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Spring-loaded comments

As I sit at my computer this bright, fine morning, wracking my brain for an editorial topic, I am distracted by, well, the bright, fine morning.

It appears spring has finally sprung in Marion County!

In no place was spring more evident this past weekend than Central Park. It was great to see so many youngsters and families enjoying the new playground equipment.

And what equipment!

I'd say the Central Park Improvement Committee deserves a great big THANK YOU for seeing a need and seeing a way to fulfill that need. And thanks to everyone in the community who had anything at all to do with the project — whether it was cupcakes for a bake sale, the purchase of a brick, or a monetary donation.

Way to go, Marion!

Our children will have a safe place to play for years to come.

***

As the pool/gymnasium project nears completion, Marion-Florence USD 408 and the City of Marion are putting their heads together to work out the nuts and bolts of running the facility.

Good for them. We hope the pool will be available for use by all school district patrons — and that means affordable pricing.

With the price of everything going through the roof, especially fuel, it'll be good to have another affordable activity available right here without sending folks out of town.

***

It's been a quiet week here in the office. You'll notice there aren't any Your Turn comments this week. I guess everyone is busy enjoying the fine weather.

I just want to give you one last thing to think about. Elsewhere in this issue there is a story about Monday's city council meeting. In the story, it is reported that council member Bill Holdeman is an advocate of secret ballots.

I don't know about the rest of you folks, but I believe that public business should be conducted in public.

Granted, executive sessions during city council and county commission meetings are as common as mosquitoes in the summertime.

What's going on in those "secret" meetings? It's anyone's guess, but we have to trust our elected officials to follow the guidelines set forth in the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA). Technically, there are seven subjects that can be discussed in executive sessions:

1.) Personnel matters of non-elected personnel.

2.) Consultations with an attorney, attorney-client privilege.

3.) Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations.

4.) Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts, or individual proprietorships.

5.) Matters relating to actions adversely or favorable affecting a person as student, patient or resident of a public institution; however, that person may request a public hearing.

6.) Preliminary discussions relating to acquisition of real property.

7.) Security matters relating to a public body or agency.

No binding action is allowed in a secret, or executive, session.

Nowhere in the KOMA does it specify that it's OK to use secret ballots.

So, Mr. Holdeman, in celebration of the arrival of spring and the bright, fine weather, let's conduct our public business in the light of day.

— DONNA BERNHARDT

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