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HARTINGTON — Local residents will have a chance to help those less fortunate under a plan put in place Monday by the Hartington City Council.
The Council approved the new Hartington Helps program. The program will allow local residents to round up any bills they pay to the city. Those extra few cents from a utility bill or garbage bill will then be put into a Hartington Helps bank account to be used to help people in need to pay a utility bill.
Local residents can opt in to have their bills rounded up or opt out of the program at any time they choose.
City Clerk Brittni Benscoter proposed the idea at the December City Council meeting.
A three-person committee — Mayor Mark Becker, Councilman Chris Bartling and Benscoter— was appointed Monday to meet at least quarterly to guide the program, approve or deny applications and approve all expenditures.
Benscoter said she has seen the program used successfully in several communities around the region.
Insurance was also a major topic of discussion. The Council approved several changes to property they have which is covered by the League Association of Risk Management. The city agreed to switch their insurance coverage to LARM late last year.
LARM representative Clint Simmons was in town Monday to look over city property and equipment, and talk with city employees, and then make suggestions on policy changes or enhancements.
Simmons came up with several ideas that could reduce the city's insurance expenses or increase coverage.
He said the city currently has varying-sized deductibles on its different vehicles. He advised the city to set the deductible for all vehicles at $2,500.
He also noted that currently, the city library is listed as two different properties — the original 1915 building and the 1996 addition. C0uncil members felt it would be a good idea to change the way that building is classified so it is considered one building.
The Council will modify coverage on several properties.
Simmons noted while the City Auditorium is a beautiful building it is doubtful the city would build one just like it if it were to be destroyed by a fire or tornado. He then recommended they switch coverage to a functional replacement cost basis.
Split coverage of the fire hall between the city and rural fire board was also discussed. The rural fire board will need more information before anything is done, however.
The Council also agreed Monday to vacate an alley between Portland Avenue and Nordby Avenue.
The land will now revert to the owners of the property along Portland Avenue. Normally, the land would be split between the landowners on both sides, but the Nordby Addition developers said they would be willing to give up that right.
The Council also heard a report from Ambulance Squad President Dirk Dailey. Dailey asked the Council to compensate the group's three officers and the billing clerk for all the extra time they work. The Council agreed to pay the officers $600 each annually. They also agreed to pay the billing clerk an hourly wage.
The Council also spent time discussing the possible need to put another garbage rate increase in place, since the landfill where the city's garbage is dumped recently raised its rates.
