Some services not available until position filled
Commission talks of 'getting out of trash business'
Until a new director can be hired to fill the county's environmental health and planning departments, business will not be carried on as usual.
Monday was the last day on the job for David Brazil, the county's sanitarian, planning/zoning director, and transfer station manager.
A notice is posted at the county health office that explains applications will be accepted for the departments but process of the applications may require additional time.
Some applications, such as zoning changes and lot splits, cannot be processed without a director.
During Marion County Commission meeting on Monday, it was not known the number of applications the county had received for the sanitarian and planning position.
At Monday's meeting, following 10-minute and seven-minute executive sessions, Rollin Schmidt accepted the part-time, interim position of transfer station manager.
Schmidt currently is the full-time county noxious weed and hazardous household waste director. He will fill the interim position until the end of the year. The commission then will evaluate the position and determine the appropriate direction.
Schmidt will receive a pay increase of $835 per month or $10,000 per year for the additional responsibility.
Later in the meeting, county appraiser Cindy Magill presented information to the commission per the request of commissioner Randy Dallke. The information listed the charges for apartment complexes for the operation of the transfer station.
Nursing homes were not included in the information. Individual "units" assessed the charge had to meet the criteria of having a kitchen.
Dallke said he had heard complaints about discrepancies in how individual houses and apartments were assessed.
Commission chairman Dan Holub reported he had talked with McPherson County regarding recycling. He was told that McPherson County personnel separate paper and cardboard from commercial business refuse for recycling.
One cost-saving option that could be considered, said Holub, was hauling construction and demolition waste to McPherson County instead of Topeka.
Holub also talked with Stutzman Refuse Disposal Inc., that currently provides disposal services within the county, about recycling options.
The commission is considering other refuse options to reduce or eliminate an annual charge to property owners for trash disposal.
Dallke said there probably would be an increase by haulers if the annual disposal fee was not charged.
"Maybe the county does need to get out of the trash business," said Holub. He wondered which would be more feasible for the county — to lease the transfer station or sell it?
County clerk Carol Maggard said when the county was determining the feasibility of purchasing the transfer station, it was determined that when the station was being leased by a private company, the county ultimately was responsible for the liability.
In the end, Holub wants to find a "better and cheaper way" to dispose of trash.
"Maybe the cities and the county can work together to find a solution," Holub said.
Commissioner Bob Hein said Stutzman tried to buy Hillsboro trash business but Hillsboro wasn't interested.
It was noted that Marion is considering a new trash truck and is talking about going to once a week service to reduce costs.
The bond that funded the transfer station will be paid in 2008.
In addition to joint refuse and recycling efforts, Holub said he would like to see cities included with purchasing equipment and vehicles.
