HUMBOLDT Humboldt council members, on a 6-0 vote, terminated Police Chief Brian Dillow Monday evening.
Dillow was charged by Allen County Attorney Jerry Hathaway with domestic battery, battery and destruction of property after an incident at his home June 27, to which Humboldt and Allen County officers responded.
Initially, he took accrued personal leave. Then, after being charged, Dillow was placed on administrative leave.
A court hearing regarding the criminal charges has been set for Sept. 12.
Council members and City Administrator Cole Herder made no comment after the vote. Council members Sarah Lassman and Paul Cloutier were absent from the meeting.
Lt. Scott Aikins has directed department activities since Dillows suspension.
A CONTRACTOR drilled 16 holes along the route a sewer line will take to a 31-acre industrial tract east of Humboldt, the results of which should lead to a decision soon on what extending utilities to the site will cost, Herder told council members.
They found rock six feet or better (thick) on the west end of the project, Herder reported. Also discovered was the right-of-way in question is congested with private sewer, water and gas lines.
Engineers also discovered an existing water line is four inches in diameter; six-inch mains are required for fire protection.
An assessment due in about two weeks will provide the city with solid cost numbers. Knowledge of the rock formations will be critical to engineers in deciding whether to use a gravity flow or a forced-main sewer system. Allen County has promised to provide up to $335,000 to help with the utility extensions, but county commissioners have deferred from voting on a grant until cost is settled.
The industrial tract, owned and to be developed by Monarch Cement Co., originally contained 25 acres. Monarch recently added a six-acre strip to the west, bringing the total to 31 acres.
Murphy Tractor, Wichita, will build a repair and maintenance shop at the southeast corner of the site, which will have a north-south road through the middle to give access to four tracts and a larger one across the back of the property, Herder said.
In addition to county financial support and Monarchs development, Herder said Joe Works, B&W Trailer Hitches, offered to help with excavation for placement of underground utilities.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, council members:
Approved their 2019 budget, after no one came to comment during a public hearing. The budget, reported in detail a month ago in the Register, projects general fund expenditures of $776,133, and overall net expenditures of $3.52 million, including utilities, which are self-sustaining and provide transfers to support city operations. Total mill levy is 90.718 mills, slightly more than 2 mills more than this years.
Gave Allen County Dance Parents, a non-profit, permission to stage a 3K walk and 5K run as a fundraiser on Humboldt streets Nov. 3.
Named Councilwoman Sunny Shreeve Humboldts voting delegate at the League of Kansas Municipalities annual convention in Topeka Oct. 6-8.
Learned dead and damaged trees and limbs in Mt. Hope Cemetery were being trimmed and cut. We have processed dozens of weed, vehicle and nuisance notices, Herder added. Dilapidated houses at 617 N. Sixth and 404 Osage have been sold with the condition they be made fit for occupation. One at 513 Pecan will be demolished, as will two purchased for delinquent taxes.
