Landlords still responsible for utility bills
Charter ordinance requires landlords to pay tenants' utility bills
Staff reporter
Marion City Commission approved a charter ordinance Monday regarding the continuation of landlords being responsible for past due tenants' utility bills.
Marion resident and landlord Jim Davis asked if the ordinance could be contested. Dan Baldwin, city attorney, said it could.
"State statutes are not uniform to all cities," Baldwin explained. Charter ordinances are a means for second class cities (based on population) to implement a change in the statute.
Baldwin said the state constitution allowed a petition signed by 10 percent of qualified voters in the last general election to contest the ordinance. The issue then would be placed on an election ballot.
In other business:
— City administrator David Mayfield reported the consulting engineers providing a water plant study had submitted a draft report. No cost estimates were included but will be completed at a later date, Mayfield said.
Mayfield said ozone disinfecting was recommended for all plants.
— The city's water tower and clear well were cleaned Friday, Mayfield reported. A video of the operation is available for the commission to view.
— The commission approved a mutual aid agreement for fire protection between the city and area fire districts.
The agreements were approved with the seven Marion County fire districts, and cities of Lehigh, Florence, Hillsboro, Herington, and Peabody.
— Public utilities director Harvey Sanders reported Washington Street was completed and crews worked on 12.5 electrical line upgrades.
— Mayfield reported he had submitted a fire department grant for smoke detectors. Grants will be awarded from November through May, Mayfield said.
— Warrants in the amount of $45,752 and payroll in the amount of $25,416 were approved.
The next commission meeting will be at 4 p.m. Monday in the city building.
