Hartington residents will soon see new fees

HARTINGTON — Hartington property owners could soon see some new city fees.

At its March 25 meeting, the Hartington City Council discussed setting up fees for property owners asking for a zoning change and for those asking to have their property re-platted.

The Council is expected to approve resolutions at its next meeting to adopt the new fees.

A $200 fee is being proposed for Hartington property owners wishing to have their land considered for rezoning.

A $100 fee is being proposed for property owners who want to have their property re-platted.

City Clerk Brittni Benscoter said a survey of similar sized Nebraska communities shows that almost all other communities surveyed currently charge for these services.

Hartington Mayor Mark Becker said the fees are needed to cover the city's filing costs with the county and for notification and publication costs.

Councilman Cody Christensen said this is needed, adding that he remembered talking about this issue at a Council meeting years ago, but 'somehow, some way, we dropped the ball on this.'

Council members said would like to see the new policy take eect as of May 1.

The Council also agreed to spend $36,000 with Mid States Audio and Video of Sioux Falls, S.D. to replace the public address system at Russ Hochstein Field.

The speakers on the system were replaced six years ago, Councilman Roman Sudbeck said, but the entire system needs a major upgrade he said.

It is very di$cult to hear the PA system in dierent areas around the facility, he said.

Besides replacing the current system and speakers, additional speakers would be added to the top of the press box and in the throwing area south of the track.

The Council also agreed to sign a new contract for $10,200 with X-pert Lawn & Landscaping. This is the same amount as last year's contract, Sudbeck said. X-pert Lawn had also taken care of the Felber Park baseball field in the past, but the city will do that this year.

Colin Kathol said Gary Kuehn will take care of the maintenance at the baseball field this year. Kathol said some improvements are being made at the baseball complex. Upgrades are being made to the batting cage. The concrete bleacher area behind home plate and on the third base side of the field will also be replaced this spring. Chris Bartling said work on the bathhouse roof at the city swimming pool should be done soon.