Managing editor
After nearly an hour of discussion, Marion City Council came to an agreement with the trustees of the Pearl Baxter estate and airport advisory board Monday evening regarding the demolition and removal of the current airport office and additional site work associated with the construction of a new office building.
Longtime Marion resident Pearl Baxter had bequeathed $75,000 to the airport board for a new office building. Trustees of Baxter’s estate wanted to be certain the money was being used only for the office building and not for expenses the city should cover.
In the end, the city agreed to pay for the demolition and removal of the current office building but the airport board, with estate money, will pay the transfer station fees for disposal.
The city also agreed to pay builder’s risk insurance for approximately $1,000, waive the $94 building permit fee, and provide rock screenings for site preparation if needed.
There are sufficient funds available to cover site preparation and other expenses because the building estimates are $54,777, leaving more than $20,000 for fixture, furniture, and incidentals.
The board and estate also will be responsible for paying approximately $4,000 in sales tax on building materials since the money is not being given directly to the city.
In other business:
- The council unanimously appointed new city clerk Marty Grill.
- According to economic development director Doug Kjellin’s written report, a small food processing facility is interested in relocating to Marion. The city’s speculative building in the industrial park meets the requirements.
- City superintendent Harvey Sanders met with Westar Energy officials regarding upgrading a distribution line between Marion and Hillsboro. The utility company has agreed to replace the line next year. This will give Marion another option if electricity is not obtainable from Florence because of damage or outages.
- The family of Robert Hein wants to donate a bench in Central Park in his memory. The council approved a location for the bench.
- Divers inspected the city’s large water tower on Eisenhower Drive. In five to seven years, the city will have to have the interior of the tower sandblasted. The same diving team inspected the intake valve at Marion Reservoir for zebra mussels. There were no mussels on a grate 35 feet below the surface.
- Janet Blue of Marion Assisted Living asked if the city could do something different when draining the overflow from the city’s water tower on Eisenhower Drive, which is located next to the assisted living property. When the overflow is drained, it runs on her company’s property, making two parking stalls unusable. City officials assured Blue the matter would be rectified.
- Todd Heitschmidt reported the city auditorium renovation project was ahead of schedule. Doors to the auditorium will be secured during this phase of the project so work can be completed.
- City crews will crack seal streets next week.
- Craig Dodd has resigned from the city’s planning and zoning board because he is moving. Anyone interested in serving should contact the city office.
The next city council meeting will be at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 15 in the city building.