County treasurer submits first bid for office changes
Staff reporter
During Monday's meeting, Marion County Commission reviewed a bid for improvements in the treasurer's office, approved a road oil bid, and made other county-related decisions.
Jeannine Bateman, county treasurer, presented a bid from Navrat Office Supply for office furniture and equipment. Bateman is planning to reconfigure the set-up of her department for better efficiency.
Following the bid review, Bateman requested and received a 15-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
Gerald Kelsey, road and bridge superintendent, and Jim Herzet, road supervisor, presented two bids for polymer road oil.
Vance Brothers of Kansas City submitted a bid of 88 cents per gallon and Koch Paving Solutions of Wichita submitted a bid of 83 cents per gallon. The commission approved the lower bid from Koch Paving Solutions.
Kelsey said the polymer is effective for "water proofing" roads. The Burdick road and Lost Springs road "are holding up well," added Kelsey.
Kelsey also reported the Durham bridge deck will be poured Friday. The new oil distributor should be delivered this week. Magnum chloride is being put on Elk Road. Blade patching will begin soon.
Kelsey announced Victor Burns had resigned from the department and employees have shifted positions. Steve Hudson has been hired to fill the vacancy.
Melissa McDow, president of 4 Bac Inspection Services of Cedarvale, met with the commission regarding inspection work for the county.
McDow said her company inspects roads and bridges, and can do quality testing for road materials. All inspectors are certified with an engineer on staff.
"The company does not do design work, therefore can provide an unbiased report," said McDow.
McDow and other employees are former Kansas Department of Transportation employees with 50 years of combined experience.
In other business:
— The commission approved a grant payment of $158. The grant is for the juvenile surveillance program and is made through the Juvenile Justice Accountability Block Grant.
— Robert G. Maxwell, resident of Eastshore Development at Marion Reservoir, was appointed by commissioner Howard Collett to serve on the Marion County Planning and Zoning Commission.
— A conditional use permit was approved by the commission for a bed and breakfast at Marion Reservoir. Charles and Lynn Unruh applied for the permit with the property being used only for the intended purpose.
— David Brazil, county zoning administrator, sanitarian, and transfer station director, said the skid steer loader has arrived and is being modified. It will be in use by May. The new trailer for the transfer station is expected to arrive this week.
— Jan Moffitt, county health administrator, reported to the commission the window tinting has been installed. She now realizes the awnings are needed to provide shade and protection from the elements.
The commission approved the expenditure of $1,116 for new cloth on the original awning frame and installation of the awning.
— Breast awareness seminar is planned for May 11 in the clinic basement.
— A tree dedication will be held during Friday's commission meeting. A red bud tree will be planted southeast of the courthouse to replace a tree that was removed.
— Commission approved the publication of an advertisement for a county health administrator for an additional week.
— Rose Funk, assistant county clerk, reported an advertisement had run last week in the county newspapers for volunteers' week.
— The commission approved an early May pay day of May 28 instead of June 1.
The next commission meeting will be at 9 a.m. Friday in the courthouse. There will be no meeting Monday.
