Letter from county commission supports wind farm development
Staff reporter
Without divulging any additional information, Marion County Commission approved a letter Monday that will be sent regarding county regulations that allow wind farm development.
Commission chairman Randy Dallke said an individual had contacted him regarding a letter of recommendation for a wind farm. There is an overlay district in the county zoning regulations that allows wind farm developments, Dallke said, and the county is in favor of such development but applicants still have to go through the necessary zoning system for approval.
The letter was dated Sept. 7 and was addressed "To Whom It May Concern," and stated the county was in favor of promoting the development of Wind Energy Conversion Systems within the designated area.
It was reiterated in the letter that applicants had to apply for zoning approval and this letter did not infer applicants are guaranteed approval.
In other business:
— The commission approved two docks at the county lake that previously were approved by former lake superintendent Dale Snelling.
Dallke said he was not in favor of allowing everyone who requests a dock to be allowed to have one.
Commissioner Bob Hein said this was a situation where Snelling had promised Hank Shockley and Ron Waggy they could build docks.
With the approval, the dock owners understand that the docks are for public use when the owner isn't using them and should be constructed in way that would be serviceable by the general public.
— Pilsen State Bank provided the lowest interest rate for a lease agreement for a new Ford Fusion that was purchased by the county for the economic development director to use. The bank offered a fixed interest rate of 4.24 for a total of $17,229.
Other rates from banks were Marion National Bank at 4.74, Citizens State Bank, 4.75, Cottonwood Valley Bank, 4.95, and Central National Bank, 5.976. First payment would be due Feb. 1.
The commission approved the lease agreement.
— Markley Service of Marion was approved for a low total bid for roadside chemicals.
The bid was a total of $2,756 for two, 120-gallon shuttles of 2,4-D Amine at $9.40 per gallon and 40 gallons of surfactant at $12.50 per gallon.
Ag Service had a total bid of $2,856 and Cooperative Grain and Supply, $3,217.
— The commission approved the purchase of a rubber cutting edge for a skid steer at the county transfer station for $546 from Schuler. The blade is made from recycled rubber.
— A meeting will be planned between ATMOS Energy officials, a county commissioner, and road and bridge personnel regarding Sunflower Road, northeast of Marion.
A main gas line runs in the middle of Sunflower Road from 210th to 230th, and county motor graders have scraped the roadway down to the pipe itself, and now are even scraping the pipe.
The low-maintenance road is a popular attraction to four-wheeler operators after a rain which requires a county grader to smooth the road.
Dallke, who is an ATMOS Energy employee, said the company could relocate the pipe but it would be costly.
Commissioner Holub will attend the meeting on behalf of the commission.
— The commission reviewed the annual audit report with no significant findings.
— Road and bridge worker Dennis Maggard reported that CDL drivers who are government employees are not required to have physical cards for their CDL licenses. Physical cards require a physical examination every two years.
He continued that some counties do require physicals. All agreed it would be a benefit to the county if CDL holders did have physicals. A decision will be made at a later meeting.
— There was 5,402 tons of refuse transferred through the county transfer station during August which accounted for 265 trips to the landfill. At the last billing cycle, the county paid $37.59 per ton which included the tipping fee at the landfill.
Transfer station manager Rollin Schmidt reminded the commission that the county's landfill contract ends in January. The county trash cannot be hauled to a Reno County landfill because the landfill will not accept it. He was told to check with Sedgwick County.
— Schmidt read a letter from Kansas Department of Health and Environment regarding the county's application for a recycling grant. The county was one of 22 applicants for a grant but KDHE only provided funding for electronic waste. Schmidt asked the commission if it wanted to continue with a recycling plan.
Dallke suggested a work session to discuss options.
— County road and bridge crews will seal 40th Road from U.S.-77 west. The next road to be sealed is 60th.
— Dallke requested and received a five-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
