New pool would require new management style, city says

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN DON RATZLAFF
For Hillsboro to be able to build and sustain a new swimming pool, the way the city has been managing its pool will have to change.

That’s members of the Hillsboro City Council heard at their Oct. 5 meeting.

City Administrator Steven Garrett and Councilor Matt Hiebert had just returned from the League of Kansas Municipalities meetings, where they had talked with Nancy Ronto, the person the city has been working with regarding a new pool for Hillsboro.

Ronto represents Burbach Aquatics and is herself a former swimming pool manager.

Garrett said the three of them “talked frankly” about the prospects of building a modern pool in town. The project has been estimated to cost around $2 million.

Garrett said such a pool would have to be run “more like a utility than a service,” which would mean an aggressive management style that would control expenses and pursue new sources of revenue.

“It will have to be run totally different than it is now,” Hiebert agreed. “We will be in store for some changes in regard to how we run the pool.”

Beyond comments about expenses and income sources, neither person described in detail what those changes might be.

HCMC capital changes

Mike Ryan, chief executive officer for Hillsboro Community Medical Center, presented a proposed budget for capital improvements at the hospital and long-term-care unit for the next three years.

The following items were listed:

— 2005: replace walk-in refrigeration units in dietary department ($35,000); new whirlpool for LTCU ($20,000); replace air-conditioning system for speciality clinic ($6,000); replace air-condition system for CT room ($16,000); replace CT scanner ($300,000); floor extractor ($6,500); handicapped-entrance renovation ($500,000).

— 2006: replace hospital information system for business office ($350,000); replace fire alarm system ($18,500); replace medical air system ($15,000); replace processor in radiology ($40,000).

— 2007: new coag analyzer ($20,000).

Major purchases and facility-related projects must be approved by the city council because the city owns the facilities through its Public Buildings Commission.

Ryan said this capital budget was for information purposes at this point, and asked for no other action.

At the end of his presentation, Ryan reported that HCMC has subscribed around $230,000 of the tax credits it received from the Kansas Department of Commerce. Funds generated through the program will be used to remodel the hospital entrance and make the facility fully accessible to people with disabilities.

Ryan said tax credits are still available for total donations of between $120,000 and $130,000.

The tax-credit program allows a taxpayer to reduce his or her tax obligation to the state by 70 percent of the amount donated to HCMC. Such a donation also qualifies as a deduction for federal tax preparation.

The impact of the program for the taxpayer is that money that otherwise would go to the general fund in Topeka or Washington, D.C., is used for projects at home.

Mayor Delores Dalke challenged members of the council-and all Hillsboro residents-to consider participating in the program at HCMC. The minimum donation is $250, and can come from individuals or businesses.

“Each of us around this table owes at least that much in state taxes,” she said. “Our money might as well be used at home than be sent in to Topeka and never seen again.

“I’d like to see each of us participate as a show of support for our hospital,” she added.

Ryan said he didn’t think he’d have trouble subscribing the full amount as the end of the year approaches and people begin to think more about their taxes.

In other business, the council:

n accepted a check for $250 from the Route 66 Classic Cruisers as a donation for improvements at Memorial Park. Dan Kinning, representing the car club, said the organization donates to various charitable causes and wanted to support the work being done at the local park.

“We want to thank the car club because they add a lot to our Memorial Day events with their car show,” Dalke said in response. “They are good neighbors. We appreciate any donation to the cause.”

n approved a one-year contract with Mayer Specialty Services of Goddard for cleaning about 30,000 linear feet of the city’s sewer lines at a cost of 44 cents per linear foot ($13,200 total).

Garrett said the price from the company was slightly lower than the one charged by Utility Maintenance, which has carried the contract for the past several years.

Garrett said Mayer is a relatively new company whose ownership includes persons formerly with Utility Maintenance. He said he was confident that Mayer’s work would be as good as, or better than, the current company’s.

n was informed that residents will be receiving a postcard from the city office offering a direct-payment option for paying utility bills.

The postcard will explain the procedure that would enable a resident to authorize his or her bank to pay the bill automatically on the 10th of each month.

“We have had requests for this many times,” Dalke said.

n approved an engineering contract with Reiss & Goodness Engineers regarding the replacement of waterline along Lincoln Street.

The contract had been reviewed by City Attorney Dan Baldwin and a few revisions were made. A signed contract for engineering is part of the application process for borrowing money from the state’s revolving fund.

If the city’s application is not accepted by the Kansas Department of Health & Environment, the contract with Reiss & Goodness will be voided with no expenses incurred.

n approved the following charges related to the North Main Street renovation project: an increased of $5,311 for changes made to the project after the initial contract was approved; a final pay estimate of $17,119 for work completed by APAC-Kansas on the $148,695 project; and a charge of $3,458 by Reiss & Goodness for engineering fees.

n heard from Rose Mary Saunders of Reiss & Goodness that she has submitted the city’s application into the Kansas Department of Transportation for grant funding to help pay for proposed improvements at the city airport.

If fully funded, the improvements include replacing the taxiways and adding a heli-port for medical transfers.

Winners of the grants will be announced in February.

n approved a payment of $11,250 to Traffic Control Services for painting the lines and stripes on city streets.

n agreed to renew the city’s membership with the National League of Cities for the annual fee of $664 after hearing Dalke say the city receives “tremendously good information” from the organization.

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