Crews remove mold from courthouse basement
Mold remediation or removal has been completed in the basement of the courthouse. Samples will be gathered and an inspection will be made, said Marion County Clerk Carol Maggard.
Maggard made the report Monday to Marion County Commission.
Attic work will be completed overnight when the ductwork is cleaned. Sheriff Lee Becker said he would provide an officer for two weeks when the night work was being completed.
Funds to cover the cost of the mold removal will be taken from risk management. Approximately $70,000 was earmarked for the mold removal and repairs, which would leave a balance of approximately $100,000 in the risk management fund.
The county could apply for a grant to cover repairs to the courthouse windows or repair work to the courthouse stone foundation, also damaged by mold.
— Maggard reported it will take approximately $200,000 to finish the budget year for all departments which will require using reserve cash that is transferred from capital improvement to the general fund.
— County road and bridge superintendent Jim Herzet reported a representative from Kirkham Michael Engineering inspected the streets that Peabody officials had requested the county assist with resurfacing.
The total project for two-inch thick asphalt, 24-feet wide with tapered edges, could cost $21,014.
The city had requested the county split the costs 50-50 for the project. Contractors will be in the area to complete county road work and the City of Peabody wanted to take advantage of the location of the workers.
— Herzet reported blade patch work on 40th between Timber and U.S.-77 near Peabody will begin by the end of the week.
— Marion County Sheriff Lee Becker reported a deputy's patrol car was involved in an accident Friday. The vehicle was totaled, said Becker, and another vehicle will need to be purchased.
A 2004 used highway patrol vehicle could be purchased for $13,900, said Becker. The deputy could drive the lake patrol car until another vehicle is obtained or until January when the new budget year has begun.
The commission instructed Becker to obtain bids from the car dealerships in Hillsboro and present at the next meeting.
— The commission asked additional wording be included in the county's restrictive covenants for the former county landfill.
The commission was concerned that the restrictions could limit future solid waste disposal options at the site.
David Brazil, county sanitarian, agreed to add the wording that uses could be permitted as approved by county commission.
— The commission acknowledged a letter from the City of Hillsboro and newspaper reports from the City of Marion's meeting regarding control of areas of urban influence around the cities.
The commission said clarification was needed to be made with the cities and the county's planning commission regarding jurisdiction in those areas.
— Brazil asked for approval to have the county surveyor determine the location of rights-of-way where 10 inoperable vehicles are located. Brazil said the vehicles appear to encroach on the rights-of-way but the owner of the property refused to move the vehicles per Brazil's request.
The commission suggested Brazil ask road and bridge personnel to determine the location of the right-of-way rather than expend funds.
— Following a 20-minute executive session with county technical support provider Lloyd Davies of Great Plains Computers & Networking of Marion, the commission approved the discontinuation of all external downloads by county personnel on county computers.
If downloads are needed, personnel is required to have the county's technical committee, of which Davies is a member, to authorize it. Employees who abuse this policy will immediately be suspended. The policy went into affect Monday.
— A bid of $22.07 per case for a total of $1,765 of 20-pound copy paper was awarded to Baker Brothers of Hillsboro.
Other bidders were Dick's Business Machines of Emporia at $22.75 per case, Sunflower Business Solutions of Newton $22.80, Navrat's of Emporia $26.80, and McCune Paper Company of Salina $28.41.
— The commission signed a letter of support for the City of Peabody and Peabody Main Street Association for a grant application.
The application was for a Kansas Department of Transportation TEA-21 grant for a downtown street-scape project.
— Commission chairman Bob Hein signed a letter of resignation from former Marion County Noxious Weed and Household Hazardous Materials Director Bill Smithhart. He also signed written responses to those who filed grievances against Smithhart.
— Maggard reported the noxious weed department's spray pickup truck was in need of repair. Commissioner Randy Dallke suggested the commission inspect the building and equipment to assess other repairs.
Current items in need of attention were the replacement of the building's door panels, replacement of a truck bed, and cleaning or replacement of office carpet.
Maggard was instructed to contact The County Seat to have them examine the carpet and determine if it can be cleaned.
— Cindy Magill, county appraiser, requested and received a 10-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened and then recessed again into another 10-minute executive session with Maggard and county treasurer Jeannine Bateman in attendance to discuss personnel.
The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— Herzet requested and received a 10-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
