Mayfield, Soyez appointed to permanent positions
David Mayfield and Michel Soyez can take the "interim" off their titles.
Marion City Commission on Monday formally appointed Mayfield as city administrator and Soyez as police chief.
Appointments are reviewed annually.
Mayfield was the former police chief. He was named interim city administrator when Dennis Nichols resigned, and Soyez was named interim chief.
Part of the agreement is that Mayfield can return to his role as chief should he not continue as administrator, officials said.
Commissioners Jim Crofoot and Larry McLain voted for the appointments. Mayor Eloise Mueller wasn't present.
Tree dump
City crews will check wind direction and weather before burning material at the tree dump on Sunflower.
The tree dump accepts lawn clippings, limbs, and untreated wood products. Most materials are chipped, but stumps and large limbs are burned.
Resident Billy Patterson asked commissioners to move or shut down the tree dump due to ash and smoke.
Patterson said ash floated from the site to his residence on North Third. Mayfield said ash also was found on police cars parked on Fifth.
Patterson said the smoke and ash posed health hazards as well, particularly to children in day cares and preschool over which the smoke drifts.
He suggested the city work with the county to move the burn site to county property south and west of its current location. Mayfield said it was unlikely the county would be interested.
Closing the tree dump wasn't an option because lawn trimmings aren't accepted at the transfer station.
"What we can do is make sure when we burn, we do so with the wind out of the north," Mayfield said. "But that's not always going to be an option."
In other reports:
City crews were busy with Clean Up Week, collecting 26.16 tons of trash this past week. This doesn't include limbs, most of which were chipped.
Commissioners approved a tractor rental contract with Marion County Equipment, Inc. The company will rent a tractor to the city for 18 cents per horsepower hour, as needed. City officials said it would be useful during cleanup of heavy snows, removal of tree limbs, or when the city's tractor is out of service.
National Honor Society at Marion High School bought 10 computer chairs for the city library, reported Librarian Janet Marler.
Kurt Spachek was appointed to the city library board to replace Matt Newhouse. The term ends in 2006.
Checks totaling $16,255 were approved to pay bills.
