Marion economic development director feels ‘blacklisted’
Staff writer
Despite agreeing that recycling is worthwhile and that a single-stream program would produce the biggest results, Marion County Commissioners reached an impasse Monday about how the county should approach it.
Commissioners Randy Dallke and Dan Holub disagreed whether the county’s current system costs or saves the county money.
Morris County has a similar system in place that has had 10 years to work out the bugs, but the county is considering shuttering the program because it costs too much money, Dallke said.
Holub countered that Marion County can receive money for recycled goods, especially cardboard. If the recycling program ends, the county would have to pay to send those goods to a landfill.
The county will seek an estimate from Stutzman Refuse Disposal Inc. of South Hutchinson for single-stream recycling pickup countywide.
Kjellin concerned about communication
Marion Economic Development Director Doug Kjellin asked commissioners if attendance at Marion County Economic Development Council meetings was required to receive minutes and agendas. He wants to receive those, so he can know how MCEDC’s actions could affect the city of Marion.
Marion Mayor Mary Olson asked Marion County Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman to only send MCEDC updates to her, Holub said. Kjellin said he hadn’t heard that before.
“I kind of feel blacklisted by the county E.D. director,” Kjellin said.
A free flow of information would be good for everyone involved and eliminate any appearance of favoritism, he said.
Later at the Marion City Council meeting, Kjellin asked Olson about the situation. Olson responded that she will rectify the situation.
In other business:
- Keystone Pipeline representatives want to strike language from the company’s contract with Marion County regarding documentation of floodplain issues, because the county doesn’t have a body that regulates floodplains. The language is in the contract because it was in a similar document Dickinson County used. Commissioners said they were amenable to the change, but wanted to check with County Attorney Susan Robson about possible consequences.
- Baker Brothers Printing of Hillsboro will print 500 resource guides for the Department on Aging for $1,699. The company was the only business to submit a bid.
- One 911 station was inoperable for four days following repeated power outages March 26.
- Deputy County Clerk Ruth Lange will retire in June, County Clerk Carol Maggard announced after a five-minute executive session.
- The county will take bids for a mower for the courthouse grounds. Mowers should have a 42-inch deck and 18 or more horsepower. The county is seeking bids for both tractor-style and zero-turn-radius mowers.
The next commission meeting will be Monday.