The Reno County Commission, as expected, approved on Tuesday authorizing the sale of temporary notes to fund Buhler fire station improvements and voted to authorize the use of a combination of property tax and sewer fees to pay for The Highlands sewer upgrade. When the commission met with residents of The Highlands in June, close to 95 percent of those asked to vote by a show of hands supported splitting the cost of paying off sewer improvements between a monthly use fee and property taxes.
Since that meeting there have been some who questioned the split, said Councilwoman Bonnie Teal, with some wanting vacant lot owners to pick up more of the tab since only 200 of the 500 lots in the subdivision have homes.
The commission, however, was reluctant to reconsider the issue, based on the straw poll and comments from residents and unanimously voted to approve the even split, with half the annual $108,000 bonding cost covered by a sewer bill and half through property taxes.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)