City hears fire department report
Commission approves new sewer rate ordinance
Marion Fire Department had 62 runs during 2002, Thad Meierhoff, fire chief, told the Marion City Commission Monday.
In recent months, the department responded to a garbage truck fire and two weeks ago provided mutual aid to Florence during a house fire.
Meierhoff said the department also is working on a grant that will help replace bunker gear and radios.
"It's a 50-50 matching grant with the Kansas Forestry Department," Meierhoff explained. "It will be around $4,500 for four radios and five sets of bunker gear."
Several department members recently attended schools including a Firefighter I course, arson investigation, and firefighter training, he said.
Mayor Eloise Mueller asked whether firemen take turns attending courses, Meierhoff said he sends those who are interested in going. He noted many, including himself have "too many irons in the fire" to attend.
In other matters, the commission:
— Approved an ordinance raising the sewer rates from to a $12 base rate and a charge of $1.20 per thousand gallons. The previous base rate was $9 with a charge of $.90 per thousand gallons.
The thousand gallon rate is determined by an average of the first three months of the year's usage per customer, explained City Administrator David Mayfield explained.
With the new rates, the bill of the average customer — with a five thousand gallon usage — will increase by $4 per month.
"This will give us revenue to help us start replacing deteriorating sewer lines," Mayfield said.
He noted the ordinance will be reviewed every two years to ensure the rates are generating sufficient revenue for the sewer utility to fund itself. Before this, the rate structure had not been reviewed since the late 1980s.
— approved warrants amounting to $103,390.15, and payroll amounting to $21,924.37.
The reason for the high amount of warrants is an electrical payment to Westar amounting to $60,422.54.
— heard from Harvey Sanders, director of public utilities, that plaster had fallen from the ceiling onto the ceiling tiles in the museum which crews cleaned up. Also crews had installed three streets lights in Country Heights, and had placed the salt brine mixture on main routes during Tuesday's ice storm.
— heard from Susan Cooper, economic development director, who said she had attended a work session Monday with county commissioners regarding the county's comprehensive plan.
— heard from Janet Marler, librarian. She reported that during February the Marion City Library added 36 new books and had a total circulation of 2,675 items.
Also a quilt display is currently under that is a collection of Ireland mementos.
Marler noted many events at the library were canceled last week due to inclement weather.
