Voters will vote on city sales tax in April election
Tuesday evening, Hillsboro City Council passed Ordinance 14, taking the first step in putting the question of a one-half cent sales tax increase to the public. Ordinance 14 provides the authority and the process the city will use to issue bonds if the sales tax increase passes.
The tax increase will be used to fund the family aquatic center and will be on the April ballot.
According to city administrator Steve Garrett, city crews are picking up debris from the recent ice storm.
"Hopefully, things will be back to normal soon," Garrett said. "We're expecting to hear from FEMA if Hillsboro has been declared a disaster area because of the storm damage."
Garrett said the city crews have had many compliments about the work they did during the storm.
"Our city crews did a really good job," he said.
Hillsboro Planning Commission and Garrett held the first public meeting Monday night. The next meeting is at 7 p.m. tonight (Thursday) at the Scout House. The final meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at city hall.
"Our idea is to figure out what folks in the community want," said Garrett.
Hillsboro has received a Community Development Block Grant of $155,500 for the Lincoln Street waterline project. The new waterline will be from the former railroad track on North Lincoln south to the end of the street.
Many city employees will attend a safety program in the city building on Friday and Monday.
The council approved giving Garrett the authority to spend not more than $10,000 to improve the bathrooms in the city building and bring them into ADA compliance.
Council member Len Coryea questioned whether department heads were working on or had completed reviews. Garrett told the council some of the reviews were finished.
Coryea also asked about the water plant project. According to Garrett, the city is waiting on funding and he will have a report at the next meeting.
Garrett moved the council go into executive session for 15 minutes to discuss personnel.
No action was taken and the meeting adjourned.
In other business the council:
— signed an agreement with Swindoll Janzen Hawk & Lloyd for the 2004-06 audit.
— approved Ordinance #1098, vacating alley easement on Elm Street.
— approved preparing application for a revolving loan fund to begin design process for the sewer plant.
— learned that $17,099 in unpaid city bills have been turned over to the state for collection from tax returns.
