Hillsboro council sells city-owned lot in Willow Glen

Acting against the recommendation of the city admin?istrator, the Hillsboro City Council voted at its June 17 meeting to sell a city-owned lot in the Willow Glen housing addition to one of the homeowners there.

Gary and Connie Beavers, who moved to Hillsboro earlier this year, had offered the city $3,000 to purchase the empty lot next to their residence at 206 Willow Glen Lane.

Gary Beavers, who attended the meeting, said his intention for the lot was to keep someone else from purchasing and developing it. He said they plan to use the undeveloped lot as an open space and a play area for grandchildren.

City Administrator Larry Paine said when the developer of the development offered to give the city the remaining lots, the council had accepted them with the hope of selling the lots for the construction of houses, which would contribute to the city?s property-tax base.

For that reason, Paine recommended that the council turn down the Beavers? offer.

Councilor Shelby Dirks said he understood Beavers? interest in the lot, and that selling the lot would relieve the city of paying property taxes on it. He seconded Byron McCarty?s motion to sell the lot, and it passed 3-0 with support from Bob Watson. Marlene Fast was absent from the meeting.

Zoning change

The council approved a zoning change recommendation from the city?s planning commission regarding property located at the corner of North Ash Street and Orchard Drive.

The property has been owned by Jane Miller and used for her residence and an adjoining orchard.

The property that had been zoned for agricultural use was purchased by Chasen Gann, who asked the planning com?mission for a zoning change that would split the lot into two sections, with the orchard area being rezoned as a highway service district.

The planning commission agreed to lot split at its June 5 meeting, following a public hearing in January, and recommended the zoning change to the council.

Paine said he has not seen a development plan, but understands that Gann intends to establish a commercial building on the property.

The council approved the zoning change 3-0.

Other business

In other business, the council:

— heard from Paine that the newly refurbished pumper truck recently acquired earlier this year by the city should be delivered within the next three weeks.

It currently is in Alabama because some of the mechanical work the sellers agreed to do when the truck was purchased has not yet been completed because of unforeseen delays. The company will deliver the truck to city when the work is finished, Paine said.

— approved a cereal malt beverage license for El Lorito, operating as La Cabana restaurant at 117 S. Main. A new license was required because the restaurant recently was acquired by Agustin Ramirez. The name of the restaurant will be changed to El Lorito.

— deferred until the next council meeting the discussion of a master plan for the city airport developed by city engineer Darin Neufeld of EBH.

— met for an executive session regarding trade secrets, with no action taken when the public session resumed.

— met for a work session following the regular meeting as part of the city?s budgeting process for 2015.

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