HOISINGTON — The Hoisington Police Department will add Tasers for police officers, the Hoisington City Council heard at its regular meeting.

"Tasers have been around for a long time," said Police Chief Kenton Doze. "All of the local agencies have them."

The police department now has a certified Taser trainer on staff to provide training for officers. Doze said the county has tentatively agreed to reimburse the city for the purchase from the diversion fund.

"It’s a great deterrent," said Doze. Four Tasers will be purchased with audio and video recording for a cost of $5821.75.

In other business, the council held a public hearing for the "Office" building located at 171. S. Main. However, when the process of condemnation started, the name of the individual on the deed turned out not to be the actual owner. This information has been updated, but the actual owner has not received information about the property. The process must be started over again.

The new hearing on the property will be at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 8.

Code Enforcement Officer Don Doerschlag updated the council on other dilapidated properties, and where they are in the process of cleanup. He currently has 12 properties that he is working on.

The house at 723 E. 4th St. has been demolished. Doerschlag showed slides of the process and cleanup.

The council discussed budget priorities for the 2011-12 budget year. The council was surveyed, and the top priorities in eight categories were: no utility rate increases, to pursue grants for economic development purposes, maintain current city staffing levels, crack down on blight in the community, to maintain current parks, keep the trolley running, to pursue grants to improve infrastructure and to fund city operations first.

Mitchell presented a proposal to sell some of Hoisington’s excess base load electrical power to communities in western Kansas. He said that he would like to offer one to one-and-one-half megawatts for seven years. "This will save Hoisington between $123,000 and $155,000 annually through the duration of the contract," Mitchell said. "It would mean a reduction of the Fuel Cost Adjustment."

He estimated an 8-10 percent reduction of the Fuel Cost Adjustment if the estimates hold true. The council agreed to allow Mitchell to present the proposal to the communities.

In final business, the council:

•Approved a Cereal Malt Beverage Consumption Permit for Gary Boxberger for Bicentennial Park on July 30. A fundraiser will be held on behalf of Maxton Burkey.

•Bruce Bitter was present to give a report on the 9/11 Memorial he is working on for the Transportation Security Administration.

•The council passed Ordinance 1459 updating the guidelines for the discharge of fireworks on July 4th. The ordinance will allow the council to expand or restrict allowable dates and times of discharge. Hoisington will allow the discharge of fireworks from 1-11 p.m. on July 3, and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 4 for 2011 only.

The portion of the ordinance that disallowed discharge near a horse was changed to animal.

•The city will auction excess items with Purple Wave, an internet auction service. Items include such things as exhaust fans, yard ornaments and a saw.