City will assist with pool bond payment, maintenance
City administrator receives pay increase
Staff reporter
Marion City Commission decided Jan. 3 to participate with USD 408 in an interlocal agreement to utilize an indoor swimming pool facility.
The city agreed to pay $100,000 annually to the school district for the life of the bonds, which is 18 years, and equally split net expenses each year.
The agreement to share expenses will be reviewed in three years.
The decision was made by the commission during a special board meeting of USD 408. The commission had met earlier that day in regular session and had reconvened the meeting that evening.
Also decided at the evening meeting was a pay increase for city administrator David Mayfield.
The commission approved a $3,000 increase during 2006, which will increase Mayfield's annual salary to $57,350 — a 5.5 percent increase.
In other business:
— Mayfield reported to the commission that the new indoor pool will be twice the size of the city's 50-year-old pool.
Commissioner Jim Crofoot asked Mayfield if he had checked with other entities that had indoor pools to get an idea of annual maintenance costs. Mayfield said he had not.
City public utilities director Harvey Sanders said the city won't have the same maintenance issues as with an outdoor pool.
— An ordinance was approved to allow the construction of accessory structures without a primary residence.
Previously an ordinance restricted such construction.
— The commission instructed Mayfield to present requested changes to the city employees' personnel manual regarding changes in the sick leave policy.
A shared sick leave policy will be considered and sick leave can be accumulated up to 960 hours to share with other employees.
Mayfield also suggested employees have a minimum of 360 hours to participate in sharing.
He also wants to change the city's policy regarding reimbursement of sick leave hours when an employee retires. Currently, employees are compensated for a maximum of 240 hours of sick leave or the amount that has been accumulated. Mayfield suggested the policy require the employee to have 480 hours of sick leave when he/she retires in order to be paid for 240 hours of sick leave in the final check.
— Economic development director Jami Williams reported she met with members of an early childhood development task force to discuss a community day-care. She said Hillsboro was working on a similar project.
She also has talked with Mike Fruechting regarding his web site.
— Warrants for $5,624 were approved.
— Mayfield requested and received a 15-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The commission extended the session an additional 10 minutes. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
