By Jolene Farley
Lions Club representative, Ron Feucht, was present at the Hills City Council meeting Tuesday evening to offer a donation of about $3,000 from the Lions to be used toward construction of a basketball court, possibly at the city park.
Feucht mentioned a possible $1,000 donation from the Hills Community Club also. Estimates for a 110-foot by 70-foot court are about $12,000. Feucht suggested possibly splitting the project up into parts - lay the cement in two sections and add a fence later. The council is considering adding the expenditure into the parks and recreation budget for next year.
In other board business:
oWayne Ward, city maintenance director, addressed specifics of the city's burn permit, which only allows a 20x20-foot-wide and 10-foot-high burn pile. Ward said the pile is currently much bigger than the permit allows.
The council suggested burning more frequently but decided against it after City Clerk Connie Wiertzema spoke up about the proximity of the burn pile to children practicing ball every morning. According to Wiertzema, the children are inhaling smoke during their practices.
"I think we should look for a place out of town," said council member Arlen Leenderts. "If the wind switches (with the burn pile located in its current spot), you cannot go outside, hang clothes out, nothing."
Langford instructed the council to look for a piece of property outside the city limits.
o The council received a letter from the Hills-Beaver Creek school district asking for a $1,000 contribution to the Community Education Summer Recreation Program. A motion passed a few years back to contribute $1,000 every year to the program. Leenderts asked if Steen and Beaver Creek contribute to the programs.
Councilman Jim Jellema said he attended some Community Education meetings and was frustrated about funding for some of the programs.
"The Summer Rec program has the largest number of participants but the least amount of money," said Jellema. "I think Summer Rec is a good program."
Mayor George Langford suggested the council ask for a financial statement detailing the contributions and expenditures for Community Education. After the council reviews the financial statement it will decide whether to contribute.