City approves expenses for dugouts, improvement
Staff reporter
Marion City Commission approved $2,500 Nov. 22 for improvements to Marion Baseball Complex.
Alex Case, representing Marion Baseball Commission, had asked for support at a previous meeting for new dugouts on A field, a handicapped parking stall near the concession stand, and a concrete bunker for red shale used on the field.
USD 408 also was asked to participate in the project.
The commission advised Case to request funds from the school district and report the results which Case did at Monday's meeting. The school district approved $2,500 for the project, said Case.
The baseball commission has approximately $2,000, and additional funds are accessible through a boosters organization.
Case also reported he did not find any dimension requirements for dugouts used in Babe Ruth tournaments. The only requirement is the dugouts need to be large enough to accommodate the teams. The current dugouts do not meet this requirement.
Approximate total cost for the project is $8,732. Case requested the project be completed this winter.
In other business:
— City administrator David Mayfield reported that he and Harvey Sanders, director of public utilities, recently attended a meeting with Westar Energy.
By mid-December, regulators will determine the amount of increases for transmission of electrical power which could be as much as a 36 percent increase, said Mayfield.
The company also is seeking municipal partners for coal- and gas-fired plants. Municipalities can buy or lease a portion of the operation at an approximate cost of $1 million, said Mayfield. In return, the partners will receive a reduction in charges for electricity.
Mayfield said he wasn't sure if interest on the debt would offset the reduction of charges.
— City crews have been crack sealing streets, reported Sanders.
— Leonard Klassen of Marion was appointed to the Marion Housing Authority Board. He will replace Bud Pierce whose term will expire in November 2006.
— Charles Heerey was reappointed to the board of directors of Hilltop Manor. His four-year term will expire Dec. 12, 2009.
— City attorney Dan Baldwin reported he had received a copy of a contract between Central Kansas Conservancy and the City of Lindsborg for a trail in Lindsborg.
Marion city officials will meet to discuss a similar contract between CKC and the city for a walking and hiking trail on CKC property.
Baldwin said he was advised of some possible issues that will need to be resolved regarding adjoining property owners in that area.
Case said he would like to see the trail bladed by the city this winter to be ready in the spring. He also reported there may be a grant available for the project.
— Warrants for $30,888 were approved.
— The commission recessed for a 10-minute executive session for attorney-client privilege with Baldwin and Mayfield in attendance. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— The commission then recessed for a 20-minute executive session to discuss personnel with Mayfield in attendance.
The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
