City concerned about dumping charges
Trash seems to be a topic for discussion for many in Marion County and the Marion City Commission was no exception.
Monday, City Administrator Dave Mayfield said he had concerns regarding how the city might be charged for construction and demolition waste.
Effective Jan. 1, Marion County took over ownership of the transfer station, triggering new requirements cities and others dumping at the transfer station must meet.
"I received a letter telling us that boards mixed with municipal solid waste and construction demolition waste will be charged per ton," Mayfield said.
Many people will throw a few boards away from time to time, he said.
"From woodworking projects they may have in their garage or whatever," he said. "So, I want an exact definition of what is construction and demolition (C&D) waste."
Mayfield said David Brazil, transfer station manager, indicated C&D waste could be measured as more than a polycart.
"If 50 residents throw away three or four boards that could fill a polycart pretty fast," he said. "It may come down to we may not be able to pick up any boards or sheet rock at all."
Marion Mayor Eloise Mueller asked if the trash trucks are weighed prior to dumping.
Mayfield said trucks must weigh on the local Co-op scales, because the transfer station does not have scales. "They charge $5 to weigh," Mayfield said, although he was not sure if it was $5 or $10 to weigh full and then again after it was empty. "It's an extra assessment."
"They (county) should be required to have scales there (transfer station)," said Commissioner Larry McLain. "The commission (county) needs to get its act together. That's the way other transfer stations have it so they're not going to have to rely on another entity."
Mayfield said he would be checking with Brazil about construction and demolition waste and report again to commissioners.
Grants denied
In a day of bad news, Mayfield reported the city had been notified by the Kansas Department of Transportation that its grant application for Eisenhower Drive from K-256 highway to U.S.-56 had not been funded.
"The amount that project costs probably means we won't be able to do it," he said.
The city also received a letter notifying them that its community development block grant (CDBG) water and sewer application had been denied.
New Kansas Department of Health and Environment regulations are requiring cities to upgrade their water plants. They must be in compliance by January 2004.
The main reason the City of Marion's application was denied is because the city's water plant is already in compliance in some aspects.
"So they held that against us," Mueller commented.
Mayfield indicated the city was now waiting to see if a rural water loan it applied for would be funded.
If we don't get that we may have to look at a bond issue," Mayfield said.
Commissioner Jim Crofoot asked how long it would take to complete the project and questioned how the city was going to meet the timeline if funding wasn't in place soon.
Harvey Sanders, director of public works, said he believed it would take six to eight months to complete.
"We're kind of hearing the rumor that the state may push back its compliance date," Mayfield replied. "I need to get all our options together and I'll let you know."
Mueller questioned whether the city would be penalized if the plant were not in compliance by January 2004. Mayfield said it was possible.
"But if we're in the construction phase by January 2004 they'll probably let us continue. They probably won't shut our plant down."
The commission also:
— Approved the December utility billing report.
— Approved warrants amounting to $6,417.95.
— Heard from Mayfield that photos were available showing the various 2002 street projects, electrical department work, and industrial park accomplishments.
— Heard from Sanders the city collected 131.53 tons of trash in December. Also, Christmas decorations had been taken down, and all that remained to be moved was the Santa house.
He also noted that Stutzman's would be picking up their recycling container.
— Heard from Janet Marler, city librarian, that the library had 78 new books, and had a December circulation of 2,659. She also noted state and federal tax forms are available at the library, and three photos of the library are included in the Kansas Heritage magazine.
