Staff writer
Resurfacing of Main Street moved one step closer to reality Monday as Marion City Council approved a contract for project design work.
Darin Neufeld of Evans, Bierly, Hutchison and Associates presented the contract, which includes engineering design and project oversight for the project that will cover a stretch from Locust Street to a point between First and Walnut streets.
The contract approved by the council allocates $4,000 for field design surveys, $9,000 for field check plans and probable cost estimates, $6,000 for final plans and probable cost estimates, and hourly rates, meals, and vehicle expense reimbursement for construction services not to exceed $34,000.
Mayor Mary Olson asked if the supervision provided through the construction was for a full-time person.
“We have the price built in to be full-time, but if you decided we needed to be here only occasionally, we can back off to whatever level the city would see necessary,” Neufeld said.
“I don’t think we need one on-site all the time for this kind of mill and overlay,” council member Jerry Kline said.
“This will go so fast that if everything goes the way it should, they should be in and out of here in three or four days,” Neufeld said.
Re-zoning fees
City Administrator Doug Kjellin recommended an increase in the rezoning application fee to $75, which is the same as fees for conditional use and variance applications. Kjellin presented research requested by the council regarding zoning fees in surrounding communities
“I think $75 is reasonably responsible,” City Administrator Doug Kjellin said. “It probably won’t cover our costs if we have a large mailing that’s certified, but it’s back in line so it would just be $75 across the board for rezoning, variance, and conditional use permitting.”
Council member Steve Smith commended Kjellin for his research, and suggested an alternative to Kjellin’s recommendation.
“After looking at the figures you brought to us, and you stating the $75 fee won’t cover it all, it looks to me like we could go to $100 and not be out of line,” Smith said.
Kjellin said notification of surrounding residents by certified mail may not be necessary, and the city would not incur the additional costs.
“The county is using a system where if you take the listing of all the residences that need to be contacted, and you keep a journal and a log with the date it was mailed, the county attorney swears that’s good enough to meet state statute. If that’s the case, we don’t have the certified mailing costs,” Kjellin said.
The council unanimously approved the increase to $75.
In other business:
- The council formally accepted a $180,000 Community Development Block Grant to fund the Jex Addition sewer project by signing a contract with Kansas Department of Commerce. Kansas Department of Health and Environment will provide $433,625 in matching funds for the project.
- Olson signed a proclamation designating Feb. 18 to 25 as FFA Week. Marion-Florence FFA chapter members Jessie Taylor, Adam Cope, and Derrick Dvorak were present for the signing, along with chapter adviser Mark Meyer.
- The council approved bills in the amount of $200,053 and payroll in the amount of $26,334.
- A 10-year tax abatement renewal for Marion Die and Fixture was approved.
- Township fire protection agreements were approved with Center, Wilson, Gale, and Grant Townships. The agreement was modified to provide for appropriate distribution of any insurance reimbursement to agencies that responded to a specific call.
The next meeting of the council is scheduled for March 5 at Marion City Building.