City Council Recap

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BY JULIE ANDERSON
The following is a summary of the issues discussed and decisions made at the Hillsboro City Council?s March 7 regular meeting. Those present were Mayor Delores Dalke and council members Wendell Dirks, Mike Padgett and Clariece Schroeder. Leonard Coryea was present for the first part of the meeting. The council:



— recessed into a public hearing for the tax abatement for Container Services, Inc. With no comments from the public, the council resumed its regular session an approved an ordinance for the abatement. The council decided to look at the city?s policy on tax abatements at a future work session.



— approved a new price for the bid on the Centennial Street entrance. The bid was increased by $1,500 because of an error.



— heard the second reading of the franchise ordinance with Sprint/United Telephone.



— approved appointing two new police reserves: Mike Fisher and Ken Jones. Fisher, a Tabor College student studying criminal justice, volunteered his time. Jones is a fully certified officer who is wanting to get back into law enforcement.



— discussed the issue of home occupations with Eric Strauss, city planning and zoning consultant. Strauss informed the council that the original policy was meant for businesses creating a nuisance. As long as neighbors did not complain, no problem existed. Because of current issues, the council will hold a work session with the planning commission at its next meeting to adjust the policy.



— authorized the mayor to sign a notice to proceed with March 13 as the starting date for the Centennial Street entrance project, which is to be finished by May 11.



— approved the engineering statement for the Centennial Street entrance.



— discussed a property acquisition for the electrical substation. The council approved purchasing four lots across the alley from the existing substation from Delores Dalke for $20,000. The site for the station was changed because of difficulties in running circuits and additional costs at the previous site.



— approved letting Dalke sign the contract with Mid State Energy Works for the construction of the substation.



— further discussed the rental policy for meeting rooms in city hall. Because of problems with recent use of the room by an outside health-related agency, the council further clarified the policy to state that any exchange of goods or services for monetary gain would not be allowed.



— discussed changes to the nuisance ordinance. Currently the ordinance says if someone has a nuisance and does not clean it up, they must come before the council. The council would like to have people go directly to the city or county attorney. A sample ordinance will be prepared for the next meeting.



— approved a request from the city superintendent for two additional cell phones for city employees, one for Morgan Marshall and the other for Mike Duerksen.



— heard a request from the city superintendent for a DTN weather system. Two systems were proposed. The council voted 2-1 against the proposal, but told Johnnie Liles he could present it again at the next meeting when a full council would be present.



— discussed vacation leave policy for city employees. The police department had been receiving 12 hours per month while other employees only received the eight hours outlined in the policy. This was due to the number of hours officers previously worked. Now that they are on hourly pay, the council decided to change the policy back to eight hours effective in March. The council approved paying Randy Brazil for acquired vacation time based on 12 hours per month. In addition, the council requested a new policy for the next meeting outlining when vacation time could be taken.



— heard a request from Tabor on adding flashing lights at crosswalks on D Street. The council wants clarification on the request.



— approved the Hillsboro Convention and Visitors Bureau?s request for the release of $1,500 from its budget to pay for the new Hillsboro brochures.

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