Old taxes taken off books so landfill property can be exempt
Staff reporter
Delinquent taxes for the former landfill were forgiven Monday by a reluctant Marion County Commission.
The previous owners of the landfill failed to pay property taxes in 2003, and a portion of 2004, that totaled $767. The county purchased the property in the fall of 2004, Maggard said, and the issue of back taxes was not addressed by the attorney representing the county when the deal was made.
In order for the county to be exempt from paying taxes on the property, the state board of tax appeals requires the back taxes be removed from the books.
Delinquent taxes follow the property, not the property owner, until paid or relieved and removed from the books.
Commissioner Dan Holub commented that the former landfill is "costing the county again."
Also related to the former landfill, David Brazil, county sanitarian, reported he had received letters from Jack Chappelle, the county's consultant for the landfill closing, and Kansas Department of Health & Environment, regarding issues to finalize the plan.
Chappelle will provide the final information, Brazil said, and assumes the county has already paid for the services to complete the project.
In other business:
— Marion County Sheriff's Deputy Rollin Schmidt has accepted the position of Marion County Noxious Weed and Hazardous Household Waste Director.
The announcement was made by Commission Chairman Bob Hein.
Schmidt had previously held the department head position 10 years ago.
Schmidt replaces Bill Smithhart who resigned last month.
— A laptop computer was approved for emergency medical services. The computer will be used by EMS director Darryl Thiesen in the office. Thiesen's current laptop will be used in the field for classes and presentations.
Great Plains Computers & Networking of Marion, was awarded the bid of $2,537. Other bids were from Business Computers of Newton and were $3,154 and $2,428.
The commission also approved a backup service for EMS records for $585. A full year of the weekly backup service will be $780.
— Commissioner Randy Dallke asked EMS office manager Woody Crawshaw the number of days or weeks the current billing was behind for ambulance runs. Crawshaw responded the department is current each day.
Past due accounts are reviewed and reminder notices are sent monthly. If there is no response after the third notice, the matter is taken to small claims court.
— Cardie Oil Company of Tampa, was awarded the low bid for transport fuel.
The bid was for 5,500 gallons of diesel and 2,500 of unleaded at $2.17 and $1.865 per gallon respectively. The total cost was $16,771.
Cooperative Grain & Supply of Hillsboro also provided a bid of $2.20 per gallon for diesel and $1.858 per gallon for unleaded for a total of $16,946.
— Welborn Sales of Salina had the low bid of $79,943 for bridge materials. Steel & Pipe Supply of Manhattan also submitted a bid of $81,767. Salina Steel & Supply of Salina also submitted a bid but it was not considered because it was incomplete.
— Funds will be encumbered to expand lots at the transfer station, gravel the parking lot, and erect a fence.
— A water leak caused six feet of water in the basement of the transfer station. The City of Marion assisted Brazil in pumping out the water.
— A cereal malt beverage license for off premises consumption of 3.2 beer for Canada Bait & Tackle was approved.
A Class B Club license for Marion Country Club also was approved by the commission.
— Two transfers totaling $3,000, will be made from special building fund to risk management to pay for inspections of the courthouse following mold removal.
Dallke said he had read about grants available for mold removal but when he and county clerk Carol Maggard checked the status, they discovered the county didn't qualify because the work had already been started and completed.
Future mold removal in other buildings may be necessary so the grant will be taken under advisement. The maximum grant amount is $5,000.
— Representatives from the county's current insurance carrier and from K-CAMP who wants to provide insurance, will present premium quotes at a future meeting, reported Maggard.
— The new chief court services officer for the Eighth Judicial District, Nicki Davenport, was introduced to the commission.
— Road and bridge superintendent Jim Herzet requested and received a five-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— County appraiser Cindy Magill requested and received a 10-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
The next commission meeting is at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the courthouse.
