City hears college s plans for development
Staff reporter
Tabor Village is closer to becoming a reality.
Kirby Fadenrecht of Tabor College asked Hillsboro City Council Monday during a special meeting to consider sharing some expense with the college for a storm drain.
Fadenrecht said runoff water off Madison Street currently drains from Hillsboro High School to C Street, and then east to a creek.
Future plans include the closing of Madison Street near the college, which will create a dam for surface water. He requested the city consider assisting the college with the installation and maintenance of an underground storm culvert.
"Time is of the essence," said Fadenrecht, because the installation of the storm drain and other improvements needs to be completed by the end of this school year.
A six-inch cast iron water line also needs to be replaced. City administrator Steve Garrett reported there were funds in the city's capital improvement fund to pay for the two blocks, the 300 and 400 blocks of Madison Street. He said the city should pay for these improvements because the water line needs to be replaced.
Those improvements need to be completed in a timely manner so the college can continue with its improvements. Garrett said approximate costs were $12,000 per block.
City engineer Bob Privatera of Reiss & Goodness Engineering of Newton, said the area was "pretty flat," and would require more study to determine the depth of the storm sewer.
Garrett said an electrical engineer needs to determine electrical needs with the new addition of three, three-story housing units that would accommodate 72 beds and an apartment for a resident director.
The college's plans also include:
— Application for variances with the city's planning commission for reduced setbacks — from 25 feet to 10 feet on the east side of Adams Street, and from 25 feet to 20 feet on the north side of C Street. These changes would allow diagonal parking on Adams Street, said Fadenrecht.
— Request of a vacation of a half-block of an alley on the west side of C Street.
— Request utilities be buried from C to B streets.
— A cul-de-sac will be installed on Madison Street behind the cafeteria to allow city refuse trucks and delivery vehicles to operate without driving over curbs and sidewalks.
Mayor Delores Dalke said no one had requested the city's assistance with costs of storm drains for developed areas. The city has assisted with newly developed areas.
She suggested cost estimates be submitted to the council for consideration.
In other city business:
— The council reviewed change orders for Hillsboro Family Aquatic Center.
The council approved the substitution of a flow meter which will reduce the cost by $1,200.
A change from copper yard hydrant pipe to PVC was denied. The council was adamant about keeping the copper pipe because it would be covered with concrete and would not be easily repaired or replaced.
A change in the type of water heater from traditional to a tankless heater was approved, dependent on an appropriate size be installed.
— Garrett reminded the council of a public meeting Monday regarding a proposed county law enforcement center. A tour of the current jail will be at 6 p.m. with the meeting at 7 p.m. in the courtroom at the courthouse.
Dalke said she had talked with Hillsboro residents who had asked the council to take a stand regarding the project. She encouraged council members and Hillsboro residents to attend the meeting.
