Hillsboro City Council passes utilities ordinance

Hillsboro City Council members voted to approve an ordinance to "amend Section 51.041 of the City Code of Ordinances to provide for additional definitions and requirements for shut-off and turn-on fees," despite negative feedback from several citizens at the April meeting.

At the March council meeting, utilities committee chair Rebecca Wilkin said her committee met twice to discuss the ordinance, which proposes charging the “minimum rate per unit as opposed to per meter,” she said. An approximate $122,000 increase in revenue was estimated as a result of the ordinance if enacted.

As previously reported in The Highland County Press, local property managers, owners and tenants spoke out against the proposed ordinance during last month’s meeting, arguing that increased fees would hurt both the tenants and the owners.

After hearing the third reading of the ordinance Monday night, council voted 7-0 to approve the ordinance. There was no discussion prior to the vote.

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City council received a letter from the Hillsboro Area Economic Development Corporation (HAEDC) on the demolition of the Colony Theatre. Hillsboro safety and service director Todd Wilkin said that a walkthrough with a demolition contractor and engineer is scheduled for Wednesday, May 11 at noon and encouraged council members to attend.

“The intent is to go through the building and look at options to demolish the entire building,” Wilkin said.

Council president Lee Koogler also said the issue would be placed in the property maintenance and restoration committee, as council members received a copy of the letter. Committee chair Ann Morris said that she intends to have a meeting this month to discuss the proposed demolition.

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In his report, Wilkin announced that a civil service test was administered Saturday, as the city intends to hire a new police officer.

Wilkin informed council that Highland County Recycling will be collecting tires and electronics to recycle this Saturday, May 14 from 9 a.m. - noon at Hi-TEC.

Wilkin also told council members that brick pavers at the intersection of High and Main streets will be removed in the coming weeks, weather permitting, in preparation for upcoming street projects.

Seth McCoy, who has been a city employee for over 12 years, is the April employee of the month, according to Wilkin. Wilkin said that McCoy led a group of employees in restoring an old dump truck at the wastewater treatment plant.

“I wanted to thank Seth for all he does,” Wilkin said.

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Council members heard the second reading of an ordinance to amend the Code of Ordinances to facilitate yard sales in the city.

While council members did not discuss the ordinance Monday night, Hillsboro citizen Barb Cole spoke against the ordinance during the citizens’ comments portion of the meeting, saying it “impacts our freedom.”

“The city employees will be inspecting your property and your yard sale to see if you’re in compliance,” Cole said. “Then, this council and administration would be asking law enforcement to come and verify that you’re following all these rules.

“We have a heroin epidemic in our community. I do not want law enforcement going around for yard sales, and I don’t want my taxes – and I don’t believe anyone else wants their taxes – to be used for yard sale enforcement.”

Cole asked council to think of their constituents and friends when voting.

“I think it may be time, whether it be the national government, the state government or our local government, to take a look at how we either rule the citizens or serve the citizens,” Cole said. “This is such a small thing but seems so ridiculous that we would go to this extent to control people’s lives.”

Cole suggested that “a simple ordinance that says you can’t have a yard sale more than four days, and you can’t have it more often than once every three weeks” would suffice.

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In Hillsboro mayor Drew Hastings’ absence, Koogler delivered Hastings’ report and the report of the Hillsboro planning commission. According to the report, the city has “contracted to have an in-depth feasibility study done for a new hotel project.”

Koogler also announced that Hillsboro Planning Commission member Stephen Crouch has resigned and that Bob Lambert is now a member of the commission.

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Finance committee chair Dick Donley reported that his committee met to discuss the ordinance on solicitors after receiving a request from a local food truck. Donley said the committee discussed allowing the truck to park in various areas around the city and will continue to discuss the issue at a future meeting after doing additional research.

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Council member Claudia Klein requested that the city place two parking signs for handicapped veterans, purchased by Support Our Troops of Highland County, near the veterans memorial at the Highland County Courthouse. Koogler said that the committee that has considered parking matters in the past can look into it.

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In other action, council voted 7-0 to approve the following resolutions:

• A resolution to increase appropriations in the General Fund for the Board of Elections in the amount of $2,010.

• A resolution to increase appropriations in Municipal Court Special Projects by $8,600 to cover health and life insurance expenses.

• A resolution to increase appropriations in the General Fund for Tax Refunds by $150,000.

• A resolution to increase transfers from the General Fund to Recreation Fund by $41,000.

• A resolution to increase appropriations in the Municipal Motor Vehicle License Fund by $12,000.

• A resolution authorizing the safety and service director to prepare and submit an application for the FY16 Community Allocation Development Program (CDBG).

Council voted 7-0 to approve three separate public requests for sign variances: an additional sign for Edward Jones; a sign for the Scott House; and two temporary banners for Merchants National Bank.

Council also voted 7-0 to grant a variance for city-wide yard sales during the national US 50 Yard Sale, May 19-21.

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Council entered into an executive session at 7:36 p.m. at Koogler’s request, “in regards to pending litigation,” and exited the session at 8:12 p.m.