News editor
Property values in Marion County are up about $17 million, or 2.4 percent, appraiser Ray Cook said Monday. Included is $2.7 million in new construction. Another $2.7 million increase comes from property exempt in 2013 coming onto the tax rolls, Cook said.
Appraised value of existing residential property increased by $2.3 million, less than 1 percent. Oil and gas values were up; personal property was down.
The mapping division of the appraiser’s department has been working on maps for emergency management, Cook said.
The commission instructed Cook and Nikki Reid to discharge a property that is in foreclosure from a neighborhood revitalization program that gives tax rebates for construction and improvements.
Work traps resident
A railroad crossing on 310th Rd. was closed, preventing traffic to and from Greg Holub’s home on Vista Rd., commissioner Dan Holub said.
Union Pacific closed the crossing to work on it June 16. When heavy rains turned dirt roads to mud Sunday night, nobody could get to or from Greg Holub’s home, he said, because 310th Road was the only gravel road, and it was closed.
“If somebody needed an ambulance or fire truck, we’d have been screwed,” he said after Monday’s County Commission meeting.
The crossing was reopened by early Monday afternoon after the county contacted the railroad about the issue, he said.
No additional deputy
Commissioners told Sheriff Rob Craft they wouldn’t support a grant application to help pay wages and benefits for an additional officer because of other expenses, such as a patrol car and equipment.
Holub said he didn’t have faith in the state to meet its commitments to the county, so he didn’t want to take on additional expenses.
If the county receives the grant, it would have to expand its force for the duration of the grant.
Transfer station to get new trailer
The commission approved a bid of $56,686 for a new trailer to take garbage to Butler County Landfill. It is the third trailer the county has purchased in about four years, transfer station director Rollin Schmidt said. He said the department shouldn’t need another trailer for a while.
Damage in judge’s offices
Clerk Tina Spencer said condensation from an air conditioner caused tiles in a suspended ceiling to fall in the judge’s robing room in the upstairs of the courthouse. It was the second time in a month, she said.
“No problem,” Holub joked. “We’ll get him a black raincoat.”
Commissioner Randy Dallke asked whether Spencer was sure it wasn’t from rain. She said it was from condensation because the ceiling above the dropped ceiling was fine.