Staff writer
Marion County will provide $2,500 to help with the Prelude to the Symphony in the Flint Hills, in addition to the $2,500 spent in 2008, in the absence of support from cities that will benefit from the event.
County Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman asked for the funds at Monday’s County Commission meeting. The money will help pay for mailings and advertising before, and entertainers and portable toilets during the event, which is expected to draw up to 30,000 visitors to Marion County in June.
Florence, host of the prelude, does not have any money in the budget to support the event, Huffman said
The commissioners said they were upset none of the cities were taking steps to support the event.
“They’ll benefit from this, too,” Commission Chairman Dan Holub said.
Attendees to the June 13 symphony will spend money at hotels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, and shops of all kinds, Huffman said.
There are 34 private volunteers working on the prelude, and Huffman is seeking sponsors of the event. Prospective volunteers and sponsors can contact Huffman at (620) 382-8830 or thuffman@marioncoks.net
In other business:
- The planning board amended its proposal for rules governing manufactured homes. The proposal previously required trailers be habitable and occupied. The board dropped that requirement, at the request of Commissioner Randy Dallke.
- The commission voted to provide an additional $750 to the Hillsboro Fire Department for rescue equipment. In 2008. the commission approved $5,500, or about half of the money for two pieces of rescue equipment. Hillsboro Fire Chief Ben Steketee said one of the pieces didn’t function well enough, and the department opted to purchase a cutter that was $1,500 more.
- The next commission meeting will be 9 a.m. Friday for payday and other business. There will be no meeting Monday.