Central National Bank will provide funds for electric meter project

By SUSAN BERG

Managing editor

In a surprise move Monday afternoon, Marion City Council did not reappoint city attorney Dan Baldwin.

In weeks prior to the council meeting, the council had placed a classified advertisement, seeking applicants for the position.

When the time came to appoint a city attorney, Mayor Mary Olson indicated she wanted to appoint Keith Collett and asked for a motion from the council. Councilman Jerry Kline made a motion but it died for a lack of a second. The council then entered into a 10-minute closed session for personnel for the purpose of discussing the city attorney position with administrator Doug Kjellin.

When the meeting reconvened, Olson again asked for a motion to appoint Collett as city attorney. Kline made the motion with Chris Meierhoff seconding. The motion carried, 3-2, with Steve Smith and Bill Holdeman voting against.

Baldwin had been the city’s attorney since October 1994. He also serves as the city attorney for Hillsboro.

Those reappointed for a year were administrator Kjellin, clerk Angela Lange, assistant clerk/treasurer Becky Makovec, police chief Josh Whitwell, fire chief Mike Regnier, and municipal judge Bryson Mills.

Lease-purchase approved

Three proposals were received to fund the purchase of new digital electrical meters — Tampa State Bank, Marion National Bank, and Central National Bank each submitting a proposal. The proposals from Marion National Bank and Central National Bank were basically the same at 3.8 percent and 3.73 percent, respectively, for the $117,000 project. Tampa State Bank’s proposal was 5 percent.

Smith asked if there was any possibility of paying the lease early because that was the major difference in the leases. Kjellin said excess funds would be used for street improvements and not an early payoff on the lease.

The city has its accounts at Central National Bank, so Holdeman made a motion to have the lease-purchase agreement with Marion National Bank but the motion died for a lack of a second. Kline made a motion to go with Central National Bank, which passed, 4-1, with Holdeman opposed.

Prior to the approval of the lease agreement, the council approved an ordinance that allowed the council to enter into an agreement.

In other business:

• The city has been approved for a second burn pile for tree limbs only. The site is east of Marion Cemetery at the south entrance off Eisenhower Road. The city can burn the pile between May 1 and July 1.
• A status hearing regarding a suit filed by Darryl and Linda Brewer against the city and the city planning commission will be at 10 a.m. May 3 at Marion County District Court.
• Susan Berg of Marion County Record informed the council that the Record, Carlsons’ Grocery, and Marion High School Key Club were sponsoring the community Easter egg hunt Saturday in Central Park.
• Dustin Hett was appointed to a two-year term on the Marion Planning Commission and Bill Smithheart and Janet Blue were appointed to the library board for four-year terms.
• Lange was given permission to pay the annual insurance premium of $102,067.
• The bylaws for Marion Historical Museum were approved.
• Marion resident Harry Bennett provided information to the council about a bike trail. He was part of a committee that addressed a bike trail four years ago.

The next council meeting will be at 4:30 p.m. May 2 in the city building.