Commission approves volunteer work day at lake
A volunteer work day at Marion County Park and Lake on April 14 was approved by Marion County Commission during its Feb. 20 meeting.
Lake resident and Marion Middle School eighth grader Landon Leiker presented information about areas at the lake that were in need of attention.
Leiker requested assistance from county employees for some of the cleanup of which the commission eagerly complied.
Cleanup includes the removal of brush and tree limbs and logs, general trimming of weeds around pillars on the dam road, repair and replacement of some concrete sand boxes, stone benches, and picnic tables, restoration of some stone structures, and replacement of roofs.
The cost to repair, replace, and restore the items on Leiker's list totaled $37,100. He requested a total of $9,500 from the county to begin the restoration process this summer. Leiker also requested the county apply for a state grant to cover the expense of the other items.
Volunteers on April 14 could assist with general cleanup and removal of debris.
Landon's father, Lee Leiker, told the commission he would be willing to organize the volunteers that day which will include students from the middle school social studies classes.
The work day will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch will be provided.
Landon Leiker also requested the first Saturday of April be designated each year as the annual cleanup day.
In other business:
— Following a 60-minute work session to discuss the county lake superintendent position, the commission decided to advertise for the position with a job description that included business experience, outdoor experience, and some emergency medical services training.
The deadline to accept applications will be March 16.
— Two generic off-system bridges will be replaced in 2007. County road supervisor Steve Hudson informed the commission that a bridge on 360th between Jade and Kanza was listed as a critical bridge on the engineer's inspection list. The river bed is 15 feet from the bridge, the roadway is only 13 feet wide, and there are no guard rails, Hudson said. The road would be expanded to 40 feet and a tube will be installed.
The second bridge that will be replaced is at the intersection of 130th and Quail Creek. Hudson said that bridge is too narrow for farm equipment to use.
— Cooperative Grain and Supply of Hillsboro had the transport fuel bid of $16,681 for 5,200 gallons of diesel fuel and 3,000 gallons of unleaded. Cardie Oil Company of Tampa presented a bid of $18,051 for the same quantities.
— Newly appointed emergency medical services director Larry Larsen accepted the commission's pay offer of $16.15 per hour and a 40-hour work week for a total of $2,800 per month with full benefits.
Larsen will be evaluated after six months.
— The commission approved the first payment to the WRAPS (Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy) program of $18,800. The county had earmarked $75,200 for the program which includes plans to address sediment issues at Marion Reservoir.
— A bid of $2,274 was accepted by the commission for water well work and monitoring at the former landfill. Kansas Department of Health and Environment required the county to add one well, abandon another, and continue monitoring at the site. Associated Environmental Incorporated was the low bidder which was well below the engineer's estimate of $6,865.
— Currently there are 10 members on the county water surface quality board but if the county commission representative is not a voting member, there would be nine voting members.
The commission agreed that would be workable.
Members of the board are commissioner Dan Holub, chairman, Dale Classen, Steve Bartel, Warren Kreutziger, Matt Hiebert, Jeff Benbrook, Stacey Collett, Dan Crumrine, Linda Johnson, and Rod Peters.
Holub clarified that the board will serve as "one voice" from the county per Congressman Jerry Moran's request. Moran had said at his last meeting in Marion County that he would consider funding options for the reservoir when the county had common goals to address sedimentation and algae concerns.
— Holub apologized to the commission and press for the profanity he had used at a previous meeting.
— Hudson requested and received a 10-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
The next commission meeting is at 9 a.m. today (Wednesday).
