City hires grant writer for street improvement project
Marion City Council approved a contract Monday evening with grant writer Rose Mary Saunders.
Saunders has a successful track record in securing Community Development Block Grants and other sources of funding for city projects and was asked to take a crack at Marion.
She told the council that funds could be secured through a CDBG and a Kansas Department of Transportation revolving loan for Eisenhower Drive and North Cedar Street. Those streets would qualify under KDOT's rules as major traffic ways.
Estimated cost of the two projects is $550,000.
To apply for the CDBG, a survey would have to be conducted along the proposed street improvements and a minimum of 51 percent of the residents would have to meet low to moderate income requirements as set by the state. Applications for the grant are due Nov. 1. Grant awards will be announced in January.
Saunders said the interest rate for the KDOT revolving loan generally is around 3.64 percent over a 20-year period.
Councilman Stacey Collett asked if the funds could include a new water line on North Cedar Street. Saunders said if a water line needed to be moved for the project, the funds could pay for that expense.
The council also was advised to consider curb and gutter on Eisenhower Drive since there will be less cost to the city.
In other business:
— A tractor that is used to pull a large mower is causing the city headaches. Costly repairs again are required for the piece of equipment because it is too small to pull the city's large mower. At the time the new, larger mower was purchased, the council decided not to purchase a new tractor to pull it. The council instructed city officials to obtain bids for a new tractor.
Mayor Mary Olson asked the council to attend a special work session at 4:30 p.m. Monday at the city shop to inspect equipment.
— A compensation agreement with city attorney Dan Baldwin was approved. The attorney will receive $1,200 per month and an additional $75 per hour for any special projects that are above and beyond his general municipal duties.
— Keys not being returned have resulted in the city changing the locks to the city building by the auditorium entrance. City clerk Angela Lange told the council that there was evidence of individuals in the basement after hours and without permission which means either keys weren't being returned or duplicate keys were being made.
She asked the council to approve a $25 key deposit which would be required when anyone uses the city building. The council approved the deposit except for Olson who voted no.
The keys will be numbered and only two will be available to be checked out.
— The council approved a special fireworks display July 7 for a wedding. Shawna Hett requested permission for pyrotechnician Mike Fruechting to discharge commercial fireworks by Emmanuel Baptist Church.
Two fireworks permits also were approved for Mary Carathers DBA Mary's Enterprises with stands at Superior Liquor Store in the business park and in a lot east of Suffield's on Main Street.
— When asked by councilman Bill Holdeman why the city's electricity was blinking at times and damaging computers, Harvey Sanders, public works director, advised Holdeman and other residents to invest in a good quality battery backup for computers. Monday's glitch was caused by a bird on the electrical line, Sanders said, which occurs from time to time. To save computers from damage caused by outages and power surges, a battery backup could protect computers from those catastrophes, Sanders said.
— The city's large water tower will need to be repainted, inside and out, in the near future which will require all of the water to be drained from the tower.
— The council entered into two executive sessions. The first was to discuss trade secrets with the city administrator, economic development director, public works director, and street superintendent.
The second session was to discuss personnel with the administrator.
There were no decisions from either closed door session.
The next regular council meeting is at 5:30 p.m. July 2 in the city building.
Park, ball field improvements topic of meeting at Lincolnville
A meeting to discuss improvements to the park and ball field at Lincolnville will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at city hall.
Anyone interested in this matter is encouraged to attend.
