District receives grant for reservoir improvements
Staff reporter
Peggy Blackman, WRAPS (Waste Reduction Assistance Program) coordinator, reported Friday to Marion County Commission that a grant had been approved for a strategic plan at Marion Reservoir to address sediment and algae issues.
The grant will provide a total of $251,500 toward the study. Local funds of $75,200 will have to be provided.
Blackman said the county, Marion, and Hillsboro cities will be approached for support.
Grant funds also were secured for best management practices to assist agriculture producers.
Sediment problems and algae outbreaks prompted the necessity of a strategic plan which would include analysis and assessment.
In other business:
— A new house is being built on Rose Drive off Gilham Road at Marion County Lake. The property owner asked the county to provide a graveled road and culvert.
According to a plat that was recorded in 1981, the county would not be responsible for maintenance of a road until property owners built a road to county specifications.
The commission suggested that Jim Herzet, county road and bridge superintendent, obtain price quotes for rock and a culvert. Commissioner Randy Dallke advised Herzet to notify adjoining property owners for a possibility of sharing road expenses.
— Cardie Oil Company of Tampa was awarded area fuel bids for a total of $16,263 for 6,550 gallons of diesel fuel at an average cost of $2.48 per gallon.
Cooperative Grain and Supply of Hillsboro also submitted a bid of $16,491 for the same gallons at an average cost of $2.52 per gallon.
— Noxious weed director Rollin Schmidt reported he had issued nine, seven-day warnings and nine, five-day legals for musk thistle.
— Ricky Roberts and Nancy Pihl of Marion County Extension, presented a budget proposal for funding in 2007.
The department asked for a five percent increase for a total of $111,996.
Roberts said the increase was requested due to increases in salaries, insurance, and fuel.
— Marion County Treasurer Jeannine Bateman reported there would be a return of $48,287 from a special vehicle fund.
Treasurers in each county has a special vehicle fund that is not part of the county's general fund and not regulated by the commission.
Any funds not used can be turned over to the county.
— Bateman reported there have been 11 loans through the county's microloan program. Of those loans, one loan has been paid, and two were defaults. Currently there are funds available for one or two loans.
The low interest loans are designed for new businesses or existing businesses who want to expand. The maximum amount of the loans is $15,000.
The county received $100,000 in grant funds several years ago. Of those funds, $10,000 were given to the county to administer the grant/loan program through the treasurer's office.
— The county's mill levy has increased making each mill worth $98,650 instead of $97,600.
— It was reported that Braden Suffield has been hired to work part-time in the sheriff's department.
The next commission meeting is at 9 a.m. July 10. There was no meeting scheduled for the week of July 3.
