Homeowner asks for compensation from city
Staff reporter
Pat Patterson of 301 E. Santa Fe asked Marion City Commission to reimburse his expenses for replacement of a sewer line.
It was determined that Patterson's sewer line was not hooked up to the current sewer line. It was still hooked up to an old line.
Harvey Sanders, director of public utilities, said he wasn't sure how that error occurred.
"The (current) sewer line has been there a long time," Sanders said. He said he didn't know who tapped it or when, but it was hooked up before the alley was overlaid with cement.
Patterson said he has owned the property since 1988, and lived there since 1989.
"The city's been collecting a monthly sewer fee from me for 16 years and I wasn't hooked up," Patterson said.
About every two or three months, Patterson said he had sewer problems, requiring a plumber to evacuate the lines.
During the Thanksgiving Day weekend, a plumber was called to the residence several times because the sewer line appeared to be plugged.
Tony Schafers of Tony's Plumbing has been providing this service to Patterson and decided there was something else wrong.
The pipe was dug up in Patterson's yard to the street. When the pipe was uncovered in the street, it was discovered the sewer line was not connected with the city's sewer line.
Patterson asked the commission to consider reimbursing him the expense of this last series of service calls and pipe replacement.
When asked the cost, Patterson said he wasn't sure because he had not yet received a bill from Schafers.
"When it rains, we have a problem," Patterson said. "As long it was dry, it ran fine."
The commission asked the opinion of city attorney Dan Baldwin. Baldwin responded the commission can make decisions on a case-by-case basis. Baldwin did wonder who engineered the newer system and how this situation occurred.
Patterson said he didn't want to blame anyone but was looking at cause and affect.
Mayor Martin Tice requested an itemized billing and asked Patterson to be present at the meeting when this was reviewed. Tice also suggested Schafers be present to answer questions.
In other business:
— Fire chief Thad Meierhoff reported a $3,300 donation had been received from a Jack Richmond memorial.
The memorial money and city funds were spent to purchase a compressor to fill air bottles, Meierhoff said.
— Police chief Michel Soyez reported the board of directors of Marion Kiwanis Club approved the relocation of the parade line-up for Old Settlers' Day. The line-up will be on Walnut Street instead of Jex Addition.
Soyez also reported he has made improvements to a tracking system within his department to be more user friendly for officers and to speed up the process of obtaining information.
— Baldwin reported a rough draft has been completed regarding a city ordinance allowing restaurants to serve liquor-by-the-drink. The completed document will be reviewed at the next commission meeting.
— Sanders reported two city refuse trucks collected trash Nov. 29 and 30, the carbon room at the water plant has been completed, and a bucket on a back-hoe had been repaired.
— Harold Conyers was reappointed to the Marion Housing Authority Board for another four-year term.
— The commission approved a mutual aid agreement with Florence so Marion firefighters can respond and assist to Florence fires. The city previously approved an agreement for Florence Fire Department to aid the Marion Fire Department.
— Mayfield reported it was not feasible for the city to refinance a bond that was eligible for refinancing. According to the city's bond agent, Dave Arteberry of George K. Baum & Company of Kansas City, Mo., there would be no cost savings in doing so.
— Warrants for $27,237 were approved.
— The commission recessed to a 10-minute executive session for attorney-client privilege with Baldwin and Mayfield in attendance. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
The commission will meet at 4 p.m. Monday in the city building.
City water safe for fishes, ammonia not added — yet
City residents were told Monday during a Marion City Commission meeting, the city has not yet begun ammonia treatment in the city's drinking water.
Aquarium tank owners have been contacting the water plant, asking for information regarding the addition of the chemical in the water.
Ammonia is toxic to fish and aquatic life. Department and pet supply stores have available chemicals that can be added to the aquarium water to eliminate the ammonia.
David Mayfield, city administrator, said an announcement will be made to the public when the city adds ammonia.
