City News

By MICHELLE MCLEAN

Hillsboro city commissioners scheduled four interviews for Thursday evening — aiming to find a replacement officer for the city’s police department.

Patrol officer Scott Crump left the department Nov. 30 to take a law enforcement job in Valley City, N.D. He had worked for the HPD for about two months. The two-person department is headed by police chief Ray Weber.  Keep reading →

By MICHELLE MCLEAN

City commissioners defended their on-going negotiations with Traill Rural Water Users Monday night after a Hillsboro resident questioned if a joint water treatment plant was already a “done deal.”

Resident Ray Foss urged commissioners to listen to the public before a final decision is made about partnering with TRW or building a new water treatment for the city.  Keep reading →

By MICHELLE MCLEAN
Jim Anderson is looking for a little cooperation.
As Hillsboro’s supt. of public works, Anderson leads the charge when it comes to snow removal. He hopes city residents will help make the city crew’s job a little easier.
After Saturday’s storm, his crew watched and wondered as some residents persisted in blowing snow from their yards and driveways into the streets.
Anderson told commissioners Monday night, “It just makes more work for us. It takes more time to clear the streets. Keep reading →

By MICHELLE MCLEAN
Hillsboro utility customers will pay more for electricity in 2008.
Commissioners again considered the first reading of an amended ordinance at Monday’s meeting but opted to delay the first reading until November 5. A second reading November 19 would enact the ordinance change and the rate hike would become effective in December.
A recent rate study by Missouri River Energy Services advised electric rates should increase to keep pace with rising wholesale power costs. MRES, the city’s supplemental power supplier, recommended a 20-percent increase spread over two years for both residential and commercial customers to keep the electric department from slipping deeper into the red. Keep reading →

By MICHELLE MCLEAN
Voluntary “no parking” has been working to keep the road clear near Hillsboro Medical Center’s overcrowded construction zone on 3rd St. SE.
HMC administrator Patricia Dirk had asked the city for help October 1 to ease the space crunch by allowing contractors to park storage and office vans on the east side of the street until construction is complete in about 18 months. To keep the street passable, HMC employees and construction workers were urged not to park on the west side of the street.
The friendly persuasion worked. Now the city has taken formal action to allow four 50-foot trailers to park in the one-block construction zone until the work is complete. HMC must post temporary but official “no-parking” signs — at their own expense — on the opposite side of the street as soon as possible. The signs will allow the local police to enforce the parking restrictions. Keep reading →

By Michelle McLean
Prairieview Addition has been issued its first building permit.
Michael Ketterl of Grand Forks was granted a building permit at Monday’s city commission. The home, with an estimated value of $275,000, is the first slated for construction in the new 32-lot residential development in southeast Hillsboro.
Prairieview Addition is being developed by A&P Properties — a partnership of local builder Doug Abentroth and Crookston, Minn. businessman Tim Persson. A&P purchased farmland located north of Loyal Avenue from Hillsboro Economic Development Corp. less than a year ago. Abentroth is the contractor for the new home, which is on a corner lot on the northern edge of the development.
This summer about $700,000 worth of infrastructure was installed — paved streets, curb and gutter, and water and sewer lines. The work is paid for through special assessments applied to the yet-to-be developed neighborhood.
Prairieview will grow north of Loyal and east of 4th St. SE. New streets include an extension of 5th Ave. SE and the newly named McDonald Drive, running parallel to Loyal Avenue. Both streets connect with the truck bypass, also know as 8th Street SE.

By MICHELLE MCLEAN
Hillsboro’s city-wide street improvement project — a summer’s worth of construction — is expected to come in about $120,000 under budget, city commissioners learned Monday.
While some work remains to be completed in the spring, manholes and inlets were to be cleaned this past week by Jetway.
A supply shortage prematurely shut down Central Specialties and its subcontractor Morris Seal Coat in early September. The remaining paving work will be done next spring followed by a warranty inspection next summer, explained Roger Grimsley, Advanced Engineering representative. Keep reading →

By MICHELLE MCLEAN
Garbage rates in Hillsboro will increase soon to match the city’s new contract with Waste Management for trash collection and disposal.
Hillsboro city commissioners intend to amend Ordinance 472 and gave first reading to the change at Monday’s regular meeting.
A second reading of the amended rates is required for final approval, which is expected at the October 15 meeting.
Residential base garbage rates will increase $1.50 per month from $12.50 to $14. Residential customers are provided 95-gallon toters with weekly pickup service. Commercial rates will increase $1.50 per month for each cubic yard billed. Keep reading →

By MICHELLE MCLEAN
Hillsboro Medical Center’s construction zone is overcrowded — and workers are expected to remain on site for more than a year.
At Monday’s city commission meeting, HMC administrator Patricia Dirk asked for help to ease the space crunch by allowing contractors to park storage and office vans on the east side of 3rd St. SE until construction is complete.
After a lengthy discussion, commissioners and Dirk agreed to work toward allowing the special permission parking for the construction trailers and encouraging a “no parking” zone for vehicles on the west side of the street. Keep reading →

By MICHELLE MCLEAN
A local contractor offered to save the city $420 on every new house he builds in the Prairieview Addition.
Hillsboro city commissioners accepted contractor Doug Abentroth’s offer at their meeting Monday night.
New houses built in Hillsboro are subject to three elevation checks by the city’s engineering firm. The fee paid to Advanced Engineering is $745 per house — with $325 paid by the homeowner as part of the building permit fee and the remainder paid by the city.
“It’s a shame to be paying that kind of money,” said Abentroth, noting the 32 lots — and 32 potential homes — in Prairieview. “Save your money is all I’m saying.” Keep reading →