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Tampa City Council: Byron Noeth talks about Leadership Marion County

Contributing writer

Byron Noeth came to the meeting to thank the council for sending him to Leadership Marion County and tell them about the experience. He reported that a project has been launched to encourage young people from each community in the county to present information on their town at the county fair. Mayor Jim Clemmer said he had two leads for delegates for Leadership Marion County for next year.

Tampa City Council decided Sept. 12 to look for two local young people to represent the community Oct. 10 at a youth day to be sponsored by the Kansas League of Municipalities at Wichita. Cost will be $50 per person, but some scholarships are available.

Clemmer asked the council if they would be willing to donate some lots in the downtown area owned by the city to be used for a post office building.

"If it would get us a post office," was Tim Svoboda's instant response, and the other council members agreed. A number of circumstances would have to fall in place for a post office to be possible.

Some time ago a delegation from the community conferred with Representative Jerry Moran, and someone from his office convinced the postal service to accept a 700 square foot building, rather than the 1,500 square feet originally demanded and to agree to a somewhat higher lease payment than the $300 per month paid for the former condemned building. Plans meeting the new requirements have been submitted. If those plans are approved by the postal service, someone will have to be found who is willing to invest in construction of the facility.

There was some discussion about the stones and bricks behind the senior center left over from the demolition of the high school. Much of it was used for the monument erected on the school site, which now is completely finished. The consensus of the council was what remains can be given away to anybody who wants some of it.

The mayor told the council someone is considering building a residence south of the ball diamond and asked whether the city would let them have the lots.

"How can he get a sewer there?" Wilbert Backhus wanted to know.

Clemmer said he thought the sewer connection to the high school was still there, just capped off. If so, the new house could connect there. Council members speculated about how to miss the concrete from an old swimming pool in that area. No determination was made on allowing the building, but the council said they were open to the possibility.

"Are there any volunteers to help me take a downed tree out of the park?" asked Wilbert Backhus. Svoboda and Willis Herbel agreed to help.

The mayor recommended ordering two state flags, since the one in use is in bad condition. Svoboda moved to buy new flags. On a second from Tom Moldenhauer, the motion carried.

Svoboda asked when the sewer cleaners are coming, and Clemmer said the job is scheduled for Oct. 12.

Commissioner Dan Holub was present for the last part of the meeting. "The revitalization program is starting to happen," Holub said. "Several applications have come in already in Marion."

Clemmer asked whether the county would put in a culvert, if a house is built south of the ball field, and Holub said it would do so.

The commissioner assured the council the directional signs pointing to Tampa have not been lost. He explained the job of straightening and repainting them has been somewhat delayed. A recent escape by a prisoner has necessitated closer supervision of trustees who are doing the sign project.

Most of the conversation with Holub dealt with road conditions in the area. He believes most of the roads will need to be torn up and left to establish a base before resurfacing. He hopes they will hold up better if this is done.

"I won't lie to you," said Holub. "Cost is really becoming a big issue. The fuel prices are beating us to death." Nevertheless he believes the more extensive work of tearing up roads and starting again is necessary.

"How are you going to get a better base than you've been getting?" Paul Backhus asked.

"If you don't see trouble spots before you put asphalt on it, it's too late," Holub replied. "If we can get them done right, then we can add overlay to keep building on that base."

"I've got a question about that Ramona road," said Wilbert Backhus. "Why did they leave that hump at the edge of the road? There's no way for water to drain off."

"I don't know why they would have done that," said Holub. "It doesn't make any sense. I already heard about that at Ramona's meeting, and I plan to check on it tomorrow."

Among the bills approved for payment were $55 for repairs to the roof at the senior center, $36.11 for signs, $450 for preparing the budget and $78.75 for publishing it.

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