Chemical release in trash truck results in city alert
A City of Marion employee received treatment Monday after inhaling vapor from an unknown chemical in the trash, city commissioners learned Monday at their regular weekly meeting.
Interim Police Chief Michel Soyez said the incident started when the city trash truck compacted a load of trash while parked at a business on South Third Street.
When the truck's compactor pressed down on the trash, a chemical vapor was expelled, he said.
"We don't know if the substance was picked up there (on South Third) or if had been picked up earlier and wasn't released until that compaction," Soyez said.
The truck went to the solid waste transfer station, where the load was secured by Marion police and fire departments and the county sheriff's department, Soyez said. Crews worked for more than two hours to isolate the suspected source of the vapor from the load of trash.
The employee was treated by Marion County Emergency Medical Services at the scene. After a visit to his physician, the employee returned to work, said Harvey Sanders, director of public utilities.
Interim Administrator David Mayfield commended city workers for their response to a situation no one expected.
"We have all sorts of hazardous-material procedures in place, but we never even considered that," he said.
Soyez noted that the city should consider working with Marion County to review costs and procedures. Since the transfer station accepts trash from throughout the county, any truck could potentially have a hazardous material, he said, but Marion responders will be the ones who deal with it.
"It's something to keep in mind," he said. "That's an expense the city will bear because the city will be the first to respond."
Extension
Commissioners postponed for one week taking action on property cleanup at 548 Washington.
The lot is owned by Jerry Engler. This past summer, the commission ordered it cleaned up or the city would do the work and bill the owner.
Engler attends most city meetings as a reporter for the Hillsboro Free Press, but was gone when the city made its decision. He was present Monday.
He requested a 60-day extension, since that is the figure the city uses, but said less time was necessary. Improvements have been made since the original Sept. 27 deadline to clean up the site, he said.
Commissioners decided to have city employees inspect the grounds and give a report before acting on the extension request.
In other reports:
The city will buy back lots 9 and 16 at Marion Business Park from Seacat Hardware. Price is $10,000, about $5,000 less than the lots' asking price, reported Susan Cooper, economic development director.
City crews have winterized the ball field, replaced several water meters, posted overdue utility notices, and worked on interior improvements to the city museum.
The county economic development council will fund a countywide labor survey, Cooper reported.
Memorial bricks at the city library will continue to be sold through December. Interest remains strong in the bricks, said librarian Janet Marler.
Checks totaling $147,118 were approved to pay bills. They included $74,994 to Westar for electricity and $21,558 in payroll.
