Boarding home for aging approved
Residence in 600 block of North Cedar to house business
Staff writer
Based on a recommendation from the city's planning commission, Marion City Commission approved a conditional use permit allowing a residence to be used for boarding home care for the aging.
The decision was made during the Nov. 25 meeting. The city's regular Monday meeting was changed to Tuesday this past week because two of the three commissioners were unavailable to meet on Monday.
The conditional use permit was approved for Loy and Alisa Blackketter, 600 N. Cedar, Marion. It allows them to operate a for-profit business in their home. In this case, the business will be boarding home care for the aging.
According to the application, the business will comply with Kansas Department of Aging regulations, and there will never be more than three residents at the home "as it exists now."
The business will be a "no hands on" care service which means neither a registered nurse nor a certified nurse assistant must be employed. Occupants will not drive vehicles and will interact with the Blackketter family, according to information provided by Fredrickson.
The city's planning commission recommended approval during its Nov. 17 meeting.
"The conditional use permit was approved on the condition that it have its state license and pass a fire marshal inspection," said Marty Fredrickson, city inspector, zoning administrator.
In an unrelated item, commissioners approved a $91,008.99 bid from APAC of Salina for the airport improvement project. Fredrickson said the city was approved for grant funding during the previous year which would help pay for a one-inch overlay on the runway.
With the grant, 90 percent of the funding will come from the state while the city is responsible for the 10 percent match up to the maximum amount of $100,000.
To meet its portion of the match, the city will install new runway lights, taxi way lights, and beacon lights at an estimated cost of $6,914. The city's electrical department will complete the installation.
"With the city doing the work that should keep us under the ($100,000 maximum) grant amount," Fredrickson said.
Total cost of the project is estimated at $97,922.99 with the exception of striping and marking the runway. That cost should run approximately $1,500.
Fredrickson said APAC planned to start preparation work on the new project immediately and complete the project next spring.
During his report, Director of Public Utilities Harvey Sanders said that during a visit to inspect city facilities, an insurance company representative advised that the two old merry-go-rounds in the park should be removed "so kids won't fall through," Sanders said.
Marion-Florence USD 408 will help the city with the removal process as part of a joint project, Sanders said.
The insurance representative also said a backstop should be installed on the bleachers at the city's baseball fields so spectators "don't fall off," and suggested a certain substance should be placed on the ball field.
"There's always that potential for hazard," said City Commissioner Larry McLain. "It's good to have the insurance people come out and look things over."
Sanders said the insurance companies suggestions weren't "mandatory," however, they would be back to see if the city followed up on the suggestions.
Also, city crews installed a new water service in the 800 block of South Roosevelt.
In other matters, the commission:
— Heard from Michel Soyez, police chief, that his department was very busy after the windows in 15 vehicles were destroyed on Nov. 23-24, possibly by BB gun shot. Because it was such a cold night very few people were out which might make it easier to identify any suspicious activity. Soyez asked anyone who might have seen anything to contact the department.
"Since this happened all across the city there's the potential for a lot of witnesses out there," Soyez said.
Also, the Kansas Highway Patrol asked for two Marion police officers to assist during a KHP check lane Nov. 19 in downtown Marion.
"They were totally overloaded," Soyez said, noting 300 vehicles were allowed to pass because sufficient manpower was not available.
In an unrelated matter, Soyez said new Marion officer Chad Johanning was unable to meet city residency restrictions and that he was leaving the force.
— Marion City Librarian Janet Marler reminded commissioners of the home tours on Nov. 30 and said the library had a "good turnout" during children's book week. She also reported that a new "bridge" installed at the library had helped fix internet problems on the library's computers.
— Approved a $53,421.25 transfer from the utility fund to general fund, a $15,000 transfer from the utility fund to equipment reserve fund, and a $85,779.50 transfer from utility fund to bond and interest fund.
— Approved the October financial statement and investment and collateral report. According to information prepared by Dave Mayfield, city administrator, the city has used 52.3 percent of its budget. However, at this time of the year, the city should be at 83.33 percent.
— Approved warrants amounting to $14,472.06.
— Heard a report from Cynthia Blount concerning the Marion Historical Museum.
— Heard from Mayor Eloise Mueller that the city had received a letter from the Marion County Conservation District thanking it for the use of city employee Travis Schafer who helped one day with the tree planting project at Marion Reservoir.
