Hillsboro council closer to project funding

The Hillsboro City Coun­cil took another step closer to securing funding for the city’s $3.1 million water project by approving a resolution at the Nov. 7 meeting that the city will comply with USDA standards regarding procurement, bidding and contract awards.

At the council’s Oct. 24 meeting, Don Hellar of EBH Engineers, said the city was applying for a loan from the Kansas Public Water Supply Loan Fund for $3.1 million to replace water lines and for the automatic read system (AMR).

The council later approved Resolution 2017-11, which authorized the completion to the Kansas Depart­ment of Health and Environment regarding a loan from the Kansas Public Water Supply Loan Fund.

The KDHE loan would be a 20-year loan. The city has also filed an application with the USDA Rural Develop­ment Administration for a 40-year loan. Hellar said RDA has not been assured as yet of being funded by the federal government.

Councilor Bob Watson had expressed concern about the cost of the automatic meter reading as part of the project. The cost just to professionally install the technology would be $50,000.

City Administrator Larry paine said he would like to see the AMR remain part of the project because once it is installed he said customers would be happier with the information the city can provide them about their water use.

Hellar added the ARM technology can detect leaks in the system and can actually pay for itself over the years.

Following Hellar’s presentation, the council approved Resolution 2017-11 with all four council members voting in favor.

Other business

In other business, the council:

• approved Mayor Delores Dalke’s reappointment of Dawn Helmer to the city’s Recreation Commis­sion.

• heard Paine say that the Marion County Com­munity Economic Develop­ment Corp. is calling a meeting of stakeholders in response to recent developments regarding the enterprise.

Paine said invitations will be going to county commissioners, mayors, council members and economic development directors. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Elgin Hotel in Marion.

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