Tice takes over as mayor of Marion
Mayor Eloise Mueller presided Monday at her final Marion City Commission meeting as mayor. A reception was held in her honor prior to the business meeting.
Mueller said she enjoyed working for the city and found city operations to be interesting. She thanked the commissioners and city personnel for their support.
"I appreciate everybody putting up with me," said Mueller. She said she also appreciated the reception.
Commissioner Jim Crofoot thanked Mueller for her service.
"She will be missed," said Crofoot. "We've got a lot done."
Commissioner Larry McLain thanked Mueller.
"She's put in a lot of time and effort," said McLain. "She will be greatly missed."
Martin Tice, mayor-elect, was sworn in by city clerk Linda Holub and took his position on the commission. He showed his appreciation to Mueller.
"I echo the comments already made," said Tice. "We will continue to use her services."
David Mayfield, city administrator, reported he and other city personnel attended a meeting April 6 with the Corps of Engineers, including two members of the Tulsa District.
The representatives of the environmental and compliance branch of the corps met with city officials to advise them of the creation of a water quality sampling plan. By utilizing their resources, water and algae samples will be taken from the reservoir this year. Representatives will collect water samples for analysis once in April and May, and twice a month in June, July, and August.
The monitoring will be reported to each agency as the tests are conducted and will allow the municipalities to be better informed should an algae outbreak occur.
Mayfield told the commission the city is prepared with equipment in place at Luta Creek should the need arise to pump water from the creek. The backup water plan will not cause any interruption of service to the city's water customers, Mayfield said.
Crofoot asked the likelihood of another algae crisis like last summer.
Mayfield responded a variety of factors must be present in order for the bloom to occur. Water clarity, no wave action, no rain, and "lots of sunshine" contribute to the contamination, Mayfield said.
"If these trends come back like they did last year, we'll have the same problem," said Mayfield. "It probably will come back." He added all of the reservoirs have the algae.
Infinitec, Inc., the city's webmaster, has chosen the city's website as an advertising module. The company is using the website as an example of their work and encourages potential customers to visit the city's website. Michel Soyez, police chief, designed the site.
In other business:
— Mueller was appointed to a four-year term as chairman of the city's economic development advisory committee.
— The commission proclaimed next week Fine Arts Week. Jim Versch, Marion High School art teacher, told the commission MHS is hosting Monday a Cottonwood Valley art show and contest.
The exhibition will be from 1 to 4 p.m. in Marion City Building basement. An awards presentation will be at 4:30 p.m.
The city also gave Versch permission for students to participate and display sidewalk chalk art on downtown sidewalks.
— Standard operating procedures for disasters was approved by commission. Mayfield reported the procedures are the same as previous years with personnel updates.
— A resolution was adopted to waive general acceptable accounting (GAAP) practices.
— Becky Makovec, city utility clerk, presented and the commission approved the March utility billing tie-out.
— Mayfield told the commission he and other city personnel recently met with a representative of the Kansas Department of Agriculture and National Flood Insurance Program Coordinator to discuss floodplain management.
— Mayfield will be attending a Kansas Department of Transportation grant workshop in July.
— Harvey Sanders, public utilities director, reported the new bucket truck is in operation. City crews are working at the swimming pool. Holes have been repaired and the pool will be repainted when weather permits.
Sanders said city workers have removed most of the trees along the dike, assisted SBC with a pole "cover-up," and repaired a water leak on Washington Street.
— Kansas Department of Health and Environment inspected the city's tree and brush site and found the city in compliance, said Mayfield.
— Mayfield told the commission Thad Meierhoff, fire chief, has received a letter stating the fire department will receive an additional $1,300 from a previous grant application.
— Janet Marler, librarian, presented her March report of 117 new books, 3,833 books and materials checked-out during the month, and $58 in fines were paid.
— Warrants in the amount of $84,252 were approved. It was noted $63,882 of the amount was paid to Westar Energy.
— The commission recessed for two executive sessions for attorney-client privilege. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
The next meeting will be at 4 p.m. Monday at the city building.
