Vandals: Take heed; City cracks down on incidents
Staff reporter
Vandals who have caused damages in Hillsboro Memorial Park and at Hillsboro Municipal Golf Course are on notice by the City of Hillsboro.
City administrator Steve Garrett reported April 4 to Hillsboro City Council that there were recurring vandalism incidents.
Graffiti had been painted on picnic tables in the park which since have been repainted, said Garrett. The most recent act of vandalism was the chopping down of a mature ash tree.
The tree incident was the last straw for Garrett.
"The tree is worth $1,000," said Garrett, "which constitutes a felony."
Hillsboro Police Department will be extra vigilant, said Garrett, by patrolling the area during the night which was when the vandalism occurred.
In other business:
— The council approved the following: pay estimates for $245,511 to Carrothers Construction and $2,781 and $18,432 to Burbach Aquatics for the family aquatic center, pay estimates for $207,872 to Utility Contractors and $13,778 and $1,140 to EBH & Associates for water plant improvements, Mayor Delores Dalke to sign close-out paperwork for a CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) for the Lincoln Street project, and a two-year reappointment of Garrett to the KMEA (Kansas Municipal Energy Agency).
— City attorney Dan Baldwin will prepare a ordinance for a vacation of part of an alley per Tabor College's request. The alley is west of Adams Street. A portion of the alley by Subway Sandwiches and Salads will not be vacated.
— Megan Kilgore of Hillsboro Management Board (HMB), reported The Carpet Center recently opened and is located in the former Quick Flick building, and a local farmer's market was being organized.
— Board appointments were as follows: Hillsboro Planning and Zoning Commission, Krista Heinrichs, Ray Franz, and Virginia Martens, re-appointments; Marion County Economic Development Council, Becky Nuss, re-appointment; Hillsboro Convention and Visitors Bureau, Lola Unruh and Brenda Coryea, new appointments, and Frances Walls and Matt Dalke, re-appointments; Hillsboro Airport Authority, Jerry Dalke and Gary Marsh, re-appointments; Hillsboro Recreation Commission, Doug Faul, re-appointment.
— City cleanup week is April 24-28.
— The council entered a 15-minute executive session for attorney-client privilege with Baldwin and Martin Rhodes, city compliance officer.
The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
