Lake super's job description will get closer look
Staff reporter
It became obvious to Marion County Commission during Monday's meeting that reviewing and making changes to the lake superintendent's job description needed to be done rather sooner than later.
Superintendent Dale Snelling presented minutes from lake board meetings that were held during the time that he was hired, more than four decades ago.
Commission chairman Randy Dallke asked Snelling if the composition of the lake board should be adjusted with more lake residents since the lake usage and residency had changed considerably in the past 40 years.
Snelling said the lake board could be enlarged to include more people.
Commissioner Dan Holub suggested the chairman of Marion County Improvement District #2 be on the board.
It was made clear to the commission at previous lake board meetings that there are two factions participating on the board — those who want to make changes and those who want the status quo.
Dallke said the commission needed to determine the relationship of private enterprise (a bait shop) and the county regarding the lake office being open for 12 months instead of six.
"The bait shop won't make anybody any money," Snelling said. "It was more of a courtesy for lake visitors."
Snelling said the heated dock needed supervision which requires a live-in superintendent.
Dallke clarified that he was not talking about the position so much as office hours.
It was determined that a special work session will be held at 8 a.m. Tuesday to discuss the position.
In the business:
— The commission approved the purchase of a high loader for $127,045 with trade-in from Murphy Tractor and Equipment Co. of Wichita for a John Deere 544J.
Other bids were from Foley Cat of Wichita of $124,297 with trade-in difference for a model 930G and Van Keppel Company of Wichita of $136,726 that included a $7,000 trade-in for a Volvo L70F.
The commission decided to approve the slightly higher bid because Murphy Tractor provided a seven-year, 4,000-hour warranty. The other companies offered 12-month, 1,500-hour and 12-month, 2,500-hour warranties, respectively.
The commission then approved the lowest interest rate for a four-year lease-purchase agreement with Pilsen State Bank at 4.14 percent.
Other banks and interest rates were Marion National Bank, 4.40 percent; Citizens State Bank, 4.69 percent; Peabody State Bank, 5.060 percent; Cottonwood Valley Bank, 5.125 percent; Central National Bank, 5.30 percent; and Hillsboro State Bank, 7.4361 percent. Tampa State Bank and Emprise Bank did not respond to the request for bids.
— County public works director Jim Herzet reported that a bid from Flaming's Inc. of Marion was for one tube heater as previously assumed.
With that, the commission approved the low bid from Suffield's Heating and Cooling of Marion for $7,045 for a hanging heater in the break room of the county shop and two tube heaters that will be installed in the shop area.
— The commission acknowledged a letter from consultant Jack Chapelle regarding a $2,500 fee for writing a bid proposal that will eliminate one water well and add another at the former county landfill site.
The proposal was sent to four drilling companies for bids.
— James Loewen was appointed as clerk of Wilson Township. Colleen Hajek's name was drawn as a tie-breaker for the position but Hajek declined the appointment.
— Commissioner Bob Hein reported the appointment of Kent Becker as a member of the county's planning and zoning commission.
— County appraiser Cindy Magill presented three bids for four computers to replace outdated equipment in her department.
Great Plains Computers and Networking of Marion had the low bid of $6,401 with trade-ins. Lenovo had a bid of $6,432 and CDWG $6,565.
— Various chemical bids were approved for the noxious weed department. These supplies are purchased annually by the department.
Ag Service of Hillsboro was awarded four bids — $13,320 for 12-120 gallon shuttles of 2,4-D Amine, $17,100 for 1,800 gallons of 2,4-D Amine, $4,987 for 150 gallons of Banvel, and $2,070 for 180 gallons of 2,4-D LV4.
Agri Producers Inc. of Tampa was awarded two chemical bids of $9,059 for 100 gallons of Tordon 22k and 24 gallons of Remedy, and $2,149 for 40 pounds of Sahara, 48 ounces of Oust XP, 20 gallons of Pathway, and 10 gallons of Garlon 4.
— Magill told the commission that she had just received information from the state that was needed to complete the county's valuation and may need an additional two-week extension to prepare valuation notices for mailing.
— Maggard announced she had hired an administrative assistant — Cherry Miller of Hillsboro.
— Interim transfer station manager Rollin Schmidt reported 532 tons of waste and 26 trips to the landfill during the month of January.
Schmidt said he was waiting for a bid for construction and demolition waste disposal from McPherson County.
— Schmidt was instructed by the commission to hire a new employee in the household hazardous waste department at $9.10 per hour.
— At the beginning of the meeting, Dallke requested and received a 10-minute executive session to discuss personnel with county clerk Carol Maggard in attendance. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— Later in the meeting, Holub requested and received a five-minute executive session to discuss personnel with Maggard. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— Magill requested and received a five-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
The commission will not meet Monday because of Presidents' Day. The next commission meeting is Tuesday when the commission will have a work session at 8 a.m. to discuss the park superintendent position. The regular meeting will begin at 9 a.m.
