By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Calling an illegal Marion dump site “dangerous,” city council members signed an agreement Monday for the state to reimburse the city 75% of the cost of the cleanup.

The property at 702 S. Cedar St. is littered with vehicles and rubbish. It is surrounded by a wood and metal fence with pieces of the metal lying loose on the ground.

It has been a thorn in the side of the city for a year, with owner Kevin Geren ordered first by municipal court to clean up and then ordered by Kansas Department of Health and Environment to clean it up.

State inspectors came to inspect the property July 29, the deadline set for work to be completed, and documented continuing problems.

Public works director Marty Fredrickson reported to the council that he had inspected the property.

“Some of the existing fencing is coming loose from the framework,” Fredrickson said. “This is a safety hazard for anyone that may pass it and possibly cut themselves on the exposed sharp edges of the metal. Also, the wind could easily tear the metal sheets off and injure someone.”

The city will do the actual cleanup except for cars or items stored in sheds on the property.

The city has scheduled a public hearing about the property Sept. 21.

Kristi Zears, spokesman for KDHE, said the agency reviews each dump cleanup as well as a property owner’s ability to pay for mitigation.

“We may work to recover costs,” Zears said.