City signs mutual aid agreement with Herington
If Marion were ever to have a really devastating fire they could call upon Herington firefighters, as well as other area firefighters, for help.
Marion City Commissioners approved Monday a mutual aid agreement with the City of Herington which will allow the two cities' fire departments to aid each other if called upon.
"We can go to Herington and assist them. We supply the equipment and manpower," explained Marion City Administrator David Mayfield. "In return, if we need aid, they'll mutually come here under the same circumstances."
City Commissioner Jim Crofoot noted the mutual aid agreements also help in lowering a city's fire insurance rating.
Mayfield said Marion already has mutual aid fire fighting agreements with Hillsboro, Lost Springs, Lincolnville, Burns, and Peabody.
BBBS
Commissioners approved a $200 donation to Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Marion County (BBBSMC). The donation will be used as a $200 sponsorship for the "Bowl for Kids' Sake" program.
The bowling tournaments in both Marion and Hillsboro are planned for March 9, another is set for March 30 in Peabody, Sherry Soyez, local BBBSMC director told city commissioners.
Soyez presented an overview of the program noting it costs about $3,000 to operate the BBBSMC for a month. She noted the approximate cost for each "big brother/sister" match is $1,000 per year.
Currently, there are 66 children waiting to be matched; there are 21 community-based matches, and there are 59 "Bigs in Schools" matches.
Soyez also presented statistics showing how the program benefits children participants. Included are increased self confidence and sense of the future, improved academic performance and relationships with others, and promotion of other positive changes.
"Children also are better able to avoid delinquency and substance abuse," Soyez said.
Mayfield told commissioners the budget would allow them to donate up to $500 if they wished; however, last year, they had given $200. Commissioner Jim Crofoot said he was more inclined to stick with the $200 amount, noting it was "early in the year" and there might be other requests.
Sewer problems
Public Works Director Harvey Sanders said city crews had to replace a sewer line in an alley area between Lincoln and Cedar streets where the line no longer existed. He also noted another area involving two blocks on Denver Street.
Mayfield explained that some old sewer lines in the city were made of concrete during World War II.
"That sewer gas just eats that concrete up," Mayfield said. "We'll probably have to do a lot more."
To finance new sewer lines, the city would have to look at increasing sewer rates. The last time sewer rates were increased in Marion was in August 1988, Mayfield said. Further information will be provided in a future city commission meeting, Mayfield indicated.
In other matters:
— Commissioners approved a proclamation designating April as Fair Housing Month after receiving a letter from Norma J. Phillips, director of the Housing Development Division with the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing.
— The commission approved a three-year contract with Justin Youk to mow the airport.
The city currently has a three-year contract with Youk which expires in March. Mayfield said the new contract calls for the airport to be mowed nine times per season for a fee of $485. The old contract called for the mowing to be done five times per season for the same amount. Mayfield said the mowing is done under the supervision of the Airport Authority and that amount had been budgeted.
— Commissioners approved warrants amounting to $7,300.19.
