Hillsboro Free Press

Progress in the city’s strategic plan was the topic of conversation in the April 16 Hillsboro City Council meeting. The council discussed updates in the various sectors they have set goals in. For the childcare center, City Administrator Matt Stiles told the Council that they now have three bids. “They’re still over the budget but a little bit closer. So there’s still a gap in what’s been raised and what’s available through grant funds and what the project anticipated cost is. So the H4C group is now working to try to figure out how we’re going to close that gap,” said Stiles. “I [...]

The Marion County Board of Commissioners heard from EMS Director Chuck Kenney about the Interfacility Transfer Policy. “There’s been several different policies over the last couple years. Some conflicting with other agreements,” said Kenney. “We had a transfer policy that was adopted in August of ’22. And then we had the policy that the board adopted in December of ’22 that had some charges associated with it, like fees and everything that Brad [Jantz, county attorney] drafted. And then after that we had the service agreements with the hospitals. And so some of the things that are in those service agreements are in [...]

The Goessel city council met on March 25 and discussed the flood control project. Mayor Evan Esau talked about concrete and debris that need to be removed from the creek that runs through town. Some trees also need to be removed, as well as a dam on private property. It was noted that some property owners in that area have already removed the trees on their property pointed out by Darin Neufeld of EBH Engineering. He had walked through the creek area with members of the council to show them specifically what needed to be removed for the water to flow [...]

Goessel City Council met on Feb. 26 and recognized long-time city clerk Jennifer Bliss for her 10 years of service to Goessel. In addition to city clerk duties, she has also been the court clerk for those 10 years. She has resigned from her Goessel position and accepted the city clerk position for the city of McPherson. Mayor Evan Esau presented a plaque to Bliss in honor of her years of service to Goessel. In a statement from Esau, he expressed his appreciation for her work: “Working alongside Jennifer has been a pleasure since I started on council, and especially since [...]

Voters in the USD 410 school district took to the polls on Tuesday, Jan. 23 where they voted on the general obligation bond issue in an amount not to exceed $13,350,000. The results will not be final until after the official canvass on Wednesday, Jan. 31, but the preliminary results were 464 yes and 59 no. “We are absolutely thrilled with the overwhelming support of the bond issue. 88% of voters supported the bond with a yes vote. That level of support is unheard of,” said Superintendent Clint Corby. There was a surprisingly large turnout despite cold, dreary weather on Jan. 23. For the [...]

K-State Research and Extension Agent Tristen Cope has learned to look at leadership differently, especially after taking a class on the topic through Kansas Leadership Center and helping run the Marion County Leadership Program. “I was in a lot of leadership positions in high school and throughout college, but I was never taught or shown leadership as a verb. I was always taught that leadership was a noun,” said Cope. “It’s an act of how you’re a leader as opposed to a noun— acting as a leader— it’s what you do to gain those leadership skills or to help engage and [...]

The Marion County Commission voted today to appoint County Clerk Tina Spencer as the first County Administrator. ... Spencer is a Master-Certified County Clerk and holds a Mini MPA Certificate for Executive Development in Public Administration awarded by Wichita State University Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs. She has extensive county government experience, having served as Marion County Clerk since January 2013 after serving as Deputy County Clerk since 2005. Spencer also has private-sector management experience. During her time as County Clerk, she has held leadership roles in the statewide Kansas County Clerks & Election Officials Association. ... Spencer’s appointment will create [...]

The Goessel city council met on Dec. 12, a week earlier than usual, because of a school concert on the regular meeting date. This was the last meeting for long-time council member Dean Snelling. Mayor Evan Esau presented a plaque to Snelling and thanked him for his 10 years on the council. Esau talked about Snelling’s expertise and said, “We’re going to miss you.” No other current council members have been on the council as long as Snelling has been. He has served with the leadership of several different mayors. Turning their attention to another matter, the council welcomed new part-time police officer [...]

Housing was once again the main topic of discussion at Tuesday’s Hillsboro City Council meeting. In a follow-up from the Dec. 6 meeting, the group voted and agreed to transfer six acres of land to Mennonite Housing for a workforce housing project. Mennonite Housing will be applying for tax credits to pay for a 24-unit project that will be located near Dollar General and Carquest. The plan is for the housing to be made up of 12 Duplex buildings and would include a clubhouse maintenance garage. Duplexes would be two and three-bedroom units—each with a garage unit to fit within the requirements of [...]

As USD 410 Durham-Hillsboro-Lehigh awaits official approval from the Kansas State School board to hold a special election for a school bond on Jan. 23, the district is making plans to educate patrons about the projects that would be included in the proposal. The district’s efforts to inform patrons about the bond will begin on Nov. 9 following approval for the election from the state school board. Patrons can expect to find information in the local newspaper, on district Facebook and website and on handouts at school events and display boards around the community. A direct mailing to registered voters will be sent [...]