Staff writer
Marion County Commission will meet with Marion County Park and Lake Superintendent Steve Hudson on Thursday to review the rules, regulations, and staffing of the lake.
Lake resident Jim Newkirk asked in December about the possibility of using a golf cart to get around, and he left a message for the commission that he was still seeking a decision. Newkirk has limited mobility and was concerned about the safety of riding a scooter.
On Monday, lake resident Bill English presented another request to allow golf cart use at the lake. He said a wheelchair-bound resident wanted a better way to get around. English said he had spoken with Commissioner Dan Holub about the request during the weekend.
It would be easier to allow golf carts if the lake was simply a retirement community, but sometimes families bring rowdy children with them that might be unsafe on golf carts, Commissioner Randy Dallke said.
Gerald Bender was hired as a part-time seasonal groundskeeper for the park with a wage of $8 an hour.
Dallke urged reviewing whether to fill another recently vacated year-round groundskeeper position. He said he was concerned that the county might be making year-round work to keep an unnecessary groundskeeper employed during the winter.
Dallke suggested the review to help Commission Chairman Roger Fleming learn the ins and outs of lake operations.
Parcel map price set
The county will charge Atmos Energy $800 for a parcel map of the county. County Appraiser Cindy Magill asked the commission the price that should be set for maps from a recently completed mapping project, and that Atmos Energy was the first to request maps.
Dallke excused himself from the discussion because he is employed by Atmos Energy.
Most similar counties charge $800 to $1,200 for similar maps, Magill said. She said the county could set either a flat price or a price per parcel mapped. Marion County has about 12,000 parcels.
Holub said the county shouldn’t view the maps as a money maker. Rather, charges should only cover the county’s expense to provide the maps.
Commissioners will discuss per-parcel pricing in a later meeting, as well as possible prices for township and city maps.
In other business:
- Communications Interim Director Linda Klenda met with the commission in closed session for 10 minutes to discuss personnel. On return to open session, it was announced that 911 dispatcher Sarahanne Unruh will move to part-time employment April 5. Klenda later met with the commission in closed session for 10 minutes to discuss personnel, with no action on return to open session.
- County Clerk Carol Maggard met with the commission in closed session for 10 minutes to discuss personnel. No action was taken on return to open session.
- County Treasurer Jeannine Bateman met with the commission in closed session for 10 minutes to discuss personnel. No action was taken on return to open session.
- The commission met in closed session for 15 minutes to discuss personnel at Dallke’s request. No action was taken on return to open session.
- Cooperative Grain and Supply of Hillsboro will supply 6,550 gallons of fuel to Road and Bridge Department for $21,299. Cardie Oil Company of Tampa bid $21,454.
- Cardie Oil Company will supply 10 55-gallon barrels and 20 30-gallon barrels of motor oil to Road and Bridge Department for $11,033 plus refundable deposits on the barrels. Cooperative Grain and Supply bid $11,480 plus refundable deposits.
The next regularly scheduled commission meeting will be Thursday.