Stockman says fireworks caused death of calf
Mick Summervill of rural Marion told county commissioners Monday that he hated "to throw cold water on a good event," but said he lost a 700-pound calf because of the Aug. 31 fireworks display at Marion County Lake.
He said the show site was "too close to the lake." He has a feedlot nearby. Some of his cattle were milling around, frightened by the brightness and especially the noise of the fireworks, and the calf was rammed into a bunk and died, he said.
He said that once when a jet flew over, the noise, a sonic boom, probably, killed three of his cattle.
His property is within a mile to a quarter-mile of the lake, he said. The calf that died was about a quarter-mile from the fireworks discharge site, he said.
He said he "likes to watch the fireworks as much as the next person," but wondered if a different site might be found, such as the Marion Warriors Stadium.
Having the show at the stadium would drive dogs in town "crazy," someone said.
Summervill said he realized organizers of the show were not going to want to move it "for one person."
"Most people hadn't thought of such a thing happening," he added.
Thunder and lightning are not much of a problem, he said, i.e. they don't seem to disturb his cattle. Hail on the roof of a shed scares them badly, however, he said.
Commissioner Leroy Wetta said, "We're not the sponsor (of the show) anymore." He and other commissioners agreed that the sponsors need to provide proof of insurance for future Labor Day fireworks displays.
Paving damage
County Clerk Carol Maggard told commissioners a consultant has said that more than mere patching is going to be needed to fix the indentations in the parking lot east of the courthouse.
The "dents" or holes in the lot were reportedly made by a giant crane brought in during the recent spring and summer restoration work on the courthouse. Mid-America Restoration Co. of Fort Scott did the work, and leased the crane from another company.
How the lot looks is important, as well as whether it is functional, said Commission Chairman Howard Collett.
"Aesthetics are important as an expression of the goals, aspirations and culture of the community," Collett said.
Maggard said the county had $7,603,944.88 on hand as of Aug. 29, according to the county treasurer's report, with $1,494,918.61 of that in the county's general fund.
Finances
Commissioners "wrote off" eight checks totalling $225.98 that were more than two years old, checks from the county that people have not cashed, turned in.
Maggard said expenses were up and revenues down for August. She told them where spending was in various county departments through Aug. 31, i.e. what percentage of each's budget had been used, spent, taking into consideration the 6-percent budget cut imposed by commissioners for this year.
David Brazil, planning and zoning director for the county as well as sanitarian and transfer station director, told commissioners the updated 2003 Comprehensive Plan for Marion County was approved by the County Planning Commission Aug. 28.
It will be presented for the county commission's final approval during the 9 a.m. meeting Monday at the courthouse.
Maggard said expenses from the Special Auto Fund in the Treasurer's Office were $8,895.85. Most of that went toward purchase and installation of the Real Vision Imaging computer software system, she said.
Collett noted for the public that when wives or companions accompany commissioners to conventions or other meetings and events, the commissioners personally pay the fees for their spouses or companions — hotels, meals, etc.
