if the city would be responsible for any flood control, should development occur.
Dan Baldwin, city attorney, answered the city would not be liable. Baldwin stated the zoning regulations should address flood plain areas. Building codes also will make it difficult to develop in a flood plain area without some adjustments.
"The city is not responsible to fix it (flood area) but to regulate it," added Baldwin.
— Garrett said he met with the engineer for sewer plant improvements. He will give information to council at a later date. The report is due May 1 and the city will be able to meet the requirements.
— Megan Kilgore, of Hillsboro Management Board and Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce, reported Hillsboro will not have a booth at the state fair this year.
Instead, the community will participate in the Sampler Festival May 1 and 2 in Newton.
"We've rented a 40'x40' tent with businesses participating," said Kilgore. There will be music, food, and information about Hillsboro in the booth. Twenty volunteers will be needed each day, so fair booth volunteers will be asked to participate.
Kilgore stated she hoped in the future to bid for the Sampler Festival in Hillsboro.
Kilgore said the citywide garage sale will be May 1, following citywide cleanup week.
The chamber luncheon will be April 7 with Jean Rziha giving a presentation about cholesterol.
