By ADAM STEWART

Staff writer

Pipe segments for TransCanada’s Keystone Pipeline will be arriving in Marion County in the next week or two, TransCanada representative Tommy Darnell told Marion County Commissioners on Monday.

The company has not yet decided where to unload pipe segments from trains. Florence and Elmdale are being considered, Darnell said.

Pipes will be taken to a staging point at the intersection of 290th and Quail Creek roads. Each pipe segment weighs between 14,000 and 15,000 pounds.

Commissioners granted approval for TransCanada to use 290th Road from U.S. 77 to the staging point despite exceeding county road weight limits.

TransCanada accepted an agreement outlining the company’s responsibility to the county with no revisions, Darnell said.

In other business:

• Road and Bridge Department employees Brandon Huntley and Michael Klose each received a $50 per month raise — from $1,854 to $1,904 — for working in the department six months.
• Cooperative Grain and Supply of Hillsboro won a bid to provide 5,500 gallons of diesel and 2,500 gallons of gasoline, with a bid of $17,009. Cardie Oil Company of Tampa bid $17,147.
• Transfer Station Director Rollin Schmidt met with commissioners in closed session for five minutes to discuss personnel. On return to open session, commissioners promoted Joe Vinduska from equipment operator I to equipment operator II.
• Hett Carpentry won a bid to do trim work at Marion County Park and Lake’s lake hall, with a bid of $3,705. Winter Construction bid $3,900; Jeff Jirak Construction, $3,975; and Gillett Construction, $4,800.
• Sheriff Rob Craft met with commissioners in closed session for 10 minutes to discuss personnel. No action was taken on return to open session.
• Commissioners approved a job description change for Health Department employee Lori Bebermeyer to include secretarial work for Planning and Zoning Department.
• Lynette Hiebert was hired as a part-time Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children breastfeeding counselor at $11.10 per hour. The position is paid for by a grant.
• Commissioners met in closed session for five minutes to discuss personnel matters at Commission Chairman Randy Dallke’s request. No action was taken on return to open session.

Commissioners will have a special meeting at 1 p.m. Thursday and a regular meeting Tuesday morning.