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Clarification sought for county signs, state laws

Confusion among truck drivers and county road signs was addressed Monday by Marion County Sheriff Lee Becker and the county commission.

Becker reported a Kansas State Highway Trooper recently stopped a truck at Sunflower and U.S.-50 and checked the truck's weight. The truck weighed 79,000 pounds. A sign was posted on Sunflower with a weight limit of 65,000 pounds. The truck driver was issued a citation.

The truck was loaded out of the Marion Cooperative Grain and Supply facility. The commission had adopted a resolution that allowed local trucks to drive Sunflower with weights up to 80,000 pounds.

Becker suggested a member of the highway patrol visit with the commission about the issue.

Michele Abbott-Becker, communications director, presented statistics for 911 calls for July.

There were 894 emergency calls to county dispatch, with 577 from cell phones. During July of 2003, there were 673 total calls with 433 from cell phones.

Installation of security equipment will be completed with grant funds. Video equipment will provide surveillance in the courthouse and on the grounds.

Abbott-Becker will submit bids at a future commission meeting for two dispatch computers.

The current computers are more than three years old and Microsoft will no longer offer technical support for the program.

Diedre Serene, county public health administrator, told commission there was nearly $20,000 in unused grant funds to counteract bio-terrorism activities.

Serene said Abbott-Becker suggested two-way radios for health officials in case of an emergency. Radios and equipment will cost $2,752.

Following a 10-minute executive session to discuss security system upgrade, the meeting reconvened with the commission approving a total of $13,000 for equipment, supplies, and services.

David Brazil, county zoning, environmental health, and transfer station director, presented a July budget report for the departments he directs.

In July, 659 tons of solid waste was received at the transfer station. So far this year, 4,224 tons have been received.

During the Marion County Fair, Brazil said he conducted four water screenings for county residents.

The commission approved two resolutions allowing zoning changes from agricultural to rural residential for Randy Svitak and David Vinduska.

Bids will be sought for masonry and paint at the transfer station. The improvements are in the 2004 budget.

A compactor for compacting trash in transport trucks needs to be replaced, reported Brazil. An estimated cost was $1,500-$1,800.

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