Staff writer
Marion County Health Department sought bids for carpeting the building, but other building issues should be handled first, department administrator Diedre Serene said Monday.
She said she wants to scrape off old wallpaper and repaint the walls, and thought it would be best to wait to put new carpet in.
Replacing windows is another issue for the building. Many of the current windows leak, which might be creating a mold problem, Serene said. The issues go all the way up to the roof. Fixing the windows could cost $35,000, she said.
Commissioner Dan Holub asked whether the county should invest the money it would take to fix the building long-term. Commission Chairman Randy Dallke said he thinks the county should build a new office building. Fixing the building could become as effective as throwing money in a pit, he said.
Regardless of what the county’s long-term solution is, something needs to be done about mold now, Serene said.
In other business:
The county will send a letter to Blevins Asphalt, the company that did road sealing in summer 2009. The letter will seek to resolve issues with double chip seals on Limestone and Timber roads that aren’t holding up.
Road and Bridge Superintendent Jim Herzet met with commissioners in closed session for five minutes. When the meeting returned to open session, commissioners announced employee Brent Hayen will move from part-time to full-time work because the department is shorthanded.
The commission met in closed session for 15 minutes to discuss personnel matters. No action was taken on return to open session.
The commission will send a letter Holub drafted to state legislators representing the county regarding a tax exemption for the Keystone Pipeline. The letter, sharply critical of how the exemption was passed, doesn’t pull any punches and may include some cheap shots, Holub said.