HIGHFILL -- The city council, on Oct. 11, approved the rezoning of 60 acres of land belonging to Sach D. and Codi Oliver from rural-residential to light industrial. The 60 acres was surrounded on three sides by Matthias land rezoned for industrial use last month.
The land is located in Section 31, Township 19 North, Range 33 West of Benton County. The zoning change was recommended by the city's planning commission.
Ryan DeClerk, owner of land near the property which was rezoned, spoke in opposition to the zoning change and asked the city to do more planning for the future in regard to land zoning and uses so that property owners would have some assurance that the area now zoned for industrial use would not continue to grow into areas where people have homes.
Also approved by the council was the allocation of money to pay for repairs to the city's tractor and brush hog, paying off the city's backhoe and cutting out a section of Smith Street and putting in a concrete swell to alleviate drainage problems caused to a resident by the street paving project. Payoff on the backhoe was just under $6,000 and repairs to the brush hog were estimated to be near $1,000. The cost to put in the swell was estimated at $2,500 or less and would come out of money in savings allocated for street repair.
The council approved the expenditure of $685 to stripe and mark the Durango as a police vehicle, plus another $200 to tint the windows on a Crown Victoria which is used as a K-9 unit. The striping and decals will clearly mark the vehicle as a Highfill police unit. The money is to come from the police department's savings account. Striping of a second vehicle was delayed until after the new year.
The council accepted the bid of Republic Services for trash service, choosing the least expensive of six options made available to the city. The option, for $11.10 per residential customer each month, includes the pickup of trash in a provided polycart each week and allows each customer to place one bulky item curbside each week, alleviating the need for special cleanups each year to dispose of large items which won't fit in the polycarts. The council will consider approval of a contract with Republic Services at its next meeting.
The council approved a millage resolution, leaving the millage rate unchanged from last year.
Townhall meeting set to explain tax measure on ballot
A special townhall meeting was set for 6 p.m., Oct. 25, prior to the Planning Commission meeting to explain and answer questions regarding the city's proposed tax increase to be on the November 8 ballot. The city is asking voters to approve a half-cent increase in the city sales and use tax to be used specifically for road and street maintenance and improvements in Highfill and would sunset after five years.
The reason for the tax increase is to make needed repairs and do maintenance work on the streets and roads in Highfill which the city has not been able to afford and to get the city caught up on road work until projected new growth begins to offset the cost for road maintenance.
According to Stacy Digby, Highfill's mayor, the tax is needed to get the city's roads back in shape. He said he hoped new growth in the city would make it possible for the city to continue to maintain the roads after the temporary tax sunsets. The increase, if approved by voters, would generate approximately $175,000 per year for the duration of the tax, enough Digby said to make some noticeable road repairs and get the city in better shape before the tax sunsets.
"With the tax we could try to get back to where we need to be and, hopefully, progress will catch up before the tax drops out," Digby explained at the council's April meeting.
Announcements
Digby also announced the fall cleanup scheduled for Oct. 21-23. Highfill residents may bring items to dumpsters at the city hall parking lot between the hours of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on those days. Hazardous materials, batteries, tires, electronics and liquids may not be be placed in the dumpsters.
Trunk or Treat will be held in the city park at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30. The best trunk will win a prize.
Butch Wiand, Highfill's water and sewer department head, said work was progressing on the city's water tank, with sandblasting done and painting getting started. He anticipated the tank would be put back into service by next week.
Proclamation
The Oct. 11 meeting began with a proclamation by the mayor designating October as 4-H Month and recognizing the Logan 4-H for its service to youth and the community. Attending the proclamation from the Logan 4-H Club were Emma and Weston Evans, Dakota and Dylan McCarty, Julie Griffin, and Wyatt and Emily Jackson.
General News on 10/19/2016