City reviews favorable audit report
Downtown farmer's market is put on hold by Mayfield
Staff reporter
Jan Nolde, auditor with Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk, and Loyd accounting firm, reported Monday a favorable audit for 2003 to Marion City Commission.
Nolde reviewed the management letter with the commission regarding items in need of correction.
A policies and procedures manual was suggested by the auditors in 2002. Nolde noted the city has begun the process of developing a manual.
Nolde commented the restricted use of government vehicles after hours, on-call, and driven home by employees is sometimes a problem. She noted no concerns regarding the city's policy of city vehicles.
A fixed asset inventory had not been maintained prior to 2002, Nolde reported. In 2003, city staff compiled an inventory but some purchase prices of older equipment were not included in the report because they were unavailable.
Nolde recommended the inventory be maintained in the future with the commission reviewing and approving it on an annual basis.
The city's overtime compensation policy does not specify whether it includes sick leave, vacation leave, or holidays. David Mayfield, city administrator, said the policy had been updated.
Nolde said there were no violations noted regarding the financial audit of the city's budget.
Margo Yates, Marion Chamber of Commerce executive secretary, and Pat Findeiss, a member of the chamber's tourism committee, addressed the commission regarding starting a farmer's market. Findeiss said the market could be located in Liberty Park, city-owned property on Main Street west of Stone City Café.
Findeiss said the committee wants to promote the market and wanted to know if the commission had any concerns. She explained the vendors could sell fresh produce and craft items from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.
Yates asked Mayfield if he was aware of a city ordinance restricting the location of vendors on city streets. Mayfield responded that he was not aware of an ordinance and would have to check.
Commissioner Jim Crofoot questioned whether a vendor should be forced to unload his goods and set them on a table in the market area.
Mayfield said he wants to make sure this is something people want.
"It's been done for several years on the streets (vending)," Mayfield said. "What's the use of creating a farmer's market if that's not what people want?"
Yates commented that having a specific area for the vendors in the downtown district may benefit the downtown retailers and the vendors.
Mayfield responded, "We need to wait and bring some of the people together to find out what everybody wants to do. If everyone thinks it's a good idea, then we'll figure out a way to do it."
The commission approved the city's property insurance policy and premium payment as presented at last week's meeting by Casey Case of Case and Son Insurance.
Mayfield said Case had contacted him regarding the insurance carrier's comments regarding cities that carry the additional $1 million umbrella coverage. Case had asked the carrier specifically which cities carried the umbrella coverage and no definitive answer was given.
"It would be a savings of $3,529," Mayfield said. He also commented he had concerns about increasing the city's deductible from $500 to $1,000 per incident. "Two claims and it would be a 'wash'," Mayfield said.
Mayor Martin Tice said insurance is only necessary when needed.
"I don't want to leave the city open to problems," Tice said.
Commission Larry McLain suggested the commission "leave it the same and look at it again next year." He also suggested addressing the insurance issue a few months prior to the renewal date of April. Mayfield said it would be put on the calendar to review in February.
The purchasing of Chingawassa Days concert buttons for full-time city employees was approved by the commission. Commission members also will be given a concert button.
Crofoot said it is important to "reward the employees for their extra efforts with Chingawassa Days."
In other business:
— Steve Garrett, Hillsboro City Administrator, and Mayfield will decide on the hiring of an engineer to provide a feasibility study for a wholesale water plant.
The purpose of the study is to determine a one-plant concept for both citys' water supplies. The engineer will not be a consultant with either city.
— City attorney Dan Baldwin told the commission he would have a fireworks ordinance prepared for the next commission meeting Tuesday.
— A cereal malt beverage license was approved for Casey's Retail Company. A new license had to be issued due to the company restructuring.
— Two computers are in need of repair or replacement due to a lightning strike last week. Great Plains Computer and Networking is assessing the damage.
— Mayfield said he will attend a workshop July 20-21 in Wichita for a Kansas Department of Transportation grant workshop.
— Harvey Sanders, director of public utilities, reported the city swimming pool has been filled. It will open Monday.
City crews are preparing the cemetery for Memorial Day, trimming trees on South First Street, and preparing for Chingawassa Days.
The next commission meeting will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the city building. There will be no meeting Monday due to Memorial Day.
