Hillsboro council unanimously appointed Sandy Gladwell as the town's recorder during its meeting on March 9.

Council voted 3-0 to accept Gladwell's resignation from council and subsequently voted 3-0 to appoint her recorder. Councilmember Lois Wilfong was not present and Gladwell recused herself from the votes.

Gladwell replaces Gail Hyer, who resigned due to an increased workload at her job with the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The new recorder is a native of Cass and has lived in Hillsboro for 37 years. She served on council for one year before her appointment as recorder. Gladwell's husband, George, is a lifelong resident of the Hillsboro area.

Gladwell said she hasn't decided whether she will run for election as recorder in June. She would have to run as a write-in candidate because the ballot registration deadline has passed.

Mayor Anne Walker administered Gladwell's oath of office and council moved to other agenda items.

Council conducted the second and final reading of a sewer rate increase ordinance and voted 4-0 to approve the rate increase.

The $30.31 minimum monthly sewage charge for Hillsboro customers will increase to $31.82 in 2011; $33.41 in 2012 and $35.08 in 2013. All sewer customers will pay 74 cents per every 1,000 gallons of water used in excess of 3,700 gallons.

Council voted 3-0 to advertise for bids for mowing services for the town. Since Gladwell's husband, George, is the current mowing contractor, the recorder recused herself during the vote. The request for bids will specify mowing three times a month during April through June and twice a month during July through September.

Walker discussed the need to repeal obsolete ordinances. The mayor said 12 old ordinances -- including a law establishing a 15 miles-per-hour speed limit and a law regulating merry-go-rounds -- were clearly outdated and should be repealed.

Council discussed the procedure for repealing the ordinances and tabled the item until further information is obtained.

During the mayor's report, Walker informed council that town attorney Eugene Simmons is drafting a circuit court petition to request an order making the newly-surveyed 1886 boundary official.

Simmons reported in August that the 1886 boundary was the last legal boundary on record for the town. A 1910 boundary change purported to reduce the town area by nearly half, but Simmons located no documentation making the 1910 change official.

Council voted in September to have the 1886 boundary re-surveyed. SCS Surveyors, of Hinton, recently completed the survey, which is attached to Simmons' circuit court petition.

The county tax and election offices have used the 1910 boundary since it was established. The reversion to the older, more inclusive boundary will allow more people to vote in town elections, but also require them to pay local taxes.

Robert Kelley, who owns property in the affected area, said his tax bill would increase from $249 to $329 if the 1886 boundary is re-instituted.

In other business, Hillsboro council:

-- unanimously approved an expenditure of $655 for repairs to manholes and fire hydrants.

-- approved the financial statement for March, which indicated general fund receipts of $2,732.64, expenditures of $1,611 and an ending balance of $27,326.75.

-- tabled action on a debit card for the general account.

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