Hastings says city moving 'upward and onward'
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings said that on Day 72 of his term in office "operation upward and onward" was progressing with new projects.
During Monday's regular monthly meeting of the Hillsboro City Council, the mayor and Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Richard Giroux outlined projects that are underway and are in planning stages for the city.
"Day 72 of the new administration, which we like to call 'Operation Upward and Onward' continues unabated," Hastings said in his report to council.
Hastings said that weekly meetings are being held between the city of Hillsboro and representatives from Hamer, Jackson, Liberty New Market, Paint and Washington townships regarding the proposed formation of a new fire/EMS district, however, he did not elaborate on those discussions.
The city continues to monitor the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio regarding AEP rate increases, and a recent decision to rescind 2012 rate hikes, he said.
"Vigilance is the only thing that is going to keep that at bay," Hastings said of the rate increases.
Additional work that is ongoing, according to Hastings, includes: Working with Hillsboro Chief of Police Nick Thompson to "up our police visibility at the request of citizens;" inventory of city streets by the Hillsboro Street Department on what potholes will be fixed in the coming weeks; working with the Highland County Historical Society and area historian Jean Wallis on creating slide shows of historical buildings that will be played on the Hillsboro Public Access Station; city representatives were continuing work on the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure, which rolls through Hillsboro in June; and working with the Festival of the Bells committee regarding enforcing a permit process for vendors "to ensure a level of professionalism in the city during the festival."
Giroux reported that the construction on the city's wastewater treatment plant was at "88-percent completion, and is on schedule and within budget. It should be completed by May or June, which is well-within our time limits."
The city is constructing the new $17-million plant in order to be in compliance with Ohio Environmental Protection Agency mandates regarding treatment and overflows, and the project must be completed within an allotted time frame.
Giroux said he and city staff members were "working to get a real good, solid handle on the original funding mechanism (for the plant) to make sure that we are spending the grant monies first before we get into the loan monies."
In the plant construction, Giroux said, "There is one adjustment that we currently are looking at. It wasn't in the original plan. Myself and our engineers are all recommending that it is an essential piece of equipment. It was not in the original design - it was actually axed in the design. The engineers, the contracts agree it makes complete and total common sense to add that essential item before that project is completed."
By the end of March or early April, Giroux said the city will begin a street sweeping program, and then will then begin on the repainting of crosswalks and traffic lines.
"I am also happy to announce we are moving forward with a grant exploration program," Giroux said. "We're assessing any and all grants that the city can take advantage of. We're kind of making a master list of all the monies that are available for these projects through the grant program, state or federal."
The city recently hired Maggie Horst to work on grant writing for city projects. The city also utilizes the services of Peg Beekman for grant writing, and Giroux has said that he and deputy law director Laura Curliss also write grants.
Council's utilities committee will meet with Giroux in the coming weeks to discuss the proposed creation of a manager in the Hillsboro utilities office. The resolution creating its position had its first reading during the February council meeting, but council had requested further explanation.
Giroux said Monday that "as time unfolds, the mayor and I will probably approach council on the creation of a few other positions," and that will depend on the need of the position, "the financing and so forth."
Council ultimately heard the second reading of the resolution, and it will proceed to its third reading and a vote during the April meeting.
"The main issue for the utility office manager position is actually several-fold," Giroux said. "In my opinion, I think there should be a supervisor in that office, some sort of chain of command."
Additionally, the employee who is being considered for the position may be retiring within the next 18 months, and it puts her in a position to train and pass on information to other employees, he said.
The employee will also be working with Curliss, Giroux said, on rewriting some outdated utilities ordinances regarding readings and rate structure.
Utilities committee president Dave Shoemaker said that he looked forward to working on the issues, and council member Mary Brown Turner said that she wanted to thank Hastings and Giroux for their reports.
In other business:
• Council voted 4-0 to reduce transfers in the street fund by $162,965. Council had previously passed a resolution authorizing transfers in the street fund in the amount of $225,000. Hillsboro Auditor Gary Lewis said the reduction was to cover the city's reduction in proposed fire/EMS contracts with the townships. The 2012 budget was based on contacts of $27 per person in the townships, but council recently authorized a contract at $22 per person.
• Council voted to excuse the absences of council members Bonnie Parr and Brian Waller. Council member Rod Daniels is currently serving overseas with the Army Reserve.
• Council voted 4-0 to increase appropriations in various funds: $13,000 in the street department to accommodate the street sweeping program; $10,000 in the fire/EMS budget for medical supplies that were not included in the budget; and $5,000 for city council for training.
Counsel President Lee Koogler said that he had made the request for funds, and that he feels it would be a good idea for council members to seek out various training throughout 2012. If the funds are not spent, they will go back to the general fund.
• Council voted 4-0 to pass a resolution amending the city's cellular telephone policy. According to the resolution, "the Internal Revenue Service has removed cell phones from the listed property category and any fringe benefit is now declared 'de minimis' (meaning any property or service whose value is so small that accounting for it is unreasonable or administratively impracticable)." The following sentence was stricken from the city's policy: "All authorized users will be presented with a copy of the billing for their cellular telephone. They shall identify private calls listed on the bill and they shall present the bill with payment for private use of to the office of the auditor. Payment shall be in the form of cash or personal check."
• Giroux said that he is looking at contracts to mow Liberty Park, and is also looking at reopening the restroom facilities at the park. The city had closed the bathrooms due to persistent vandalism, and Giroux said that after "a complete overhaul" of the facilities, which would include a new roof, that they be locked when not in use, with keys given to organizers of the sports teams that utilize the park.
• Council approved a request by Andi Reno, of Anna's Army, to close Gov. Trimble Place on April 20 for Anna's Army Day, which will take place on the lawn of the Highland County Courthouse Lawn. Council approved the request 4-0. Reno also proposed a new event be added to the Festival of the Bells lineup - a "Bring Your Own Big Wheel" race. Reno said that it would be similar to the soapbox derbies that used to be held in the city. Council president Lee Koogler suggested Reno discuss the proposal with the Festival of the Bells Committee and bring it back to council during the April meeting.
• Brown Turner said that since it has been a mild winter, she had put a project to raise funds and construct a new bus shelter on the back burner. She currently has a $100 donation toward the project, and that $400 more is needed for construction. Giroux said that he and Hastings are organizing a fundraising program in order to construct the bus shelters.
Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings said that on Day 72 of his term in office, "operation upward and onward" was progressing with new projects.
During Monday's regular monthly meeting of the Hillsboro City Council, the mayor and Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Richard Giroux outlined projects that are under way and are in planning stages for the city.
"Day 72 of the new administration, which we like to call 'Operation Upward and Onward,' continues unabated," Hastings said in his report to council.
Hastings said that weekly meetings are being held between the city of Hillsboro and representatives from Hamer, Jackson, Liberty, New Market, Paint and Washington townships regarding the proposed formation of a new fire/EMS district; however, he did not elaborate on those discussions.
The city continues to monitor the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio regarding AEP rate increases and a recent decision to rescind 2012 rate hikes, he said.
"Vigilance is the only thing that is going to keep that at bay," Hastings said of the rate increases.
Additional work that is ongoing, according to Hastings, includes: Working with Hillsboro Chief of Police Nick Thompson to "up our police visibility at the request of citizens;" inventory of city streets by the Hillsboro Street Department on what potholes will be fixed in the coming weeks; working with the Highland County Historical Society and area historian Jean Wallis on creating slideshows of historical buildings that will be played on the Hillsboro Public Access Station; city representatives were continuing work on the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure, which rolls through Hillsboro in June; and working with the Festival of the Bells committee regarding enforcing a permit process for vendors "to ensure a level of professionalism in the city during the festival."
Giroux reported that the construction on the city's wastewater treatment plant was at "88-percent completion and is on schedule and within budget. It should be completed by May or June, which is well within our time limits."
The city is constructing the new $17-million plant in order to be in compliance with Ohio Environmental Protection Agency mandates regarding treatment and overflows, and the project must be completed within an allotted time frame.
Giroux said he and city staff members were "working to get a real good, solid handle on the original funding mechanism (for the plant) to make sure that we are spending the grant monies first before we get into the loan monies."
In the plant construction, Giroux said, "There is one adjustment that we currently are looking at. It wasn't in the original plan. Myself and our engineers are all recommending that it is an essential piece of equipment. It was not in the original design – it was actually axed in the design. The engineers, the contractors agree it makes complete and total common sense to add that essential item before that project is completed."
By the end of March or early April, Giroux said the city will begin a street sweeping program, and they will then begin on the repainting of crosswalks and traffic lines.
"I am also happy to announce we are moving forward with a grant exploration program," Giroux said. "We're assessing any and all grants that the city can take advantage of. We're kind of making a master list of all the monies that are available for these projects through the grant program, state or federal."
The city recently hired Maggie Horst to work on grant writing for city projects. The city also utilizes the services of Peg Beekman for grant writing, and Giroux has said that he and deputy law director Laura Curliss also write grants.
Council's utilities committee will meet with Giroux in the coming weeks to discuss the proposed creation of a manager in the Hillsboro utilities office. The resolution creating its position had its first reading during the February council meeting, but council had requested further explanation.
Giroux said Monday that "as time unfolds, the mayor and I will probably approach council on the creation of a few other positions," and that will depend on the need of the position, "the financing and so forth."
Council ultimately heard the second reading of the resolution, and it will proceed to its third reading and a vote during the April meeting.
"The main issue for the utility office manager position is actually several-fold," Giroux said. "In my opinion, I think there should be a supervisor in that office, some sort of chain of command."
Additionally, the employee who is being considered for the position may be retiring within the next 18 months, and it puts her in a position to train and pass on information to other employees, he said.
The employee will also be working with Curliss, Giroux said, on rewriting some outdated utilities ordinances regarding readings and rate structure.
Utilities committee president Dave Shoemaker said that he looked forward to working on the issues, and council member Mary Brown Turner said that she wanted to thank Hastings and Giroux for their reports.
In other business:
• Council voted 4-0 to reduce transfers in the street fund by $162,965. Council had previously passed a resolution authorizing transfers in the street fund in the amount of $225,000. Hillsboro Auditor Gary Lewis said the reduction was to cover the city's reduction in proposed fire/EMS contracts with the townships. The 2012 budget was based on contacts of $27 per person in the townships, but council recently authorized a contract at $22 per person.
• Council voted to excuse the absences of council members Bonnie Parr and Brian Waller. Council member Rod Daniels is currently serving overseas with the Army Reserve.
• Council voted 4-0 to increase appropriations in various funds: $13,000 in the street department to accommodate the street sweeping program; $10,000 in the fire/EMS budget for medical supplies that were not included in the budget; and $5,000 for city council for training.
Council President Lee Koogler said that he had made the request for funds and that he feels it would be a good idea for council members to seek out various training throughout 2012. If the funds are not spent, they will go back to the general fund.
• Council voted 4-0 to pass a resolution amending the city's cellular telephone policy. According to the resolution, "the Internal Revenue Service has removed cell phones from the listed property category and any fringe benefit is now declared 'de minimis' (meaning any property or service whose value is so small that accounting for it is unreasonable or administratively impracticable)." The following sentence was stricken from the city's policy: "All authorized users will be presented with a copy of the billing for their cellular telephone. They shall identify private calls listed on the bill and they shall present the bill with payment for private use of to the office of the auditor. Payment shall be in the form of cash or personal check."
• Giroux said that he is looking at contracts to mow Liberty Park and is also looking at reopening the restroom facilities at the park. The city had closed the bathrooms due to persistent vandalism, and Giroux said that after "a complete overhaul" of the facilities, which would include a new roof, that they be locked when not in use, with keys given to organizers of the sports teams that utilize the park.
• Council approved a request by Andi Reno, of Anna's Army, to close Gov. Trimble Place on April 20 for Anna's Army Day, which will take place on the lawn of the Highland County Courthouse. Council approved the request 4-0. Reno also proposed a new event be added to the Festival of the Bells lineup - a "Bring Your Own Big Wheel" race. Reno said that it would be similar to the soapbox derbies that used to be held in the city. Council president Lee Koogler suggested Reno discuss the proposal with the Festival of the Bells Committee and bring it back to council during the April meeting.
• Brown Turner said that since it has been a mild winter, she had put a project to raise funds and construct a new bus shelter on the back burner. She currently has a $100 donation toward the project, and $400 more is needed for construction. Giroux said that he and Hastings are organizing a fundraising program in order to construct the bus shelters.
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