LETTERS

TO THE EDITOR

Marion’s ethics

To the editor:

After reading last week’s paper, I am deeply concerned by the vote approving the new zoning ordinance that limits hospital competition (Ordinance 1526, Hospital Zoning) even though the zoning commission disagreed with the ordinance.

City code states that a council member should abstain from voting when a conflict of interest makes voting improper.

The newspaper reported that the ordinance passed unanimously, so I assume that nobody abstained from voting.

Council member Tim Baxa has a financial conflict of interest because his wife, Amanda Baxa, is a physician at St. Luke Clinic and is the family’s sole financial provider.

If you did abstain, Tim Baxa, then good for you. If you did not abstain, then shame on you.

By restricting competition within the city, this ordinance helps protect the financial interests of St. Luke Hospital and Clinic and the Baxa household.

Another article reports delinquent property taxes in Marion County. The city clerk owes $13,333.56 in delinquent property taxes unless this information is an error.

Why are citizens of the City of Marion required by law to pay property taxes while city employees appear not to?

If the State of Kansas employs a person, they must provide their employer with a certificate of tax clearance to show they are not delinquent in paying taxes. Why should city employees be any different?

These circumstances raise serious questions that deserve public attention.

Katherine Young
Stafford