County ED professional promoted to director
It was a promotion for Marion County Economic Development Secretary Teresa Huffman.
Following two, five-minute executive sessions, Marion County Commission decided Monday to promote the county secretary to the position of director with an annual salary increase from $25,000 to $29,000.
Another job evaluation will be conducted in six months.
In other business:
— Huffman reported there were two county micro-loan applications — one was denied and one is pending.
She continues to work with KWCH-TV, Channel 12, for advertising.
— Linda Ogden, director of Marion County Communities in Schools, presented information regarding a recent survey about county youth.
She reported that tobacco use and binge drinking are significantly lower than it had been the past four years. The national average for tobacco use by sixth, eighth, 10th, and 12th graders during the past 30 days is 16.59 percent. The state average is 14.91 percent and in Marion County it is only 8.03 percent.
The national average for binge drinking, those who have reported having five or more consecutive drinks on at least one occasion in the past two weeks, is 17.26 percent. The state average is 16.70 percent and the county's average is 8.56 percent.
Ogden said there is an increase in those students who receive free or reduced lunches and food stamps.
"Poverty is a real issue in Marion County," she said.
Ogden said she was applying for a grant that would provide meals for those students who attend summer school. She also expressed her concerns about local youth who will be without a swimming pool.
— Sales tax revenue that was collected in February was $46,132, the highest February total since before 2000.
— The commission entered executive session to discuss applications for the positions of lake superintendent and department for elderly director.
The next commission meeting is at 9 a.m. Monday in the courthouse.
