Officials to meet for algae update
City will bid on county lake trash Dumpster service
Staff reporter
City of Marion officials will meet with Marion Reservoir personnel regarding algae concerns at the reservoir.
David Mayfield, city administrator, reported Monday to Marion City Commission that a meeting was to take place this week. Information from the meeting will be provided at the next commission meeting, Mayfield said,
The commission approved the city bidding on providing trash Dumpster service to Marion County Park and Lake.
The bid would require 30 Dumpsters be emptied once a week at the lake during April through October. During November through March, there only would be five Dumpsters emptied once a month.
The city would maintain the existing Dumpsters during the contract period. If a new Dumpster was needed the county would acquire the expense. The bid specification requested a three-year contract. Bids will be opened at 11 a.m. Friday.
Harvey Sanders, public utilities superintendent, said it would take two hours to empty 30 Dumpsters.
"We already pick up (refuse) on Wednesdays at the airport," Sanders said.
Commissioner Larry McLain asked if the pickup would change due to holiday weekends. Sanders said no, it would always be on Wednesdays.
A public budget hearing was scheduled for 4 p.m. Aug. 9. A notice will be published in the Marion County Record. The proposed 2005 budget will not require an increase in the mill levy, Mayfield reported.
Mayfield reported receipt of a letter from the city's engineers regarding a wholesale water district feasibility study.
The study was requested by USDA Rural Development following the application by the city for funds to update the city's water plant.
A grant was awarded for the study with the cities of Hillsboro and Marion sharing the matching portion expense for the study.
Mayfield said engineers will visit the water plants in three weeks.
Gary Carlson, liaison for local landlords, and city personnel will meet to discuss a proposal regarding landlords' rental property and city utility bills.
The city's ordinance requires landlords to be responsible for any unpaid city utility bill incurred by tenants. A new state statute does not allow landlords to be responsible for electrical service but can be held responsible for water service.
A meeting is planned for Aug. 11 with discussion to follow at the following Monday's commission meeting, Mayfield said.
In other business:
— Mayfield attended a workshop conducted by Kansas Department of Transportation regarding application for transportation enhancement grants. He said the city might be interested in a streetscape grant which would require a minimum of a 20 percent match.
Applications could be for bike and hiking trails and historical preservation. The majority of the Marion City Library/Santa Fe Depot Project was funded through this grant, Mayfield said.
Discussion followed regarding a bike and hiking trail that had previously been discussed. A request had been made by Casey Case and Mickey Lundy a few years ago regarding using the dike as a trail. It was recalled the liability issue with the dike delayed the project.
— Sanders reported city crews assisted with preparations at the baseball complex for tournaments. Washington Street project was not completed before the recent rains and was still underwater, Sanders said. Crews sprayed for mosquitoes this past week and will spray this week.
— Police chief Michel Soyez reported Lt. Dean Keyes recently returned from Baltimore, Md., following free training for surveillance equipment. The company paid all expenses for Keyes to attend the training.
— Mayfield said he had resigned from his position on the executive board for Communities in Schools due to his schedule.
— Warrants in the amount of $21,347 and payroll in the amount of $27,852 were approved.
— The commission recessed for a 20-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel. No decisions were made.
The next commission meeting will be at 4 p.m. Monday in the city building.
