Neighboring counties may want county's trash
Staff reporter
Marion County Commission discussed solid waste options Monday that may include participation with Harvey County.
Commissioner Bob Hein told the commission that Harvey County continues to move forward with an incinerator project. If the plan moves forward, Harvey County will need 120 tons of solid waste per day. It was unknown if costs would be comparable to current operations of transporting refuse to a landfill near Topeka.
McPherson County also is making changes by gearing up for a landfill, Hein said.
County transfer station manager Rollin Schmidt commented that there were exciting changes on the horizon.
In other business:
— Schmidt reported he continues to work on county recycling grants. He will submit two — one for a truck and trailers and one for a truck, trailers, and baler. Applications are due June 15.
— Cardie Oil Company of Tampa had the low bid of $19,046 for 5,500 gallons of diesel and 2,500 gallons of unleaded fuel. The diesel fuel was an approximate average of $2.28 per gallon and the unleaded was $2.43 per gallon.
Cooperative Grain and Supply of Hillsboro had a bid of $19,132 or an average of $2.29 per gallon for diesel fuel and $2.44 per gallon for unleaded.
— The commission approved the annual, budgeted payment of $2,500 to Kansas Legal Services, the same as the previous year.
— County appraiser Cindy Magill reported the deadline has passed for real property owners to appeal their appraisals. She said there were about the same number this year as the previous.
— An extension has been requested with the state by Magill for the deadline to send out personal property notices. The deadline now is May 15 but Magill anticipates personal property owners will receive their notices before that date. The previous deadline for the notices to be mailed was May 1.
— Commission chairman Randy Dallke asked for a clarification regarding when the appraiser's office sets values on properties under construction. Magill said typically her employees set a value when a roof is on the structure. Then a percentage of completion is determined and appropriate tax assessed.
— More information will be presented at a future meeting regarding additional exterior lighting on the courthouse campus. Discussion was heard regarding the need for exterior lighting for safety purposes and aesthetics. Currently there are lights on the flag and flag pole.
It was determined that additional lighting directly on the courthouse would be desirable.
— The commission reviewed a map of areas that have had brush and small trees removed. Schmidt reported his department has started roadside spraying of weeds.
— County public works director Jim Herzet reported crews were tearing up and replacing parts of 90th Road and plans are to do the same to parts of 330th.
— Schmidt reported he sent specifications with aerial photographs to Kansas Department of Health and Environment as required for a fence project at the transfer station. KDHE has to approve the construction plan before it can be done. Bids will be obtained for the project and presented at a future meeting.
— The commission approved the county's solid waste management plan as the same as the previous year.
— Dallke requested and received a five-minute executive session with county elderly department director Noreen Weems for the purpose of discussion personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— The commission held a one-hour executive session to discuss the applications for the positions of county lake superintendent and county elderly department director.
The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— County clerk Carol Maggard reported she will attend a meeting regarding the 2010 census.
The next commission meeting is at 9 a.m. Monday in the courthouse.
