Hillsboro city leaders began 2014 with a glowing report about the city?s overall status amid a weak national economy. But as the year came to a close, the city and school district co-hosted a ?community conversation? to consider ways to boost population and school enrollment in light of budget issues.

In between, the city completed another major street-improvement project and launched a ?Youth Adven?ture? for middle-schoolers.

January

Hillsboro residents received a note with their January utility bill reminding them not to put their ?trash into their neighbor?s bin,? which had been a source of complaints.

U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp presented his message of irresponsible federal spending, dangerous foreign debt, nonsensical regulation and the tenuous future of entitlement programs for seniors when he addressed the 50 or so people who attended his Marion County town hall meeting in the Civic Center.

February

Despite a weak national economy and the ongoing fiscal challenges facing small rural com??munities, Hills?boro is holding its own?and maybe gaining. That was the assessment of Clint Seibel, economic development director, based on five key indicators of a town?s economic healths: capital investments, real estate appraisal values, local sales tax revenue, population and student enrollment.

Hillsboro Community Found?a?tion presented grant checks totaling a record $16,300 to 11 area public-service organ?izations and causes. This was the first year grants were awarded through the Kan?sas Health Foundation Fund, which was established about three years ago and has grown through annual contributions to the required $150,000. The other nine grants came through the Hillsboro Area Impact Fund.

The city?s effort to discourage curious coyotes from foraging within city limits may have been successful. Gary McCloud of Hillsboro, one of two local trappers contacted by local law enforcement for assistance, said he pulled 14 coyotes over a 21?2-week stretch. He said six of the animals had mange; he skinned the other eight and sold the coats to a fur buyer.

Marion County Commis?sioner Roger Fleming challenged the city council during to consider the county?s plan to implement single-stream recycling. Currently, local residents must sort their acceptable materials, then drop them off at a volunteer-run recycling center that is open two half-days a week.

The city coun?cil approved the final plat for an addition to the Carriage Hills subdivision. The Carriage Hills South Addition is designed with 26 residential lots, including three for duplexes. Local developer Darrell Driggers, a resident of Carriage Hills, called the addition his ?retirement project,? but said dirt work should begin in spring.

The two state legislators who represent the Hillsboro area expressed doubt about the effectiveness of the governor?s taxation plan during the legislative coffee hosted by the Chamber of Com?merce. About 10 people showed up at the Scout House to hear what Sen. Jay Emler and Rep. Don Schroeder had to say.

March

The Hillsboro City Coun?cil approved an annexation agreement meeting that will allow the city to receive grant funding for turn pockets at Adams Street and U.S. Highway 56. Under the agreement, the city would pay the Jean Winter Trust $2,500 for the opportunity to annex the property. Annexa?tion is a stipulation of the Kansas Depart??ment of Transporta?tion for the city to receive a construction grant for the project.

April

Workers with Barkley Construction began removing the asphalt surface of Date Street on the west side of Hillsboro. The peak of the street will be lowered as part of a larger improvement project that involves Date, Cedar and Birch streets. Barkley submitted the low bid of $391,000; most of the cost will covered by a Com?munity Development Block Grant.

June

With the participation of multiple partners, Hillsboro and Tabor College students were one huge step closer to having a place downtown to socialize and spend free time, and the community as a whole will have a ?new? facility for bowling. In May, the Hills?boro Development Corp. purchased the Trail Lanes Bowling Center from Betty Funk, concluding 52 years of family ownership. A total of $130,000 was contributed to the project through the Hillsboro Community Foundation, the majority of which came from an anonymous donor. Tabor College agreed to fund a portion of the project in exchange for naming rights.

July

Marion County commissioners voted to remove the county?s hazardous household waste cabinet hand from the recycling center in Hillsboro to avoid non-compliance with state regulations. Solid Waste Director Rollin Schmidt said he lacked the personnel to monitor the cabinet as is required by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Six students entering the seventh and eighth grade participated in the inaugural Hillsboro Youth Adventure, a day-long event co-sponsored by the city of Hillsboro and Families And Com?munities Together Inc. as a way to build a stronger bond between youth and their hometown. The participants were eighth-graders Trace Jost and Elli Weisbeck and seventh-graders Trinity Donaldson, Jenna Hiner?man, Lynne Johnson and Grace Major.

Members of Hillsboro High School Class of 2012 raised $550 at a benefit meal held for their classmate, Luke Moore, who was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma a month earlier.

August

High winds and wind-driven rain left Hillsboro and parts of Marion County with tree damage and some electrical outages. Wind speeds were estimated to vary between 50 mph to 70 mph. Hills?boro received 4.19 inches of rain the first three days of August.

Responding to public feedback, the Hillsboro City Council voted at its Aug. 6 meeting to no longer grant pay increases to city employees unless approved by the council on a case-by-case basis, effective immediately.

After more than two years of negotiation, the city of Hills?boro, the city of Lehigh and four surrounding rural township boards have a new fire-protection agreement. The participating townships are: Lehigh, Liberty, Menno and Risley.

The marquee on the bowling alley in Hillsboro took on a new look when city workers removed the Trail Lanes signs that had adorned the build for many years and installed a new marquee: ?Tabor College Bluejay Lanes.? The college purchased naming rights when it contributed to local partnership to renovate the facility and incorporate a ?hang out? for local youth and college students in the front area. The alley also will be available for public bowling, said Todd Zenner, alley manager and head bowling coach at Tabor.

September

Members of the electric crew from the city put a new flexface on the billboard along U.S. High?way 50 just west of the Indigo Road turnoff.

The city council approved a plan from the Museum Advisory Board to paint and repair the Friesen Mill in the Mennonite Settlement Museum complex at a cost of $21,900. The project would be financed with $17,000 of donated money from the Friesen Mill Trust and $4,900 from the Kansas State Historical Society.

With near perfect fall weather, Police Chief Dan Kinning and his staff estimated Saturday?s crowd at the 44th annual Hillsboro Arts & Crafts Fair at ?pushing 50,000.?

The Hillsboro City Coun?cil approved the creation of a reserve fund to replace firefighting vehicles and equipment. The fund was part of the new fire-protection agreement between the city and five surrounding entities.

Gaylord Goertzen retired as full-time pastor at Ebenfeld Mennonite Breth?ren Church in Hillsboro after 25-plus years of ministry.

November

Fire destroyed an unoccupied house at 207 N. Wash?ing?ton St. in Hillsboro during the early morning hours of Nov. 12, The house was owned by Johnnie Liles. The cause of the fire was ruled ?undetermined.?

Advised about a plan to develop a small school-related farm by USD 410 officials, the Hills?boro City Coun?cil was asked by USD 410 leaders to consider changing the city?s code so schools can house farm animals within city limits.

A total of 111 families in Marion County had a happier Thanksgiving Day, thanks to the generosity of the Ebenfeld Mennonite Breth?ren Church. Sara Wichert, church member, said the turkey basket program was in its fourth year.

December

The city council began discussing a utility rate increase for 2014. As a starting point for discussion, City Admini?strator Larry Paine floated a proposal that would increase the total monthly bill for water, sewer, electric and sanitation services by 12.8 percent.

About 125 people turned out on a cold Monday night for a ?Community Conver?sation? sponsored by USD 410 and the city of Hillsboro. The purpose of the gathering in the high school auditorium was to hear and share ideas about the challenges facing the school district and the city as a whole. The focus question of the evening was, ?What is import?ant to you about Hillsboro??

After expressing some doubts about the plan, the city council agreed at its Dec. 17 meeting to open the local volunteer-run recycling center on a 24/7 basis for a trial period. Previously, the center had been open only on Saturday morning and Thursday afternoon. The new plan went into effect immediately.