Williams to offer customer service training
At Marion Chamber of Commerce meeting Friday, economic development director Jami Williams offered to provide customer service training for employees of Marion businesses.
Williams will use a video and one-on-one interaction during a two-hour session.
Employers were asked to contact Williams to submit names of employees who will take the training and to set up a time and place.
Approximately 25 people attended Friday's meeting. Patty Putter was welcomed as a new chamber member. She works at Baldwin Law Office. Lyle Leppke received a membership plaque for Leppke Realty and Auction.
Chamber members became acquainted with Bobbi Strait, the new Marion County planning and zoning administrator.
"I am here to help," she said. She noted she will provide free service to county residents as a state certified building inspector and certified damage assessor.
Strait said she is working positively toward resolving issues between planning and zoning boards.
"We're in a transition and we'll get things ironed out in time," she said. "We need to get the planning and zoning commissions on the same page."
Strait was asked questions regarding establishing homesites in areas zoned for agriculture.
She said current regulations require five acres for a new home site and three for an existing home site.
She said she would like to see approval given on a "site by site" basis, depending on the size of the house, the number of structures to be erected on the property, and the amount of land needed for sewage disposal.
County commissioner Dan Holub added that a homesite now can be developed on a dirt road. He said the county will build up the road, and it will be the responsibility of the homeowner to purchase rock for the road. It then will become a county-maintained road, he said.
Margo Yates announced that bus tours are being scheduled for Marion County Park and Lake beginning at 5:30 p.m. Old Settlers' Day. Unique and recreational features of the park will be pointed out, as well as recent improvements. Donations will be accepted.
Yates said a self-guided tour brochure will be available for people who prefer to tour the park on their own.
