By ADAM STEWART

News editor

Marion County Commission Chairman Randy Dallke will consult with an expert on metal buildings about the possible construction of a storage building south of the new jail.

The commission on Monday discussed construction of a building to store emergency communications trailers, as well as documents that are overcrowding portions of the courthouse.

Dallke said that meeting City of Marion setback requirements, a building could be as much as 86 feet by 91 feet. A conditional use permit from the city would be required.

Document storage would require part of the building be climate controlled, and the size of the communications trailers would require at sidewalls at least 14 feet tall. Commissioners also discussed how to handle document storage — whether to have permanent catwalks or movable ladders.

Marion mayor shows interest in recycling

Marion Mayor Mary Olson visited the meeting during Transfer Station Director Rollin Schmidt’s scheduled appointment with the commission. She wanted to hear any new information on the county’s idea to partner with the city, as well as Hillsboro and Florence, for curbside recycling pickup.

Dallke said that with unsorted curbside pickup of recyclables in Peabody, he finds he recycles two-thirds of his refuse. He said his goal in establishing curbside recycling would be to cut the amount of garbage sent to Butler County Landfill by 25 percent or more.

Dallke said recycling participation in Peabody increased significantly when people didn’t have to sort their recyclables anymore.

“I knew it would have to be convenient to get it sold,” Olson said.

Olson invited Commissioner Dan Holub to attend the next Marion City Council meeting, which is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Monday. She also invited Schmidt to speak with her and City Administrator Doug Kjellin about recycling.

Dallke said he would try to get in contact with Florence City Council about recycling.

In other business:

• Dallke said he wants an agreement to move a segment of 180th Road southwest of Marion to include an easement for utilities to cross the railroad in case Road and Bridge Department ever moves entirely to the south shop. The commission will have a public hearing on closing a segment of the road at 11:40 a.m. April 22.
• A manufactured building that looks more like a cabin than a mobile home will be allowed in the county-owned trailer court at Marion County Park and Lake, on the conditions that it doesn’t require greater electrical service than is already in place and that it has certification from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
• Deb Scheibler of Kansas Workforce One spoke with the commission about the organization’s programs, which are funded through the U.S. Department of Labor. The organization provides training and job search help to unemployed and impoverished people. Its largest efforts are in helping people laid off from work find new jobs.
• Engineer Kenny Blair of Cook, Flatt & Strobel spoke with the commission about bridge inspections. The county has 10 bridges for which inspection costs will increase dramatically in the future because the federal government is increasing inspection requirements for bridges that would fail if a single support failed. However, Kansas Department of Transportation has money to help counties replace those kinds of bridges.
• Road and Bridge Superintendent Randy Crawford and employee Josh Housman met with the commission in closed session for 10 minutes to discuss pay. No action was taken on return to open session.
• County Clerk Tina Spencer met with the commission in closed session for 10 minutes to discuss personnel matters. No action was taken on return to open session.
• Park and Lake Superintendent Steve Hudson will look at a tractor that could be used to mow the park grounds and the closed landfill while a larger tractor is transferred to Road and Bridge Department to mow ditches.
• Road and Bridge Department had a defensive driving class for employees Friday. Crawford said he is trying to make safety classes a quarterly event.
• Crawford added two part-time workers for summer help with crack sealing, Wil Case and David Helmer.
• Road and Bridge Department will contract with a tree trimmer for $30,000 of tree trimming on county roads.
• The county received a $2,827 refund of 2012 workers’ compensation insurance premiums and a rebate of $141 from use of purchasing cards.
• Spencer sent a letter to the school districts in the county inviting students to help at poll sites.

The next commission meeting is scheduled for Monday.