HILLS

The Hills City Council met on Monday, Dec. 11, for their regularly scheduled council meeting.

They were visited by Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel to negotiate the contracted sheriff’s office presence in Hills.

Currently, Hills pays for 15 sheriff hours a week – or 728 hours a year – at a rate of $49 an hour. According to Kunkel, Hills receives more presence than they pay for as Hills is an ideal central ground between different Johnson County towns such as Tiffin and Lone Tree. This is why Kunkel recommended that Hills not increase their hours unless they feel they need more presence.

No council member expressed that need.

Kunkel’s goal is to get towns who contract hours from the sheriff’s office to pay 100% of the cost to patrol the area. It is projected that by 2029, a sheriff deputy’s hourly wage will be $69.57 an hour. Thus, Kunkel has a five-year plan of raising contracted hourly wages $4 an hour each year to get Hills to 100% by 2029.

Currently, Hills covers 83% of total costs.

The council did not make a motion on Kunkel’s proposal but has some time to decide. Kunkel’s budget is due in January.

The speed limit’s limit

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors recently set the speed limit outside of Hills to 55 MPH at Oak Crest Road SE. Guy Sommers, a Hills city council member, raised concern that because Hills is growing, the limit should slow down to 45 MPH before entering town.

“We’ve had people in this county who have complained about the speed out here,” Sommers said. “We’re looking out for the safety of our community.”

Within the city, the limit is set at 35 MPH.

Park update

The council wants to let residents know that park workers are dealing with a mole issue at Hills City Park and have traps set. To date, they’ve caught four moles.

Next meeting: The City of Hills will next meet on Wednesday, Dec. 13, for a council workshop.

Their next regular meeting will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 27, accommodating the fact that Christmas falls on a Monday, their regular meeting time.