Hillsboro council selects engineer for water project

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN DON RATZLAFF
The Hillsboro City Council picked an engineer during its July 18 meeting to direct upcoming major improvements at the water treatment plant.

Acting on a recommendation from City Administrator Steven Garrett, the council selected Evans-Bierly-Hutchison & Associates of Great Bend for the job.

Garrett had decided several months ago to find an engineer that specialized in such projects rather than use the city’s contracted engineer, Reiss & Goodness of Wichita.

In recent weeks, Garrett said he had narrowed the list of candidates to four, and finally had settled on Evans-Bierly-Hutchison not only because of its expertise in the field, but because the company worked with other comparably-sized projects elsewhere.

“It’s important to us in projects like this that (the company) be right-sized,” he said.

The improvements at the treatment plant are necessary if the city is to meet that state’s higher water-quality standards that go into effect Jan. 1, 2004. The actual project would begin sometime in 2003, Garrett said.

The council reviewed and affirmed its capital improvement plan for 2003 as it begins the process of preparing next year’s budget. Topping the list is Phase 1 of the Main Street improvement project at a cost of $610,000.

The project will include resurfacing Main Street from the former railroad tracks crossing North Main to A Street, plus Grand Street from the alley by Dale’s Supermarket east to Washington Street.

In addition to resurfacing, the city will replace water lines on the east side of Main, replace some curbing, install underground electric lines, and improve drainage.

The other project on tap for 2003 is replacing the alley between the 100 blocks of East Grand and East A streets at a cost of $85,000.

The council tentatively had planned to pursue improvements at the Schaeffler House, but a grant application to the state to help fund the project was not approved. The city will reapply for the grant with the hope of doing the work in 2004, Garrett said.

Garrett floated a job description from his previous job in Stockton for the addition of a “groundman” for the city’s electrical department. The position would be an entry-level position working under the supervision of a journeyman lineman. The person would perform semi-skilled and unskilled work in the construction and maintenance of the city’s electrical system.

Mayor Delores Dalke asked if someone in this position could move up in responsibilities without additional schooling.

Garrett said yes.

The council gave general approval to the idea, but Garrett will come back with a final job description to be considered at a later meeting.

Garrett reported that some repairs will be necessary on the new alley that was poured between the 100 block of East Grand and First Street. Cracks appeared at some points on the new alley because the contractor had not saw-cut the concrete in a timely fashion, Garrett said.

In his report to the council, Garrett said:

n formulating next year’s budget will be a tougher process than recent years because of reductions in state funding and other sources of income.

“Please don’t take this as the sky is falling,” Garrett said. He said he would rather see where the city could reduce expenses than talk about raising taxes.

“I feel strongly that in this economy, this is not the time to try and tax ourselves into better services,” he said. “We’re going to have some pretty major decisions to be made during this budget year.

“This is where you’ll start earning your pay-if you haven’t already,” Garrett said to the council members.

n he is developing a plan to begin replacing the older city-owned pickups. The newest model is a 1994, but the rest are 1989 and earlier. The council encouraged him to develop a clear description of what the city needs so it can better compare bids from the three local dealerships.

n the Hillsboro United Methodist Church was asking if it could use city property near the fairgrounds for a drive-through nativity scene during the Christmas season. Councilors said they supported the project but want to be sure it is handled in a way that will not result in a possible legal backlash regarding separation of church and state.

“It’s sad that it is that way, but that’s what it’s come to,” said Mayor Delores Dalke.

n he is waiting for word from the engineer before receiving bids for the drainage-improvement project planned for South Washington.

Councilor Len Coryea expressed some frustration with how slow the process has taken.

“I think Bob (Previtera, city engineer) needs a little spur in his rear,” Coryea said. “This project is taking too long for my liking.”

More from article archives
Goessel volleyball team captures Tescott Invitational championship
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN Goessel-The Bluebird won the Tescott Invitational Saturday with a 5-0...
Read More