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Holub supports shopping within county first

Judicial center architect on next week's agenda

Even though the county's Neighborhood Revitalization Program is doing well, Marion County Commission Chairman Dan Holub asked the commission Monday if more could be done to promote shopping within the county.

Property owners are taking advantage of the property tax rebate program but Holub said he has heard complaints that some property owners are not purchasing goods and services locally.

"We're encouraging business development and then some are going out of the county to purchase items," he said. "I don't know if we can require them to purchase within the county but at least we could ask them to check."

County clerk Carol Maggard suggested additional wording be included in the application to encourage people to shop locally.

Holub will check with former commissioner Howard Collett and the committee that devised the program for advice.

In other business:

— Commissioner Bob Hein and Holub reviewed cost estimates to expand the courthouse work week from 37.5 hours to 40 hours at the same rate of pay.

Discussion was heard regarding the additional expense could be offset by compensatory time currently being used and the need for additional employees to complete daily tasks.

Holub suggested having offices in need of additional employees expand to a 40-hour work week instead of hiring more employees.

Commissioner Randy Dallke was absent from meeting.

— The commission approved the following purchases:

— a Xerox copier for the health department at a cost of $7,445 from Sunflower Business Solutions of Newton, which included faxing capabilities and networking software. County sanitarian and environmental health director Bobbi Strait presented the information. Another bid from Business Systems Incorporated of Wichita for $7,526 also was reviewed.

The new copier could reduce the need for individual printers and would assist Strait in providing quality pictometry pictures as needed for her job.

— carpeting in the jury room and coffee bar area at a cost of $1,167 from The County Seat of Marion. District court clerk Jan Helmer had a bid from Baker Furniture of Peabody but it did not include preparation work.

— a jury table and 14 chairs in the jury room for $3,581 from Navrat Office Supply of Emporia. Sunflower Business Solutions of Newton also presented a bid of $3,724.

The old furniture will be stored until resolution was determined with a new jail facility.

— A cereal malt beverage license was renewed for Canada Bait and Tackle and a Class B license for Marion Country Club also was renewed.

— Holub signed an agreement with Prairie View for the county to provide $60,000 as budgeted for 2007.

— A letter from Cecil Aska of community corrections was acknowledged regarding the formal appointment of Meredith Butler as director of that department.

— Representatives of Disability Planning Organization of Kansas provided a proposal to the county for providing community development disability organization services.

DPOK currently services nine counties that include Dickinson, Saline, Cloud, Ellsworth, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Ottawa, and Republic.

The organization also made a proposal to Harvey County and currently subcontracts with Northview Developmental Services.

— Interim transfer station director Rollin Schmidt reported a total of 577 tons of all types of waste were collected by the transfer station in November, bringing the total tonnage thus far for the year to 6,880.

The next commission meeting is at 9 a.m. Monday in the courthouse.

Dan Hall of BG Consultants is on the agenda to provide final plans for the judicial center.

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