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  • Last modified 8 days ago (Jan. 16, 2025)

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2 new county commissioners sworn in

Staff writer

Two new county commissioners were sworn in Monday and another was bid a fond farewell Jan. 8.

Outgoing county commissioner Randy Dallke, who served 20 years on the commission before being outvoted by Clarke Dirks, received a plaque and a pin commemorating his service Jan. 8.

Commissioner Kent Becker also honored outgoing commission chairman David Mueller, saying that it had been an honor to serve on the commission and planning and zoning board with him.

After taking office, commissioners decided Monday that their county-owned laptop computers could be purchased by them for $100 or donated to a charitable cause.

County administrator Tina Spencer said the county’s computer specialist had said the computers were worth $100.

County counsel Brad Jantz told commissioners he wanted to set a time within the next two weeks for lawyers representing the county in seven lawsuits to update the county on the cases.

One suit was filed in September, 2020, by Roger Buller over not receiving permission for his company to install wind turbines because the Board of Zoning Appeals decided his application was not sufficient.

One was filed in September, 2022, over the suicide in December, 2021 of jail inmate Julie Sparks. Sparks’ mother, Kathy Parrish, contends law enforcement officers and jailers failed to take proper precautions to prevent her suicide and did not respond properly when she was discovered. The case had at one point been moved to another court.

Five other suits, filed in federal court by Marion County Record; the estate of Joan Meyer; publisher Eric Meyer; and Record employees Cheri Bentz, Deb Gruver, and Phyllis Zorn; and former Marion vice mayor Ruth Herbel arose from raids Aug. 11, 2023, on the office of the newspaper and two homes.

Commissioners voted Jan. 8 to purchase four acres of land north of Peabody for a new area road and bridge shop and an ambulance station.

The road shop’s current location is in the flood plain, commissioner Jonah Gehring said, and employees must move equipment to avoid damage when heavy rain is forecast.

Dirks told commissioners he would like to discuss efficiency at their Jan. 21 meeting and whether commissioners’ pay should be cut by 20%.

Gehring said he wanted to schedule meetings to set commission priorities for 2025.

Last modified Jan. 16, 2025

 

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