City approves remote control car race track
Two officials receive top pay increase
Remote control car enthusiasts will have a new place to run their vehicles.
Marion City Council approved the use of city-owned property on South Third Street/Sunflower Road for a track.
Jason Harris of Marion asked the council to consider the request at the Dec. 31 meeting.
He said there were approximately 20 people in Marion who were interested in competing on a rally track. Harris explained that a rally track includes a few jumps and is on a smaller scale than other tracks.
The remote control racing vehicles typically run on gas but some are electric.
Harris agreed that he and the group of racers would maintain the area and parking would be on the lot, not on the street.
Harris said county zoning administrator Bobbi Strait was consulted because the property is in the county, and the race track would be an acceptable use of land.
The council will approve a contract between the city and Harris at a future meeting.
In other business:
— This past summer, the council approved the 2008 budget that allowed up to a four percent merit pay increase for city employees.
The top merit increase typically is reserved for those employees who have an outstanding performance evaluation.
At the Dec. 27 special meeting, following three executive sessions for a total of an hour, city clerk Angela Lange was given the top pay increase of four percent. The council also approved a step pay increase in February when Lange completes certification as city clerk. That amount has not been determined.
Mayfield also received a four percent merit increase from the council following a 30-minute executive session at the Dec. 31 meeting. Holdeman was the lone hold-out who opposed the increase.
With the increases, Lange now receives $37,423 per year and Mayfield $$62,084 per year, a $1,439 increase and $2,388 increase, respectively.
— Marion Fire Chief Mike Regnier reported there were a total of 60 fire runs in 2007, with 12 in December. Two new volunteers have joined the department in the past two months.
Councilman Gene Winkler asked about the department's thermal imaging camera. Regnier said it was used twice in December and usually is used about once a month.
"It makes you feel better when you leave (the scene of a fire) to know that the fire is out," Regnier said.
— Cereal malt beverage licenses were approved.
Casey's Retail Company was approved for the sale of the drink and Casa Azteca Mexican and American applied for and received a drinking establishment license.
— A budgeted transfer of $100,000 was approved from the electric fund to the general fund.
— Economic development director Jami Williams reported that she had visited 111 of the 164 local businesses in the past two years.
— Marion County Lake resident Jackie Crofoot was appointed by the council to serve on the Marion County Economic Development Council. She also serves on Marion Economic Development Advisory Board.
The next regular city council meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the city building.
