City has been combating mosquitoes chemically
Harvey Sanders, director of public utilities for the City of Marion, said at Monday's city commission meeting his department had sprayed recently to combat mosquitoes in the valley area of town, and had taken other remedial measures against them in areas where water was standing.
The disease-carrying insects breed and grow in standing water. And, with the 5 inches or so of rain received here Aug. 28-30, there was some standing water.
City Treasurer Becky Makovec reported the utility billing tie-out for August was $116,894.89. This is the amount that was paid by Aug. 15, so does not include amounts still outstanding on that date.
Commissioners approved warrants for $134,486.03 and payroll in the amount of $28,384.58. City Administrator David Mayfield said the warrants amount was large because of a large payment that had to be made to Westar for purchase of electricity.
At the commission's Sept. 2 meeting, Sanders said his crews had been flushing fire hydrants and combating future electrical outages by trimming overhanging tree limbs.
Police Chief Michel Soyez said he would be meeting soon with administrators of all USD 408 schools to discuss further security concerns in the wake of the Aug. 28 incident at Marion Elementary School, when a student's stepfather came to the school after telling MES staff on the telephone that he was going to "come down there and kill everybody."
The man was arrested when he arrived at the school.
The city commission will meet again at 4 p.m. Monday at the city building.
