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Commission moves forward with board expansion

Ordinance will be considered at next meeting

Staff reporter

A charter ordinance to expand Marion City Commission will considered at the next commission meeting.

The commission reviewed the ordinance during Monday's meeting after deciding several months ago to proceed with adding two additional members and becoming a city council.

Prior to the review, Marion resident Merle Bruner asked the commission for more details regarding the expansion.

Mayor Martin Tice informed Bruner that the ordinance was on the agenda for the next meeting, which will be Dec. 28 because of the Christmas holiday.

The ordinance does not divide the city into precincts. All council members will be "at-large" but must reside within the city limits.

Instead of a commission with a mayor, and a commissioner of finance and revenue and a commissioner of streets and public utilities, there will be a council with a mayor and five council members.

On April 4, three council members will be elected. The two who receive the most votes, will serve a four-year term; the one who receives the least will serve a two-year term.

Also up for election are two of the positions currently held by Jim Crofoot and Max Hayen. Hayen was appointed by the commission to complete a term for Larry McLain who previously resigned.

On the first Tuesday in April 2007, a mayor will be elected who will serve until the first Tuesday in April, 2010.

On the first Tuesday in April 2008, and each four years after that, there will be an election for two council members.

The elections will coincide with school board member elections.

All council members, including the mayor, will be voting members of the governing body.

The ordinance also includes annual appointments of a city administrator, city clerk, deputy city clerk, city treasurer, police chief, fire chief, municipal judge, city attorney, and others as the council deems necessary.

The ordinance will be published in the city's official newspaper, the Marion County Record, for two consecutive weeks. It will then become effective 61 days after the final publication unless a sufficient petition for referendum is filed.

City administrator David Mayfield asked the commission to consider a policy change regarding appointees. Currently, some of the appointees are required to be qualified electors — which means they must reside within the city limits.

"My personal opinion is if you want to serve the city, you should live in the city," said Tice.

The consensus of the commission was to allow electors to reside within a three-mile radius of the city. However, city council members must reside within the city limits.

In other business:

— Bruner also asked the commission why city department managers received compensatory time.

"Private businesses, county, and state employees don't have comp time," Bruner said.

Tice responded that comp time was allowed as provided in the city's personnel policy which was approved several years ago.

Hayen said counties rarely pay overtime and allow comp time.

Bruner responded that anyone who draws comp time should punch a time clock.

Tice said the commission will take the information under advisement.

— Corrections were made to a legal description on a deed and interlocal agreement between the city and USD 408 regarding a new pool project.

— Harvey Sanders, public utilities director, reported crews worked for 3.5 hours Sunday to clear Main Street.

He also appreciated Kansas Department of Transportation putting salt on the hill on East Main Street.

— Warrants for $14,668 were approved.

— City licenses for 2006 also were approved for the following:

Electric: Fred David and Gilbert Suderman, Elcon Services, Inc.; Willard Glasgow, Glasgow Construction; Harvey Ray; Glenn Waggoner, Hedlund Electric, Inc.; Jeff Ledy, Herington Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration; Jim Davis, Jim Davis Air Conditioning; Kevin Hoffer; Lin Slifer, LinCo., Inc; John Britain, M.C. Radio; Robert W. McDowell, McDowell Electric; and Harvey Sanders, Sanders Electric.

Plumbing: Dale Peck, Dale's Plumbing; Don Druse, Don's Plumbing; Merle Flaming, Flamings Plumbing; Lester W. Funk, Funk's Supply, Inc.; Ron Cromwell, General Air; Willard Glasgow, Glasgow Construction; Jeff Ledy, Herington Heating, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration; Jeff Inlow, Inlow Plumbing Services; James Carr, James R. Carr Construction; Matthew Hiebert, Jost Plumbing; Ronald Funk, Ron Funk's Service & Repair; DuWayne Suffield, Suffield Heating, Cooling & Plumbing; and Anthony F. Schafers, Tony's Plumbing.

Juke box: The Big Scoop and Gary Grant, Pizza Hut.

Vendors: Schwan's Home Service, Inc.

Video: Sher Bowl Lanes.

Cereal Malt Beverage: Off premises consumption: Ampride and Carlsons' Grocery. Drinking establishment: Country Lakes Café, Pizza Hut, and Sher Bowl Lanes. Class A Club: VFW.

There will be no commission meeting Monday or Tuesday because city offices will be closed for Christmas. The next commission meeting is at 4 p.m. Dec. 28 at the city building.

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