Bookkeeping changes made for Marion REC
Staff reporter
Marion Recreation Commission will continue to receive funds from the city but will be responsible for paying its own bills.
City administrator David Mayfield told Marion City Commission Monday city officials had met with the REC commission and came to an agreement with the proposed guidelines.
In 2005, the REC commission will receive a $17,000 appropriation with a cash carry-over from this year. The commission will open its own checking account and provide a monthly revenue and expense statement to the city commission.
Guidelines also included for items the REC commission would be responsible at the baseball complex for events. The city will continue to be responsible for maintenance of the complex.
The group will be required to seek approval from the city commission for any improvements at the complex.
All landlords, tenants, and the public are invited to an open forum to discuss a new ordinance related to property owners being responsible for tenants' utility bills.
The forum will be during the regular Marion City Commission meeting at 4 p.m. Monday.
Marion city officials met with three local landlords Aug. 11 to discuss changes to a city ordinance regarding unpaid utility bills.
The state Legislature recently changed a statute which no longer allows municipal and utility companies to require landlords to be responsible for unpaid city electric bills. The law allows the city to take recourse against a landlord for sewer and water, but not electricity.
Mayfield said even though the turnout was low, it was a good meeting.
"We had a good discussion with them on the utility billing for their properties," said Mayfield. "They made a couple of suggestions and I will proceed this week to address the issue."
The commission approved updated bylaws for Marion Historic Museum.
The museum board recently made changes and adopted bylaws. Dan Baldwin, city attorney, said the changes were dates for activities, and the addition of a museum curator position.
The bylaws will allow the curator to spend up to $300 per month without board approval.
In other business:
— A state airport inspector visited Marion Municipal Airport and was pleased with the recent improvements at the airport. The annual inspection resulted in the replacement of a windsock.
Commissioner Jim Crofoot asked if the height of the taxi-way lights had changed. Harvey Sanders, public utilities superintendent, said the height had not been changed and meets the state requirements.
— Sanders reported sewer cleaning will begin this week. Residents received individual notices of the cleaning. He said the state requires the cleaning to be done on an annual basis.
— Clerk Linda Holub reported she recently attended a personnel management seminar. She will attend a Kansas Open Records Act seminar next month.
— Police chief Michel Soyez said he was planning to attend officer Duane McCarty's graduation from Kansas Law Enforcement Training Academy.
— Warrants in the amount of $23,161 were approved.
— A 10-minute executive session was held to discuss non-elected personnel. Mayfield, Soyez, and Baldwin met with the commission during the session. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
The commission will meet at 4 p.m. Monday in the city building.
