Co. commission approves office improvements
Bids for ceiling fans, repainting area approved
Staff reporter
Major renovations are slated for the Marion County Treasurer's office including the removal of a wall, painting of the offices, new fixtures, and new furniture.
Jeannine Bateman, county treasurer, presented a bid Monday during the Marion County Commission meeting for $864 for four ceiling fans and two switches from Elcon Services. The commission approved the bid amount.
The commission also approved the bid from Calvin Buller for $930 for painting the office area.
Bateman plans to have a wall removed in the vehicle department, two wooden cabinets relocated, and new furniture configuration.
The commission suggested to Bateman to seek a cost estimate from a general contractor for the major renovations.
Plans are to move the driver's license operations and postage machine to the current vehicle registration office area. A work station also will be in that area.
The removal of two metal cardveyor cabinets is planned, allowing for more space in the treasurer's office area. Bateman said to have the metal cabinets removed would cost $600. She will put a notice in the newspaper for the two cabinets.
Bateman also reported she is interviewing and testing applicants for the position in the vehicle department.
Following Bateman's request for a 15-minute executive session to discuss personnel, the commission voted to rescind authorization for Bateman to reclassify treasurer's office personnel.
Bateman will be utilizing personnel in a different manner since the physical office structure will be changed and may make job description changes.
Prior to the approval of the expenditures of ceiling fans and painting the treasurer's office, the commission denied Dianna Carter-Frantz permission to attend an international appraisers convention in Boston, Mass.
Collett said he was having a problem approving the expenditure of money without it "being a direct benefit for Marion County."
Carter-Frantz said she had attended the national/international convention every year, except last year. She commented that other department heads go to national conferences.
The registration costs $475 plus the cost of a hotel for the three-day meeting. Carter-Frantz said she was planning to pay for the air fare.
Commission chairman Leroy Wetta said the state organization will review the topics from the international meeting and maybe Carter-Frantz can gather information at that time.
Carter requested and commission recessed for a 15-minute executive session to discuss personnel.
After the commission reconvened, they approved an extended paid leave for one week for Carter-Frantz to attend to her deceased husband's estate.
The commission recommended changes to the county employee's policy for those in charge of settling spouse or immediate family estates. County clerk Carol Maggard will review and make revisions for a future meeting.
A temporary, seasonal, part-time position was approved by the commission for the appraiser's office for six to eight weeks. The hourly pay will be $8.50 per hour.
Don Fruechting, Marion County resident, addressed the commission regarding a street in Aulne.
Fruechting said he is trying to sell a house in Aulne and needs to determine boundaries. He has been to the appraiser's office and was sent to the clerk's office. The clerk's office sent him to the register of deed's office where a plat was reviewed but no determination was made regarding the ownership of the street.
After further discussion, commissioner Howard Collett said it was not the county commission's job to settle title issues. He suggested Fruechting contact the county road and bridge department and county attorney's office.
Commission chairman Leroy Wetta offered to contact the attorney and Fruechting said he would talk with road and bridge.
Fruechting also asked the commission if there was going to be a fireworks display at Marion County Park and Lake in September.
The commission said they had not made a decision regarding the fireworks display.
Local business owners donated the funds for last year's display and Duane Suffield, the organizer, had said at a previous commission meeting he did not want to be in charge of it again this year.
Fruechting asked if the Marion County Economic Development Council was interested in sponsoring it again, as they had previously. The commission supplied the funds of $3,500 to the council for the fireworks and the council organized the event, explained the commission.
Fruechting said he is charge of the Aulne fireworks display and obtained the fireworks last year for the lake's display. He needs to know in the coming weeks so he can order accordingly.
The commission tabled any decision and will discuss at a later date.
With the county attorney's approval, the commission approved the cost for the use of a county car and other expenses be deducted from an employee's pay check. The expenses were incurred by a county employee who used the county car for personal use.
Road and bridge superintendent Gerald Kelsey presented information to the commission regarding road chip and seal projects.
He researched when the roads were sealed and drove the roads to determine the condition.
Some roads were sealed in 1997 and in need of attention now, Kelsey said. He added that they're all getting bad and will be in need of work.
The oldest roads, sealed in 1997, are the Pilsen Road and the west Durham Road.
Other roads discussed were Menno, Goessel, Moundridge, and Peabody-Canada.
One transport fuel bid was reviewed and approved from Cardie Oil Company for 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel at an average of $1.2569 per gallon. The cost for 2,500 gallons of no-lead fuel was $1.6604 per gallon, which was the largest notable increase, said Kelsey.
The approved bid totaled $12,076.
