By ADAM STEWART

Staff writer

Florence Mayor Mary Shipman, City Council member Trayce Warner, and Marion County Economic Development Council representative Sarah Dawson said they are concerned about the direction of the development council.

They said they want the county to keep Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman as chairman of the council. Warner said Huffman does a good job, but representatives from Marion and Hillsboro are trying to make her ineffective.

“Maybe it’s time for you to step up and put your foot down,” Warner said.

Shipman said she thinks the commission should step in and structure the council so each community receives the same number of representatives, rather than the current structure that gives large towns more representatives. She suggested each town receive three representatives.

Dawson said she understands every group has issues, but the bickering on the council is out of hand.

In other business:

• Mobile phone service provider T-Mobile will erect towers in an effort to expand the company’s coverage in rural areas. Commissioners approved permits for a 340-foot tall tower near Peabody and another near Florence.
• Because of a change in state statute, counties will be responsible for the expense of burying indigents when they die without a family member claiming the body.
• Braden Suffield was hired as a corrections officer for the county jail at a wage of $10.30 per hour. He began employment Thursday.
• The county will request a meeting with representatives of Marion and Hillsboro regarding funding for water quality monitoring in Marion Reservoir.
• Ship Shape Roofing of Marion will fix the roof of the transfer station office for $2,253, with a seven-year warranty. Wray Roofing of Newton bid $3,845 with a two-year warranty.
• Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning contractor KVK will replace the courthouse’s cooling tower for $17,238.

The next commission meeting will be Monday.