The Hillsboro City Council approved at its Sept 18 meeting some minor changes to the plat of a newly designated business park that could make it more accessible to highway traffic.
The key change would make the north end a proposed street within the new Hillsboro Business Park extend all the way to U.S. Highway 56 instead of ending it in a cul de sac.
The change would enable the development of a direct entrance from the highway to the new park.
Mayor Delores Dalke said she only recently discovered that the Kansas Department of Transportation would allow the addition of acceleration and deceleration lanes that would make direct access to the park safe for highway traffic.
“I had assumed we couldn’t have access to U.S. 56,” Dalke said. “We can get it. That would make those lots much more appealing because they’re along the highway and are accessible from the highway.”
A specific timetable for developing one or more businesses within the new park was not indicated during the meeting, although Dalke said there is strong interest in such a development.
Changing the plat now was seen as mostly a formality to help the process along when or if that time comes.
The council also approved an ordinance changing the zoning category for Hillsboro Business Park from agricultural to highway commercial.
The Hillsboro Business Park is located east of North Ash Street along U.S. 56 Highway and north of the city-owned AMPI property.
On another matter, City Administrator Larry Paine told the council the appearance of multiple dead fish in the drainage pond in Hillsboro Heights was the result of a high nitrogen and phosphorous content in the water.
The situation was created by the formation of an algae resulting from the presence of grass clippings in the water.
“This happens regularly in our region in August,” Paine said he was told by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
The solution next year, he said, is to not mow as close to the water’s edge or use a grass-catcher on the mower.
In other business, the council:
n authorized Police Chief Dan Kinning to solicit bids for a new patrol car. He was encouraged to put out a bid package both to local car dealerships as well through the Kansas Highway Patrol.
n approved the renewal of liquor license for R&D Liquor in Hillsboro Heights.
n authorized the solicitation of bids for chip and seal and related work needed on Hillsboro streets.
n approved final pay estimates of $26,730 from APAC Kansas for work completed on the Adams Street project and an invoice of $267.65 from Ranson Financial Consultants LLC for its contract administration fee.
