County hears ideas for development, secession
Staff reporter
Goessel resident Tony Epp suggested a meeting to discuss "secession from the State of Kansas" and forming a "super" county with 12 other counties. The presentation was made Thursday to Marion County Commission.
Epp showed a map with the counties of Butler, Chase, Dickinson, Geary, Harvey, Lyon, McPherson, Reno, Rice, and Saline encircling Marion County.
"We need to promote Marion County as a central location (to prospective businesses)," Epp said.
Commission chairman Dan Holub said the county was already taking this approach. Commissioner Bob Hein agreed, saying a tire company relocated to Hillsboro because of the location.
Epp said he was angered by the hiring of out-of-state consultants.
"If you want advice or suggestions, call me and I will bring others that will offer you sound guidance," Epp said.
Out-of-town consultants will take and spend county tax money out of the county.
The commission informed Epp that the county had not hired out-of-state consultants.
The commission also was told that Epp did not want the county to build a jail.
"I don't want that culture in our community," he said. "Criminals carry demons."
Holub asked Epp if he had taken a tour of the current jail. Epp said he had. Holub continued that concerns were for employees as well as inmates.
"It's not a question of convenience but a necessity," Holub said.
If the county doesn't do a jail project, county funds will be sent out-of-county to pay for housing of inmates somewhere else, he said.
Holub also pointed out the need for courtroom security. The current courtroom, on the third floor of the courthouse, cannot be adequately secured to protect personnel.
"It makes sense to include judicial, dispatch, and county attorney in the jail project," Holub said.
Marion County Sheriff Lee Becker commented that all of the lines Epp had drawn from Marion to nearby cities had either enlarged or built new jail facilities.
"We have to deal with this," Holub said.
During a previous committee meeting for the neighborhood revitalization plan, Epp said there was discussion of how to attract new businesses. Epp said he made a comment about attracting employers who would hire 200 people. A comment was made by a committee member that there weren't 200 people available for jobs in Marion County.
"There are some who do not want competition," Epp said, and added that mindset needed to be changed.
Epp also criticized the commission for using out-of-state consultants when local people were suited to provide guidance. With that, Epp volunteered his services.
In other business:
— Baker Brothers Printing Company of Hillsboro had the low bid of $27.47 per case for 100 cases of copy paper. Other bids were from Dick's Business Machines and Navrat's Office Products, both of Emporia, for $27.50 and $31.20 per case, respectively.
— Cardie Oil Company of Tampa had the low area fuel bid of $15,343 for 6,550 gallons of diesel at an average of $2.34 per gallon.
Cooperative Grain and Supply of Hillsboro presented a bid of $15,690 for the same amount of fuel.
— Rollin Schmidt, interim transfer station manager, reported he had received a letter from Robinson Trucking Company of Florence regarding the continuation of hauling solid waste to the landfill.
The trucking firm was willing to extend the 12-month contract for another year at the same rate as this year.
Commissioner Randy Dallke said the county had no other choice at this time but to continue the contract with Robinson. The commission approved the extension
— Marion County Health Department will continue the processing of state emergency preparedness and response grant funds. The state will require the county to keep track of interest earned from the grant.
— Three executive sessions were held to discuss personnel that included a total of 20 minutes with county clerk Carol Maggard, a 10-minute session with county road and bridge superintendent Jim Herzet, and a five-minute session with county public health administrator Deidre Serene. No decisions were made when the meeting reconvened.
A 10-minute executive session also was called with county attorney Susan Robson for attorney-client privilege. Maggard also was in attendance. No decisions were made.
— The commission approved accounts payable and payroll for a total of $641,283.
The next regular meeting is at 9 a.m. Monday in the courthouse.
