Roads, county lake, recycling topics of forum with county, city officials
Staff reporter
The future of Marion County Park and Lake and quality of roads were the main topics of discussion at a public forum Monday evening with county and city officials.
More than 40 people attended the forum and asked questions about Lakeshore Drive and Eisenhower Road.
Gordon Pendergraft, 2 Random Road, Marion County Lake, said Lakeshore Drive was "deplorable" and it needed to be a better road.
Marion County Public Works Director Jim Herzet said his crews would soon be at the lake to make repairs.
Lavonne Hannaford of Marion said she was concerned about Eisenhower Drive and listed businesses and public amenities located along the thoroughfare.
"That should be one of our best roads in town," she said. "That road is a disaster."
It was explained that the city owns from Main Street to Kellison Street and the county owns from Kellison to U.S.-56.
County road supervisor Steve Hudson said work is scheduled for this summer.
Marion Mayor Martin Tice asked if Third Street was on the county's schedule. Commission chairman Randy Dallke said he talked with city administrator David Mayfield a few weeks ago about sharing costs by having the work completed within a similar time frame.
"The former (county) commission thought $500,000 would be needed to repair Third Street and Sunflower but now it is more than a million," Dallke said.
Tice said the city still was searching for an engineer for street projects.
City councilman Bill Holdeman said Eisenhower Drive needed to be widened. Herzet said additional rights-of-way would be required if widened and there was a major price difference between resealing and resurfacing.
The focus then shifted from roads to the county lake.
Marion economic development director Jami Williams asked if the county was going to replace Dale Snelling as lake superintendent and if the bait shop would remain open.
Commissioner Dan Holub responded that applications were being reviewed by the county commission, county lake board, and Snelling. He was not aware of any plans to close the bait shop.
Holub commented there may be one person needed to fill Snelling's position because the new employee(s) may not live in the county-owned lake home.
"You need (the superintendent) to live at the lake," Pendergraft said.
Dallke said his perspective was different from Holub's but it still comes down to money.
Marion Chamber of Commerce Secretary Margo Yates said it would be difficult to make major changes at the lake when people are used to a certain management style.
Williams said she promotes the lake as a destination location.
"We're at the next step from status quo and need to make bigger and better," she said. Williams complimented Landon Leiker and Helen Beckham for their efforts in restoring the lake.
"It's time for county residents to step forward and take ownership," Williams said.
Darvin Markley of Marion asked Snelling what happened to the boat races that used to be at the lake?
Snelling said it was difficult to charge spectators and money was lost in paying for the competition.
Ruth Lange of Marion asked if the same process of collecting donations for the fireworks display during Labor Day Weekend could be used for special events like boat races? Snelling said it was possible but would take more volunteers.
Marion City Councilman Stacey Collett asked about countywide policing.
Sheriff Lee Becker said some cities within the county without full-time law enforcement have an opportunity to enter an agreement with the county to enforce nuisance ordinances.
"If the county goes to countywide policing, would we need local police departments?" Collett asked.
Becker said there were 104 counties out of 105 in the state that have sheriffs. The only county that has consolidated law enforcement is Riley County.
"It's more effective if local police departments serve papers," he said.
If countywide law enforcement was implemented, Becker said he would have two officers in Marion, Hillsboro, and Peabody, and then have a director of police in each city. He compared it to consolidating school districts.
Holdeman asked if the mobile homes at the county lake would be allowed to stay. Holub said the county increased the annual lot rent to cover increased expenses but the commission was not going to get rid of them.
A comment was made that the trailers were not appealing and wondered if other residents had similar comments.
Rocky Hett of Marion asked county officials why the area between Lakeshore Drive and the lake on the east side of the lake hasn't been developed. Dallke said providing water and sewer are the biggest issues.
Snelling responded that many families have come and gone from the lake and the trailer park.
"When they come to the lake, they spend their money in Marion," Snelling said, which isn't always noticed.
He said there's a waiting list of people wanting to purchase trailers.
Snelling's other concern was expanding the use of the lake.
"We think that little old lake can handle thousands of people but it can't," he said.
Charles Kannady of Marion asked the percentage of lake residents who actually use the water for recreational purposes. Snelling said probably 50 percent did and 50 percent did not.
"A lot of people buy property at the lake for the location and not for recreation," Kannady said.
Snelling expressed his concerns about having too many watercrafts and people on the water at one time.
"When one person is killed, the revenue won't be significant," he said. In the 40 years that Snelling has been the superintendent, there have only been three boat wrecks.
Changing the subject, Hilary Dolbee of Marion asked the county where it would be in five to 10 years.
Holub said the county has a strategic plan which included the hiring of an economic development professional which has been accomplished.
Teresa Huffman, the county economic development secretary, reported she was working on countywide tourism issues, business expansion, and trying to locate a company willing to come to Marion to provide boat and camper sales and repair.
Dolbee again asked the question: "Where is the county going to be in five years?"
Holub responded the county has a declining population and work force. County zoning regulations were amended to allow more development, particularly housing.
"We need to increase the population and expand the tax base," Holub said.
"You need to follow needs not wants," Kannady said. Demographics dictate needs.
When asked the number of businesses in Marion County, Huffman said there were 700. Kannady asked how many were home businesses.
"Shouldn't they be taxed appropriately?" Kannady asked. Holub responded they were not going to address that issue.
Huffman said since there isn't a business incubator available for start-up businesses, she encourages home businesses because some may eventually outgrow their space and require a commercial building.
"They are a huge benefit to our county," she said.
Williams commented that Marion County was unique because it has a high number of roads and bridges to maintain. Herzet said the county maintains 1,600 miles of roads and 100 bridges.
The focus then shifted to recycling and the county transfer station.
Transfer station director Rollin Schmidt said municipal trash can be dumped at the station by residents for free but there was a charge for commercial and demolition waste of two cents per pound or $40 per ton.
He also is the director of household hazardous waste and suggested residents should bring household chemicals (paints, pesticides, cleaners) to the county facility for disposal.
Holub said the county is looking at recycling which would be free to county residents.
Harry Bennett of rural Marion said the town of Norton has a minimum security jail facility and developed a recycling center using prisoners to sort the materials.
It was noted that the county's transfer station could be adaptable for recycling.
County officials in attendance were Dallke, Holub, Snelling, Becker, Schmidt, Herzet, Hudson, Huffman, emergency medical services director Larry Larsen, treasurer Jeannine Bateman, appraiser Cindy Magill, emergency management/911 director Michele Abbott-Becker, and sanitarian/zoning administrator Bobbi Strait.
City officials in attendance were Tice, Holdeman, Collett, councilmen Jerry Kline and Gene Winkler, Williams, administrator David Mayfield, and city clerk Angela Lange.
