Marion city councilman proposes chain of command
More streets will be improved
Staff reporter
Near the conclusion of Monday evening's meeting, Marion City Councilman Bill Holdeman asked the council to entertain a motion that all appointed city employees report directly to the city council instead of the city administrator.
The council entered a 10-minute executive session with city administrator David Mayfield, city clerk Angela Lange, and police chief Josh Whitwell. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
According to Holdeman, when Whitwell was hired, the council decided he would report directly to the council rather than the administrator.
Appointed personnel are the city administrator, city clerk, city treasurer, police chief, fire chief, city attorney, and municipal clerk and municipal judge.
The economic development director is a contract employee which is determined in January.
In other business:
— The council decided to continue making street improvements with patching as needed and a chip seal for 11 additional blocks at an additional cost of $38,979.
Street superintendent Marty Fredrickson told the council that 138 city blocks have been re-sealed for a total of 146,000 square yards. With the 11 additional blocks approved Monday, there are a total of 18 blocks remaining.
Councilman Jerry Kline said he was concerned about when the additional streets would be completed. City officials said the contractor, APAC-Kansas, Inc., Shears Division, would not be paid until all work is completed.
Excess rock from the project will be swept from the streets in the fall when the weather is cooler to avoid peeling the freshly laid asphalt.
— Residents are asked to contact the city immediately, even after hours, if they experience discolored city water.
Fredrickson said flushing at the water distribution center caused some residences to have yellowish-brown water. He assured the council that the water was safe to drink, just was discolored.
— The council may consider changing from requiring new customers to have a $150 utility deposit to a non-refundable fee.
Becky Makovec, utility clerk, told the council that the city has been refunding the deposit to those new customers who pay their bills on time for 12 months. Interest is collected on each account and refunded with the deposit which requires extensive bookkeeping for the city.
Makovec was instructed to return to the council with a proposal for consideration.
— A budget amendment hearing was held at the beginning of the meeting to approve a bond and interest payment for the water plant project. The amendment was approved.
— City residents can continue to take advantage of the neighborhood revitalization program through Marion County even though the city's program will be discontinued.
The council decided it would not seek new inter-local agreements with the other taxing entities to continue the property tax rebate program for new homes and improvements because the county's plan was more comprehensive since it included the entire city instead of just a specific area.
— The city will change web site hosting which will save the municipality $500 per year.
Currently the city pays $760 per year and the economic development director keeps the site updated. Rick Burcky, who hosts and updates the web site for Marion County Economic Development Council, will only charge the city $250 per year and will provide all of the updating.
— Through a consent agenda, the council approved the license renewal for D&J Liquor Store, the transfer of $100,000 from sales tax in the general fund to the capital improvement fund and a $76,305 transfer from sales tax in the general fund to bond and interest fund.
— Some routes on the Safe Routes to School program have been changed. Concerns were expressed about the route including North Cedar Street. Instead, Lawrence Street will be one of the main routes with sidewalks installed on both sides of the street.
The program is designed to encourage students and adults to walk and exercise.
— Jan Nolde of Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk and Loyd, presented the 2006 audit report to the council.
The report was favorable with no violations.
Expenditures did exceed the budget but was not considered a statute violation.
— During the public forum portion of the meeting, resident Jan Helmer asked what the criteria was for an abandoned house to be removed. Fredrickson responded it required a petition with signatures from at least five residents.
If the structure has an open basement, ceiling, roof, or harbors rodents, it could be considered to be dilapidated and require attention.
The petition also should state what the petitioners want the city to require the property owner to do such as repair or remove.
If it is a health issue, the city can initiate the process, otherwise residents need to make the city aware of dilapidated structures.
— Margo Yates, Marion Recreation Director, reported there were 22 teams that participated in summer baseball and softball. Requests have been made for a fall volleyball league which is being considered.
Yates asked the council if movies could be shown in Central Park. The consensus was yes.
The summer REC programs ended up approximately $1,300 in the black, Yates said, which is what the commission wanted which means it is not charging any more than necessary to operate the programs.
Boosters continue to support the sports complex by raising money through concessions and paid advertising signs along the fences.
— As Marion Chamber of Commerce director, Yates reported there was a tour bus in town Friday with 60 people from Central Christian Church of Wichita. The group made a $100 donation to Marion Historical Museum.
— City officials will meet with Kirkham Michael Engineers to discuss the reconstruction of Eisenhower Drive and North Cedar Street.
— Bids will be sought for construction of Country Club Heights streets. Bids will be opened at the next council meeting.
— A 30-minute executive session was called by the mayor to discuss personnel with police chief Josh Whitwell and the city administrator in attendance.
The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— A 10-minute executive session was called at the conclusion of the meeting for the purpose of discussing personnel with Whitwell, the city administrator, and clerk Angela Lange. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
The next regular council meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 6 at the city building.
