County signs contract for transfer station
Marion County Commission members signed a contract Monday to buy the solid waste transfer station before the end of the year.
The contract is for $825,000, paid to KC Development. Commissioners signed a letter of intent and made a $75,000 down payment in March.
It gives the county 30 days to complete a "due diligence" study — examining all details one last time to insure everything is correct.
Then the county plans to issue revenue bonds to pay for the station, a process that takes about 45 days. Sale is contingent on issuance of bonds.
Jim Kaup, special attorney for solid waste issues, said the contract negotiations featured "a lot of back and forth, a lot of drafting and re-drafting."
It cancels all previous contracts between KC Development and the county. It contains numerous "assurances, indemnifications, and certifications" regarding zoning of the property, warranties given to KC Development by the city following the sale in 1993, and other issues, Kaup said.
In other reports:
A new tree will be planted in Central Park, Marion, to replace the current hospice tree, reported Noreen Weems, Department for Elderly director.
The tree never has grown well so a replacement, about $213 from Stone Creek Nursery, Hesston, has been ordered. It will be planted in October. Funds from the Nancy Reynolds estate will pay for the tree, Weems said.
Weems added that Senior Citizens of Marion County will hold its annual meeting Oct. 17 at Marion Senior Center.
Commissioners unanimously approved participation for a neighborhood revitalization plan for the City of Florence. Sarah Cope, economic development director, presented the request.
County Appraiser Dianna Carter presented a letter from the State Valuation Department, saying the county was "in substantial compliance" with its mid-year ratio study. Counties should score between 90 and 110 percent of actual value for residential and commercial sales. The county was at 98.6 percent for residential and 92.6 percent for commercial.
Commissioners will not meet Monday due to Labor Day. They will meet Friday for end of the month business.
