City meeting short but active
Even though a one-hour meeting of Marion City Commission, Monday from 4 to 5 p.m., contained 22 minutes of so-called "executive sessions" the net result was an active and productive meeting.
Business ranged from approving warrants to hearing department reports and preparing for a budget hearing.
The 2003 budget will face a public hearing Aug. 12. The budget will be published this week in the Marion County Record. The public hearing is set for 4 p.m. Aug. 12. Following the budget hearing, the commission will decide whether or not to approve the budget.
It calls for the same mill levy as the current budget, though the higher valuation will produce more revenue.
The 2001 budget called for $4,197,978 expenditures, the 2002 budget $5,260,328, and the proposed budget is set at $5,764,712. All three years had identical 54 mill levies.
Warrants were approved in the amount of $102,002.86 plus $25,601.12 payroll and transfer of funds in the amount of $31,267.812 from utilities to capital improvement, as requested by Treasurer Linda Holub.
Police are busy
Police Chief David Mayfield said he didn't have enough time to make his regular written report this week, because he'd been too busy.
Items included being called to St. Luke Hospital to take a report on sexual crimes against a four-year old.
Officers also arrested the driver of a semi-trailer/tractor truck, Monday, carrying 40,000 pounds. He is in jail on charges of drug use, both marijuana and cocaine.
In another incident, Mayfield said, a minor (less than 21 but over 18) has been arrested and placed in jail on drug and alcohol charges.
Arrests also have been made, with local people charged in the Marion County Implement loss of all-terrain vehicles. He said the county will probably prosecute.
He commented, "We have a lot of drugs." City Attorney Dan Baldwin agreed, "It's awfully ugly out there." he said there are numerous charges throughout the county.
Mayfield added, "Once it leaves our department, it's out of our hands." His point was that police only arrest, they can't prosecute.
Commissioner Larry McLain responded with, "Thanks for doing such a good job."
KDOT grant
Dennis Nichols, city administrator, reported that Marion County has agreed to cooperate on efforts to request a Kansas Department of Transportation grant to surface Eisenhower Drive and Timber Road.
The county will write a letter of support for the project.
An engineering report is being made by the firm of Professional Engineering (at no cost to the city).
From Main Street (K-256) to Kellison, which is in the city limits, the street will have curbs and storm gutters. From Kellison at Timber to U.S.-56 the street will be widened but will not have curb and gutter.
The hot mix surface to be used is said to have a life expectancy of 15-20 years and will support heavier truck weights.
"It will be wider and much safer," Nichols commented. "The primary reason for the economic development project is that it will connect the retail and industrial areas of the town, he said. It is anticipated that, if approved, it would be constructed in 2005-06.
Memorial funds will be used for improvements at Marion's baseball complex.
The Rachel Keazer and Junior Herzet funds will provide a scoreboard for the B-complex. The total of the two memorial funds came to $904.99.
Mayor Mueller said the city will write a letter of thanks to the Keazer and Herzet families.
Boeing Credit Union made a $3,764.90 grant to the fire department to purchase a Cascade system which will be utilized to re-fill air bottles and air packs.
Earl Peters recently donated $1,500 in memory of his son, Jimmie Peters, who died in a tragic airplane crash. He suggests the fund be used to erect a retaining wall in Central Park where future plaques could be attached. It would consolidate the plaques, Mayor Mueller said, "and encourage others to donate." It will be constructed next year, the mayor said.
Librarian Janet Marler reported this week will be the end of the reading session for children, with Louise Whiteman as reader. "It has been highly successful," she said, "and will be repeated next year."
She said the number of out of town visitors to the new library in the former depot has been "overwhelming."
The mayor commented that the library staff had been highly successful in selling new books, with the library getting credit. "It's a good program," Mueller said.
Other reports
Utilities department superintendent Harvey Sanders said his crew has been keeping busy with routine maintenance matters, repair work, moving things, taking care of a blown-over tree in Central Park, replaced a broken utility pole, and installing underground electrical service at the Tim Christensen home, 505 N. Lincoln, where an addition has been constructed.
Sanders reported a "few outages" of electric service for about 15 minutes due to the wind storm.
City economic developer Susan Cooper said Marion is getting a great deal of favorable feedback on the industrial park. She said a SKEDD official told her he was impressed with the ceremony at Marion, "We're on the map in a good way," she commented. The number of willing workers and volunteers, "people who get involved," is wonderful, Cooper said.
Street superintendent Marty Fredrickson reported doing blade patching, fixing water leaks, repairing and maintenance. Monday was devoted to picking up limbs, he said. "We have had plenty to do."
Mayor Eloise Mueller commented that the problems are being taken care of on Willards, in regard to drainage.
An occupational license to operate a retail liquor store was renewed for Donald M. Vinduska, doing business as D&J Liquor Store.
Following a 22 minute executive, the meeting was adjourned at 5p.m.
