County commission approves second petition for board expansion
Janet Herzet returned Monday to Marion County Commission regarding a resolution to expand Marion County Hospital District #1 board membership from five members to seven.
The commission had approved a previous petition that Herzet presented this past Monday but the county clerk's office determined there were not a sufficient number of signatures. A minimum of five percent of registered voters within the hospital district were required to sign the petition. The petition lacked the required numbers.
A second petition was drawn with signatures obtained. A minimum of 204 signatures were required, county clerk Carol Maggard said. There were 227 signatures on the second petition, Herzet said.
If enough signatures are on this second petition, the question will be placed on the Nov. 2 general election ballot.
The hospital district will take over operation of St. Luke Hospital Friday when the management contract with Banner HealthSystems expires.
Work will begin as scheduled on Indigo Road.
The commission signed a contract with Venture Corporation, Inc. The company was awarded the bid for the project.
Mike Olson, consulting engineer, presented the documents.
Acting road and bridge superintendent Jim Herzet was instructed by the commission to appoint an employee as acting road foreman until road and bridge superintendent Gerald Kelsey returns to the department.
County road foreman Herzet was appointed acting road and bridge superintendent, vacating the road foreman position.
The action was made following a 10-minute executive session called by commissioner Howard Collett to discuss identifiable, non-elected personnel.
In other business:
— Noreen Weems, county elderly department director, announced the annual meeting for the Senior Citizens of Marion County, Inc., will be Oct. 14 at Goessel.
— Emergency medical services director Darryl Thiesen requested and received a 10-minute executive session with the commission to discuss personnel issues. The session reconvened with no decisions.
— The commission signed an annual agreement with Prairie View, verifying the budgeted amount of $60,000 to be given to the entity in 2005.
The next commission meeting will be at 9 a.m. Friday in the courthouse.
