Landfill, budget expenses occupy county commission
A light agenda for the Marion County Commission Tuesday made for a short but informative meeting about landfill closure and budget expenses.
Commissioner Howard Collett said he had been figuring costs for the landfill closure.
"We'll need 400,000 cubic yards of dirt to fill the old landfill," Collett said. He thought a minimum charge for moving the dirt by a contractor would be $1 per yard or $400,000.
Jack Chappelle, the county's engineer for the project, previously had suggested the county spend 60 to 90 days in closing the site.
Collett said he was concerned if a contractor could complete this large of a project within the suggested time frame.
County clerk Carol Maggard asked Collett the amount the county would save if county workers did the job. Collett said he thought about 15 percent and again said the three-month completion time would be tough to meet.
Funds have been set aside in a risk management fund by the commission for the landfill closure. With the calendar and budget year in the final quarter, the commission is getting more concerned about budget funds.
Chappelle will present a closure schedule and approximate costs at a later date.
Maggard provided a budget report for August, with the second of three payments being made to capital improvement for roads and risk management funds. The capital improvement fund has a balance of $923,300 and risk management a balance of $205,385.
It was noted that three departments — attorney, sheriff, and judicial — were over their budgets after eight months of expenses.
"The attorney doesn't have control over a lot of her expenses," Maggard said.
Maggard was referring to expenses incurred by the county because of fatality accidents on U.S.-50. Autopsies, DNA testing, and other expenses were required during the investigations.
Maggard also noted there may be some reimbursements once various court cases are settled but those may not be realized until next year. Maggard added the county attorney's department budget was "in-line on everything else."
It was noted the ambulance department (Emergency Medical Services) budget had not collected $115,000 for services.
In other business:
— David Brazil, county zoning director, distributed a final draft of county zoning and subdivision regulations. A public hearing regarding the regulations will be at 6 p.m. Sept. 23, Brazil said.
— County noxious weed department director Bill Smithhart met with the commission and Maggard for a 10-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
The commission will meet at 9 a.m. Monday in the commission room at the courthouse.
