Cleanup slow at burned property
Staff reporter
Marion City Councilman Gene Winkler asked city officials about the progress being made regarding a property on Billings Street where a house had burned.
City administrator David Mayfield said he was aware that city attorney Dan Baldwin had sent a certified letter to the property owner. If there is no response, the city will take further action.
A city ordinance requires property owners to clean up burned property. A portion of the insurance proceeds can be retained by the city until clean-up has been completed.
Baldwin was not in attendance at the meeting when the question was asked.
In other business:
— The council denied a request from a property owner who requested a $150 reconnect fee he had paid be refunded.
Jeff Foster, owner of the building at 314 E. Main Street, Marion, told Winkler that he had not received either notice from the city regarding his $18 monthly city bill which resulted in the upstairs being disconnected. Mayfield said he had talked with Foster on the telephone regarding the city's policy of charging a reconnect fee.
Stacey Collett said the owner knew he was using city services and if he didn't receive a bill he should have contacted the city. Winkler agreed.
The motion to deny his request for a refund was denied, 3-2, with Jerry Kline opposing and Winkler abstaining.
— City clerk Angela Lange was appointed to serve on the city's planning commission. Sally Hannaford had completed her term and did not want to be re-appointed.
Nick Nickelson's term on the planning commission and board of zoning appeals also had terminated but he was willing to serve another three years.
Bill Holdeman asked if it was a conflict for father and daughter to serve on the same board, since Darvin Markley, Lange's father, also served on the planning commission. Zoning administrator Marty Fredrickson said it did not.
Fredrickson also informed the council that a variance will be reviewed at the next board of zoning appeals meeting. The planning commission will review the city's comprehensive plan during the next several monthly meetings.
— A lease purchase agreement for a shell building was approved with Tampa State Bank.
— Collett asked if city customers could be on a level pay plan, similar to Atmos Energy. Lange responded that there is a feature available with the current software but wasn't sure if it could be utilized.
Lange also reported there were efforts being made to determine if deposit payments could be divided into monthly payments. It has been determined it cannot be done. She added the city would not have any leverage to collect a deposit if not paid before utilities are connected.
— Economic development director Jami Williams reported she had given a customer service presentation to employees of Marion County Road and Bridge and noxious weed departments, been contacted by several individuals interested in starting businesses, and provided a survey per the request of Jim Cloutier, owner of the former Elgin Apartments, regarding habits of people who eat in restaurants.
— Public utilities director Harvey Sanders reported crews had removed Christmas decorations from city streets and a water line on West Santa Fe Street had been started.
— Lange informed the council that she will take an online course which will apply to her municipal court certification.
— The city switched bank accounts to Central National Bank and can provide direct deposits for employee pay checks and automatic payments for city customers.
— A plumbing license for Dale's Plumbing of Hutchinson was renewed.
— The council approved the December billing tie-out and warrants and payroll for $52,464 and $25,256, respectively.
— An executive session was called to discuss personnel with Mayfield and Baldwin in attendance. The agenda listed Marion Recreation Commission as being a part of the executive session but there were no members present.
The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
The next council meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 15 in the city building.
