Kjellin hired as economic dev. director
Staff reporter
Marion County native Doug Kjellin was hired Monday evening by Marion City Council as the city's economic development director.
Kjellin and his family recently moved to Marion from McPherson.
The council entered into a 15-minute executive session with city administrator David Mayfield, city attorney Dan Baldwin, and Kjellin to discuss the position. After another 10-minute session, the meeting reconvened with the council unanimously approving the hiring of Kjellin at $46,000 per year plus benefits.
Kjellin went right to work and was included in the next 20-minute executive session for trade secrets with the same officials. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
In other business:
— Marion County Commissioner Dan Holub informed the council that the county wanted to purchase four lots at Marion Industrial Park for $80,000 for the site of a proposed jail project. The city then will provide sewer, water, electricity, and a street.
Councilman Stacey Collett asked if zoning issues needed to be addressed. Baldwin said a letter could be sent to Marion Planning Commission as a courtesy but the area already was zoned industrial which is sufficient for a jail.
When asked the number of employees the new jail could hire, Holub said 10-15 employees. He continued that the county will have to hire additional employees, for a total of $225,000 in wages, at the current jail because of state fire marshal requirements.
— Mayor Mary Olson said she was going to address electrical outages in the south part of town with Mayfield and will send a memo to those councilmen who are interested.
— Zoning administrator Marty Fredrickson reported there was a hearing June 24 and the board of zoning appeals approved a variance for an accessory building at 508 Walnut.
Fredrickson said he wanted to proceed with condemnation of a property at 201 N. Freeborn. The owners had been given a reprieve three years ago when they made some improvements but no one has lived in the house and it is deteriorating again.
A resolution will be presented at the next meeting.
— The council approved a one-half page advertisement in the program for the Cal Ripken baseball tournament which will be held in Marion. The cost of the ad was $175.
— A building permit ordinance will be reviewed at the next council meeting.
— A 20-minute executive session to discuss personnel was held with Mayfield and Baldwin. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
The next council meeting is at 4:30 p.m. July 14 in the city building.
