Mayor Drew Hastings met recently with Hillsboro City Schools officials to take the first step in what might result in portion of the old high school property on West Main Street becoming a park.
Also, the city is on the verge of hiring three new police officers, according to Todd Wilkin, the safety and service director.
Hastings told Hillsboro City Council on Monday that he and Wilkin met recently with Supt. Jim Smith and school board president Terry Britton to gauge the school’s interest in working with the city toward utilizing the green space and other areas of the old high school property to create a venue for all residents to enjoy.
“They were open to ideas,” said Hastings, describing the meeting as a “feeling out” session for both sides.
If such a park came to fruition, it would not replace the uptown park that Hastings has proposed for Gov. Trimble Place. The two parks would serve different purposes, he and some council members agreed.
Council member Ann Morris suggested that a park at the high school could serve more as a venue for kids, while council member Tracy Aranyos added that “the whole area” could be transformed into a venue for activities for young people, including turning the site of the former Highland Enterprise Lumber Company into a skate board park.
A fire in 2012 destroyed most of the buildings on that site and left a concrete foundation which has been unused since the property was cleared of debris from the blaze.
Hastings also updated council on the status of the Colony Theatre. Ownership of the theater has reverted back to the city, and Hastings had recently suggested that the large auditorium could be torn down to create additional city parking, while the façade and lobby would be preserved.
But the mayor said Monday that a recent discussion with an architect has caused him to reconsider. The architect has offered to do, for free, a cost analysis to repair the theater, said Hastings.
“If the Colony can be saved for $240,000 rather than $400,000, maybe we save it,” said Hastings, who added that it constitutes the only entertainment facility in the uptown area.
Morris questioned whether the city was in a position to manage the theater even if it is preserved.
“That’s the point I try to make,” answered Hastings, questioning whether a manager would have to be hired and whether it would be successful. “If we build it, will they come?” he asked.
Council member Bill Alexander asked if there might be lessons to be learned from the Murphy Theatre in Wilmington. Hastings said he has been in contact with the management at the Murphy, and “it’s hard for them to break even.” But he suggested that Murphy officials might come to Hillsboro to discuss ideas for the Colony.
Hastings said he would be willing to donate Bell’s Opera House, which he owns, to an entity that would renovate it, but said the cost to refurbish it would be $3 million to $4 million.
Hastings also provided council with responses to a recent survey the city conducted among uptown business owners and employees. The survey, which garnered more than 40 responses, explored several questions gauging opinions on economic develop, including:
• Save the Colony Theatre or spend money elsewhere? Save the Colony, 37%; Spend money elsewhere, 63%.
• Will an uptown plaza/park add value? Yes, great value, 34%; Yes, minimal value, 30%; No value, 36%.
• How important to maintain historic aspect of uptown? Very important, 59%; Somewhat important, 30%; Not important, 11%.
• Would you be willing to make a financial contribution? Yes, 56%; No, 30%; Maybe, 14%.
The survey also cited parking and the problem of owners not maintaining their property as “reasons why uptown Hillsboro is in the current deteriorated condition,” and concluded that restaurants, specialty shops such as boutiques and arts and crafts stores, a coffee shop, and men’s and women’s clothing stores would succeed in the uptown area.
Council president Lee Koogler was “under the weather,” according to council member Dick Donley, so Donley filled in as president pro tem Monday night. After reports by Hastings and Wilkin, Donley thanked them both for their efforts and the progress the city has made.
In his report, Wilkin said that civil service testing was administered to 22 candidates for Hillsboro Police Department jobs, with the field narrowed to the top 10, from which three will be hired.
Wilkin said that the street striping project was scheduled to begin Wednesday, weather permitting, and that a left turn lane on North High Street at Wendy’s, where SR 138 connects, would be extended, and a right turn lane is being added on North High onto Northview Drive.
He said that efforts have been “stepped up” to clean up the city, including buildings removed on North Elm Street which had been a problem. He said that water loops being added would increase water pressure for Woodland Drive Estates and Westover Drive, and that paving will start soon where the sewer replacement project was done.
Wilkin said that new signs indicating where free public parking exists have been erected, and he and Hastings both touted a kite flying event at Liberty Park scheduled for June 28, designed to bring attention to the park and to the YMCA. He said that five summer youth workers have been employed through a grant.
Wilkin also said that Randy Barr, longtime water and sewer supervisor, will take over the water, sewer and street manager duties, making the departments “more efficient” and better positioned to tackle pothole and signage issues.
Along those lines, council approved transferring $99,000 to the Street Fund to cover expenses for street paving, the repair of equipment and the purchase of an additional snow plow.
In other business, council:
• Approved a sign variance for the new location of the Dollar General store on North High Street.
• Approved increasing appropriations to the Drug Law Enforcement Fund to $2,000 for use in drug crime investigations, at the request of police chief Todd Whited.
• Heard the first reading of a new yard sale ordinance that would require such sales to be held during certain days each month, with council member Claudia Klein, chair of the Community Enhancement Committee, explaining that the wording of the ordinance was being tweaked.
• Heard local resident Jennifer Reed once again ask council to reconsider its noxious weed ordinance to accommodate “natural landscaping,” but heard council member Justin Harsha report that the Street and Safety Committee decided not to make any changes to the tall grass ordinance.
• Heard Hastings report on a recent meeting with the president of Ohio AEP in regard to possible economic development money for Hillsboro.
• And heard auditor Gary Lewis report that the city has a balance on hand of about $7.4 million.
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