Commission suggests other options for restoring courthouse windows
Staff reporter
Should Marion County consider replacing courthouse windows for the sake of efficiency or maintain the inefficient windows to keep historical significance?
That was the question that begged to be answered Thursday by Marion County Commission.
Marion County Clerk Carol Maggard announced that Marion County was not chosen as a Heritage Trust Grant recipient through the Kansas State Historical Society.
The county had applied for a grant to repair and restore the windows in the courthouse.
The windows cannot be replaced with more efficient windows if the building is to remain on the National Register of Historic Places.
Commissioner Dan Holub suggested county employees make minor repairs such as caulking and replacing screws and molding to make the windows tighter and the building more efficient. Maggard said she wasn't sure if the county had the equipment to do the work.
"We may need to consider making improvements to the courthouse to become more efficient even though it may jeopardize historical register status," commission chairman Randy Dallke said.
Dallke asked Maggard for the number of departments that actually open the windows. Maggard said she wasn't sure and knew there were some windows that weren't operable.
Other options will be explored by the commission.
In other business:
— The county was the recipient of a $40,000 grant to be used for business development. USDA Rural Development awarded the money to the county which is available through the county's economic development department.
— Area fuel bids were split evenly between two bidders.
Cardie Oil Company of Tampa had a bid of $2.192 per gallon for a total of 2,950 gallons of diesel fuel. Cooperative Grain and Supply of Hillsboro had bids of $2.194 and $2.199 for a total of 3,600 gallons of diesel fuel.
— The commission approved a proposal for $22,985 to Water Proofing and Restoration Contractors, Inc. of Wichita, to water proof the foundation of the courthouse.
— The sale of two lots in Florence was approved for $187 to Bryan Harper of Florence. The lots were obtained by the county through a tax sale and Harper owns adjoining property.
— A fireworks display was approved for Shawmar Oil & Gas Company of Marion for June 30. The company requested permission for the display to be held in rural Marion County at a company picnic.
— Dallke reported that he authorized Tony's Plumbing of Marion to replace galvanized pipe in the lake superintendent's house at the county lake.
— The commission entered an executive session to review job applications for the lake superintendent position.
The next commission meeting is at 9 a.m. Monday in the courthouse.
