Public hearing is Tuesday to discuss grant application
Wastewater pre-treatment facility for proposed cheese production plant will be considered
Hillsboro City Council members will hold a public hearing at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the city building for the purpose of considering an application to be submitted to the Kansas Department of Commerce for Small Cities Community Development Block Grant under the Economic Development category.
According to the public hearing notice, a specific project application to be discussed is wastewater pre-treatment for a proposed cheese production plant at Highway 56 and Kansa Road. The CDGB funds will be used to construct a wastewater pre-treatment facility for the plant and will create 40 jobs.
The estimated cost of the project is $3.5 million of which $750,000 will be requested from the CDBG program. Other projected proposals introduced at the hearing will be considered.
Garrett reported he had met with officials of Cottonwood Cheese Company to discuss a proposal for a pre-treatment plant.
"It was a good meeting," Garrett said. "We're moving toward having this happening."
The council approved Tuesday the low bid of $213,696 from APAC-Kansas, Shears Division to make street improvements from Main Street from A Street to D Street. The project is scheduled to begin late spring or early summer.
John Kullman, representative of IMA of Kansas insurance company, the city's current provider, presented an insurance quote for the city. According to IMA's proposal, the city's premium will increase by eight percent effective April 2005 through May 2006.
City administrator Steve Garrett reported that drilling will begin next week on the proposed property for the new lagoons. The soil must be tested and approved before construction can begin on the lagoons.
According to Garrett, Hillsboro recycled 189 tons of cardboard and paper in 2003 and 201 tons in 2004.
"We're consistent and successful in recycling," said Garrett.
The council approved the bylaws of Hillsboro Museum Advisory Board. Board members appointed by Mayor Delores Dalke were Aleen Ratzlaff, Jonah Kliewer, Willis Enns, Evan Yoder, Dale Honeck, and Anna Loewen Raymond.
The council approved a municipal policy statement for city employees' holiday hours payment. The policy states that paid holidays for all employees of the city of Hillsboro will be based on an eight-hour day.
On the recommendation of Hillsboro Planning Commission, the council approved Ordinance 1100 changing the zoning to light industrial on lots at 303 N. Birch. The lots are owned by Hillsboro Hardware, Ken and Tom Koslowsky, and they own three lots and intend to construct mini-storage building(s).
Zoning requires screening between industrial and residential districts. According to Ken Koslowsky, he talked to the two neighbors to the north and they would prefer not to have a fence between the properties. An existing building on the lot will be removed.
