Managing editor
Marion Mayor Mary Olson asked Marion City Council to choose a vice mayor Monday but did not want to do it as it had been done in the past.
Instead of making a verbal motion, she wanted council members to write down their choices on pieces of paper, secretly, with the results being read by the city clerk.
Councilman Gene Winkler asked if this was necessary, adding he was not much for “secret ballots.”
With that, Winkler made a motion to re-elect Stacey Collett. Councilman Steven Smith seconded the motion and it passed, 4-1 with Collett abstaining.
Olson said in the future she wanted to see this done more formally, noting there may be others who want the position.
Other agenda items, initiated by Olson, included additional committee members to discuss use of funds for Central Park provided by the Brooker Trust, budget planning, employee raises, maintenance plans, and city-owned property.
Park committee
Olson said she wanted to form a committee to discuss how $50,000 could be spent for the park. She has asked city treasurer Becky Makovec, park manager Kevin Hill, and city street superintendent Marty Fredrickson to serve on the committee. Smith suggested including the park board to offer suggestions. It was noted that the city did not receive any suggestions from the public regarding the use of the money. Olson said she would appoint a few members of the park board to this special committee.
Planning meeting
Since the city now knows the budget cuts from the state, Olson said she wanted a work session to discuss the city’s options. She also wanted to review pay increases, employee evaluations, and a merit pay schedule and compensation plans.
“We need to leave some of this determination to department heads,” Smith said. “They need to support their own budgets.”
He continued he was not in favor of looking at each line item or undermining decisions made by department heads.
“That’s what we pay the administrator to do,” Smith said.
“It’s not for us to know what’s going on?” Olson asked.
“As long as they’re staying within their budgets, that’s all we need to know,” Smith said. “We don’t need to know their day-to-day activities.”
Olson said she would talk with Mayfield about including a work session at the next council meeting.
City-owned properties
Olson also reviewed lease agreements and the city’s mowing policy of city-owned properties. She asked if anyone was interested in cutting grass for hay at the city’s industrial park. City officials responded there was no interest.
The council did approve a contract with Nick Kraus to bale hay along Coble Street and on cemetery ground, a total of about seven acres, which will be completed by June 15.