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Marion residents can receive bucks for building houses

Advertising will begin for a City of Marion housing incentive program. Marion City Commission reviewed the ads Monday that will pay for people to build new homes.

The program, "Bucks for Building," will provide incentives for qualified individuals who construct a new home in Marion.

The incentives include $1,000 cash at closing from the City of Marion; waiver of appraisal fees which will be paid by Central National Bank, Marion National Bank, or Tampa State Bank; 100 square yards of carpet padding with the purchase of an equal amount of carpet from The County Seat; a 15 percent discount on an appliance purchase and free delivery from Straub International; a 50 percent discount on selected items from Mid-America Marble; a free tub/shower from Flaming's Heating, Plumbing & Air Conditioning; a $300 credit for a new gas line from Atmos Energy; and more.

The house must be site-built or modular, and owner-occupied.

The advertising will appear in the Marion County Record, Hillsboro Star-Journal, and Peabody Gazette-Bulletin.

Applications are available at the city office and will be accepted from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2006.

In other business:

— Due to water plant upgrades, most test results are in compliance per Kansas Department of Health & Environment requirements.

However, KDHE may require the city to continue to notify customers of compliance issues because the agency averages test results during a 12-month period.

The water coming from Marion Reservoir is extremely clean which makes it difficult to meet the requirements for the removal of a specific amount of byproducts.

The addition of ammonia feed did bring water byproducts within compliance. The addition of ozone should make all aspects of the water in compliance.

— A consent agreement with KDHE was approved by the city which will assure that KDHE will not levy fines against the city since the city had plans for further improvements to meet state and federal compliance.

— A plat for housing development was approved by the city. Rocky Meadow Addition was presented by Mike Regnier.

— Five community leaders were appointed to a pre-screening interview committee for the city's economic development position.

Margo Yates, Greg Carlson, Mike Regnier, Jim Hefley, and Mayor Martin Tice were appointed to review applications.

— A group from Cloud County has expressed interest in the city's narrow gauge railroad car which some believe to be a rail car used to transport passengers from Marion to the Chingawassa Springs, located north of the city.

The city offered to donate the car if they removed it.

The group has inspected the car and agreed a considerable amount of work would be required to restore it. Members of the group said there were only two of this type of car built, and this was the remaining one.

— Harvey Sanders, public utilities superintendent, reported some intersections on East Lawrence Street were opening this week. Lawrence Street will be open for through traffic by the end of September.

The project came in $2,500 less than the original bid made by Hett Construction of Marion.

— The county strategic plan was approved by the commission.

— The commission also approved the August investment and collateral report, and the August financial statement.

— Warrants for $104,102 and payroll for $27,727 were approved. Included in this week's warrants was the bill for the new fire truck chassis. The chassis was delivered to Williams Service of Florence for completion.

— Building inspector Marty Fredrickson reported there have been no improvements made to property at 201 N. Freeborn Street. The city had granted an extension to the owner per the owner's request and required noticeable progress be made.

City administrator David Mayfield reported the city received a telephone call from Donald Marques who is the owner of the property at 1018 E. Denver that recently was demolished.

Marques claimed he was not aware the house was going to be destroyed even though the city made attempts to contact him.

— The commission will discuss and make a decision Oct. 2 whether to change the form of government from three members to five. Previously the topic was to be on the Sept. 26 agenda but commissioner Jim Crofoot will not be in attendance at that meeting.

The next city commission meeting is 4 p.m. Monday in the city building.

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