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Council reduces free trash bags to cut costs

Staff reporter

Marion city trash customers will not have the luxury of receiving two bundles of trash bags next year.

Marion City Council decided Monday evening to reduce the number of bundles to one per year to save money.

City administrator David Mayfield told the council that two free rolls of trash bag bundles per customer per year was costing the city $14,078. The refuse department was breaking even with revenue and expenses, he said.

Mayfield told the council that if two trash bags bundles per customer were continued, there would have to be an increase in trash rates to offset the expense.

He suggested an increase of $1.25 per month per customer if the free bags were to continue.

Customers could purchase bags for $9.10 for a 50-bag roll, Mayfield said.

Trash collection rates in 2002 were $12 per month but were reduced to $7 when Marion County purchased the transfer station.

Councilman Jerry Kline said he was concerned about customers using their own trash bags which could be inferior to the city's.

The city recently purchased a new refuse truck which makes the possibility of leasing the service to an independent hauler remote.

Mayor Martin Tice suggested the city reduce the number of rolls to one per customer, try it for a year, and see what happens. The other council members agreed and it passed, 5-0.

The new distribution will begin Jan. 1. If customers need additional bags, they are available for sale from the city.

In other business:

— Flaming Metal Systems, Inc. of Peabody presented the low bid of $128,780 for a 125x18-foot metal building to be located at the city's industrial park.

Other bids were from Jantz Construction of Durham for $168,500, and Harbin Construction of Salina for $171,500.

The bid also included insulation and doors.

The bid was approved, contingent on a lease-purchase agreement being obtained from a local bank.

— Residential electrical customers can receive a $10 credit for displaying Christmas lights. Customers need to contact the city or sign up at the city office for the discount.

— Councilman Bill Holdeman asked the council to consider discussion of employees obtaining permission for various activities and decisions.

He wants city employees to ask the council prior to attending meetings and for the council to have input regarding the hiring and firing of employees.

"The city administrator does that so we don't have to micro-manage," Councilman Gene Winkler said.

"We're here to run the city but everyone, including the administrator, comes in and tells us what they're going to do instead of asking," Holdeman said.

The topics will be on the agenda for the next meeting.

— Holdeman asked public utilities director Harvey Sanders the percentage of 12.5 electrical line that has been completed. Sanders said he wasn't sure.

Holdeman then asked the council if it was OK to obtain a bid from a contractor to finish the electrical improvements.

"We'd better figure out how we're going to pay for this," Tice said.

Currently the city budgets $15,000 per year for supplies and the city crew does the labor as time permits. When the funds are spent for the year, the work is halted until the next budget year.

"You've (Sanders) said before that it will take 30 years to complete," Holdeman said. "Are city crews qualified to do this?"

"Yes," Sanders responded. "If not, we would be killed."

Sanders then offered to take Holdeman on a tour of the city, to show the progress being made with the improvement.

— Street superintendent Marty Fredrickson informed the council that Union Pacific Railroad will replace railroad crossings on Main, Santa Fe, and Washington streets. Main and Santa Fe will not be closed at the same time so when Main Street is closed, traffic can use Santa Fe as a detour route.

The city will be notified five days prior to closure.

— Economic development director Jami Williams reported a business was approved for a city grant but turned it down. Currently there is $6,000 remaining in the grant fund.

She also said she will attend a Safe Route for Kids meeting and has been contacted by someone interested in the metal building to be constructed in the industrial park.

— Winkler asked city attorney Dan Baldwin about the progress of dilapidated properties. Baldwin said the city needs to file a petition regarding a house that burned on Billings Street.

The city also needs to do a "walk through" with Midwest Sales and Service on Santa Fe Street to determine what needs to be done to comply with city ordinances. If an agreement cannot be reached, the city may have to take the owner to court, Baldwin said.

Two other properties probably also could end up in court, he added.

— The council called a 20-minute executive session to discuss personnel with Baldwin and Mayfield also in attendance.

The meeting reconvened with no decisions.

The next city council meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 4 in the city building.

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