Bakken asks council for its support

By Jolene FarleyCounty Board Member Richard Bakken attended the Hills City Council meeting Tuesday asking for the council’s support in the county budget process.He thanked Mayor Jim Jellema for a letter he had written detailing how budget cuts could affect a small community like Hills and make the community a less attractive place to live. Sen. Jim Vickerman read and commented on the letter, according to Bakken.Bakken said Rock County will have to cut or find $500,000 in its budget and asked the council for input."The biggest thing you are going to notice is cuts in services," he said."If anything comes up here that you would like me to take to the County Board, let me know," he said.The most visible cuts are likely to be in the Human Services Department, according to Bakken. The Highway Department may also lose funding, but that may not be as apparent because projects may be only delayed.The Sheriff’s Department is facing the challenge of providing 24-hour coverage to the county with limited staff, Bakken said. Currently, the county has two fewer deputies on staff than it has in the past."We’re a small county, but the sheriff’s got a million dollar budget," he said. "Everything is pretty much on the table. I really would like some input, because that’s the only way I can represent you."In other business:
Mayor Jim Jellema asked council members their opinion on paying for an agri-lime application for the softball diamond."We furnish the lights, we mow it," he said. The council also recently paid for the cost of materials for a sandbox at the field.Jellema added the Baseball Association paid for the agri-lime application for the baseball field. "I can see their point. It should have been done a long time ago," said Council Member Arlen Leenderts.The council asked for a price on the application for their next meeting."There’s two ball teams that play on there. Let them kick in," Jellema said.
The council reviewed a bid to paint the interior of the Hills Legion building. The council asked City Clerk Connie Wiertzema to get another bid for comparison pricing.The bid is for painting all the walls and the stage, including the paneling, in the building. Jellema said he hopes a fresh paint job will brighten up the interior of the building.
The council asked City Employee Wayne Ward to seek bids to fence in the designated burn area on the edge of town. Jellema said batteries and a recliner have shown up at the sight.The council discussed locking the gate after a fence is installed and allowing set hours for dumping.
Ward suggested that the council adopt a policy of not renting out city equipment unless it’s operated by a city employee. The council agreed after discussing possible liability issues."My suggestion would be that the only time we do rent it out, he’s (Wayne) doing it," council member Keith Elbers said. The rental rate is $40 per hour and time and a half for the employee with a minimum rental charge of one hour.
The cost to remodel the Post Office building was less than anticipated at $3,112. Contractor Jeff Bass bid the job at $2,500 with out the cost of the door included.