Commissions will meet, discuss zoning changes
Work session is planned for Sept. 22
Marion County Commissioner Dan Holub reported Monday details of a planning commission meeting he attended this past Thursday.
The county commission had submitted a letter to the planning commission regarding recommended changes to the county's comprehensive plan and zoning regulations.
The planning commission reviewed the letter and recommendations during its regular monthly meeting.
Holub said it was clarified that 40 acres were not required to build but were required for lot splits.
With the proposed changes to the county's zoning regulations, houses can be built on three-acre tracts that are existing or former house sites, and houses could be built on five-acre tracts on new sites.
Holub said planning commission member Bob Maxwell had viewed tracts near Goessel with higher densities and determined 16 tracts per section was feasible.
A planning session was planned after the next planning commission meeting Sept. 22. The county commission and consultant Jim Kaup will be invited to attend.
Dallke said he also wanted to address the county allowing more than one home on parcels for family farm operations.
In other business:
— The commission approved the publication of a revised 2006 budget proposal. A public hearing will be held Sept. 12 during a regular commission meeting.
— Jim Herzet, road and bridge superintendent, submitted a bid from APAC for cold mix asphalt for patching county roads. The bid was $36 per ton for 1,000 tons, which is a $6 per ton increase from the previous year.
Road and bridge personnel will haul the materials from the APAC mixing site to the county site.
Commissioner Randy Dallke asked if this mixture will take care of the holes on Sunflower Road. Herzet responded it was the same mix as the state used and should be sufficient.
Dallke suggested sections of Sunflower Road be cut out and relayed to make a smoother road.
— Herzet reported he had made contact with a railroad regarding a road near a railroad crossing. The railroad had made changes to the crossing and had not returned the road to its original condition causing drivers to become airborne when crossing.
— A bid for $200 was accepted from the commission for a 1984 Ford F-150 pickup used at the county lake.
— The commission contacted Roger Hannaford III of Hannaford Abstract & Title Company by telephone and requested title insurance be completed for delinquent properties as soon as possible.
Hannaford said his office had received the necessary information to complete 40 searches for a tax sale. Traditionally, the agency deliberately works the searches in with other work to give property owners a sufficient amount of time to pay the delinquent taxes.
The commission instructed Hannaford to complete the searches as soon as possible so the parcels can be sold in a timely manner.
Statute allows the county to sell parcels that have three years or more of unpaid taxes.
— Dallke requested a wrecked sheriff's car be sold as soon as possible. He noted the car had been on a salvage lot for several months to be auctioned and wanted to know why it had not been sold.
— The county's consultant for the comprehensive plan will meet with the commission at 1 p.m. Sept. 12 to review public comments and finalize the plan for submission to the state.
— County clerk Carol Maggard reported information pertaining to a county resident serving on a Mid-CAP executive board.
According to information obtained from Delores Dalke of Hillsboro, a former board member, there are 10 counties that participate in the program. The agency distributes grant funds to participating counties to assist low income residents with housing and utility expenses.
It was suggested representatives from Mid-CAP present information to the commission.
— The commission approved paying expenses related to additional Internet service for county offices due to a new payroll/time clock system.
The treasurer's office will pay a part of the expense, approximately $900 per year. The general fund will pay other costs, approximately $3,000.
— Holub requested and received a 10-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— Bill Smithhart, county noxious weed director, reported an annual report had been completed and will be sent to Kansas Department of Health & Environment.
— Smithhart reported state law prohibited the county from spraying weed killer within a three-mile radius of cotton fields until the field has been harvested.
Holub asked if Smithhart was concerned about other farmers who spray their fields and are unaware they may damage cotton fields. Smithhart commented that some chemicals could drift up to five miles on a hot day. He will contact a state official for more details.
— Smithhart requested and received a five-minute executive session to discuss personnel with Maggard also in attendance. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— The commission approved a pay increase for Dale Nellans of road and bridge department for six-month anniversary.
— A resolution will be drawn between the county and newly hired county appraiser Cindy Magill. State statute requires appraisers to serve four-year terms but a county resolution also could affirm the appointment.
The next commission meeting will be at 9 a.m. Thursday at the courthouse. The commission will not meet the week of Sept. 5 due to the Labor Day holiday.
Joel Mathis interviewed
for CBS program
Former Marion County Record intern Joel Mathis of Lawrence recently was interviewed and followed by CBS cameras for a story about the Lawrence Journal-World.
The segment aired Sunday on "CBS Sunday Morning" with Charles Osgood.
Mathis is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and Tabor College. He is the son of Don and Carolyn Mathis of Hillsboro.
