By SUSAN BERG

Managing editor

It was about like Christmas Monday evening when Margaret Cook told Marion City Council that late Marion resident Pearl Baxter had given $30,000 to the city.

Of that, $5,000 was earmarked for Marion City Library. The only stipulation was for a plaque to be placed in the library in memory of Rebecca Shreve, an early Marion County pioneer and schoolteacher. Cook said Baxter had anonymously given $25,000 to the library a number of years ago.

Marion Historical Museum received $25,000 the latest gift from Baxter. The donation was to be used for air conditioning and heating. When Cook was told the city had already installed the unit, she said the money could be used for maintenance.

In addition, Baxter had donated and loaned items to be displayed in the museum. Those items that were loaned were given to the museum.

Cook said Baxter had also given money to Marion Municipal Airport, Marion Christian Church, and St. Luke Hospital.

Water program needs money

Marion Reservoir Watershed Restoration Protection Strategy Coordinator Peggy Blackman advised Marion City Council Monday evening that funding would be needed next year to continue water quality monitoring.

Matching funds for a 2011 grant lack $30,000. Marion County Commission has contributed to the program in the past and now wants Marion and Hillsboro to do the same, Blackman said.

A meeting is being planned by the county commission with officials from the two cities to discuss the dilemma.

In other business:

• A resolution was approved that would settle a concern about a fence at Hudson and Cedar streets. The document indicated that when a fence is angled back 15 feet, a vision triangle would be enhanced. The property owners have two weeks to complete the task.
• City Administrator David Mayfield reported that $375 in donations had been collected for marking fire hydrants on city streets. Preliminary bids were $4 per reflector without adhesive pads and $6 per reflector with two types of adhesive pads. The city has 150 to 160 hydrants. Mayfield was instructed to spend the initial donation and the council would evaluate the effectiveness to determine if more should be purchased.
• Marion Economic Development Inc. Chairman Todd Heitschmidt asked the council to consider appointing a member from the city council to the development board. Mayor Mary Olson had been serving as a council representative.
• Marion Cemetery Board Chairman Bud Hannaford presented an annual report. The next cemetery board meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. July 12 in the city council room.
• “Impressive” was the word Economic Development Director Doug Kjellin used to describe the quality of work provided by Hett Construction and Kansas Department of Transportation regarding the Safe Routes to School project.
• Alan Meisinger was officially appointed as city clerk with Councilman Chris Meierhoff opposing the appointment. Meisinger was hired May 10 by the council to replace Angela Lange whose last day was Friday.
• Council met in closed session with Mayfield and Kjellin for 30 minutes to discuss trade secrets. No action was taken when the council returned to open session.

The next regular city council meeting will be at 4:30 p.m. June 1 in the city building.