Agreement will provide county services to cities
Staff reporter
Marion County Commission reviewed an interlocal agreement Monday which would provide county services to the smaller, third-class cities within the county that do not have law enforcement and other means to enforce ordinances.
Commission chairman Dan Holub presented the document to the board for consideration.
A magistrate will hear cases and cities will receive any revenue derived from fines and court costs.
Only city officials can initiate contact with county officials.
The document will be sent to the cities for approval and be returned to the county for final approval.
In other business:
— It was determined that the county's transfer station will be open the Saturday after Thanksgiving Day to accommodate a commercial hauler who will work Nov. 25. All county offices, including the transfer station, will be closed Nov. 23 and 24 for the Thanksgiving Day holiday.
— County appraiser Cindy Magill and the commission discussed the county's Neighborhood Revitalization Program and it was determined that special assessments are not included in the rebate program.
— WRAPS Coordinator Peggy Blackman asked the commission to review a contract between the conservation district and the Watershed Institute regarding the water quality project.
She reported that Marion Reservoir was among six lakes included in a taste and odor seminar. Monitoring of the reservoir currently is being conducted which includes monitoring of algae and the location of algae when toxins are being produced.
County sanitarian Bobbi Strait has been asked to attend a meeting of WRAPS coordinators at Rock Springs Ranch Nov. 30.
Blackman asked and received permission to display water quality information in the courthouse either before or after the annual meeting of Marion County Conservation District Feb. 24.
— Following a 10-minute executive session between the commission, county health administrator Diedre Serene, and Strait, the commission approved a family medical leave request for a health department employee.
County clerk Carol Maggard asked the commission to approve an employee policy change which makes family medical leave effective when the condition begins.
The Family Medical Leave Act allows employees to take leave from their positions for up to 12 weeks. The employee may exhaust sick and vacation leave, and continues to be covered with medical insurance by the employer. When the employee returns to work, a comparable position will be made available.
— Cooperative Grain and Supply of Hillsboro was the low bidder for transport fuel bids. The bid was a total of $18,647 for 5,500 gallons of diesel fuel and 2,500 gallons of unleaded fuel for an average of $2.47 and $1.892 per gallon, respectively.
Cardie Oil Company of Tampa also presented a bid of $18,730 for an average of $2.49 for diesel and $1.878 for unleaded fuel per gallon.
— Numerous executive sessions were called to discuss personnel.
Commissioner Randy Dallke requested a five-minute session which was extended for an additional five minutes. No decisions were made.
Magill requested a five-minute session which reconvened with no decisions.
County road and bridge superintendent Jim Herzet requested a 10-minute session with road supervisor Steve Hudson also in attendance. No decisions were made.
The commission will not meet Monday because of a Kansas Association of Counties conference.
The next commission meeting will be at 9 a.m. Nov. 27 in the courthouse.
