Vacant house may be demolished by city
A public hearing will be held to determine if a dilapidated house at 1018 E. Denver should be demolished.
Marion City Commission approved a resolution Monday to hold the hearing at 4 p.m. Oct. 4.
"The owners, the owners' agent, any lien holder, and any occupant may appear and show cause why the structure should not be condemned and ordered repaired or demolished," stated the resolution.
The property is owned by Donald and Helena Marques Jr. of Spring Hill, Fla. A petition had been filed with the city by residents regarding the condition of the structures on the property.
An engineering firm inspected the city's water plant Friday as part of a feasibility study for a public wholesale water district.
City administrator David Mayfield said the primary concern was the amount of water needed by cities and one plant providing it.
Marion water customers used a maximum of 530,000 gallons in one day last year.
"The current plant has the capacity to treat one million gallons per day," said Mayfield, "but can only pump 864,000 gallons per day."
Mayfield said he told the engineers the city did not want to reduce the maximum demand amount.
"The bottom line will be the amount of cost to the customer for a wholesale water district," Mayfield said.
PEC is conducting the study which should be completed by mid-September, said Mayfield.
Determination of a water plant grant and loan will not be made until the completion of the feasibility study, Mayfield said.
The city applied for a grant and loan through USDA Rural Development program for water plant upgrades. The upgrades were required by Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Mayfield commented he understood why rural development wanted to wait for the outcome of the study saying it was more feasible to fund one plant rather than numerous.
In other business:
— Harvey Sanders, director of public utilities, reported a new transformer was set at SherBowl Lanes to accommodate the business' recent improvements.
City crews will patch a section of Eisenhower Drive at Eisenhower and Denver streets, serviced equipment, filled a hole in Tanglewood Drive, and completed Washington Street project.
— Fire chief Thad Meierhoff reported the department had received a forestry grant and equipment had been purchased.
Volunteer firefighters responded to five calls in June, seven in July, and two in August.
— A budgeted transfer was approved for $20,000 from a utility fund to an equipment reserve fund for future purchases.
— Warrants in the amount of $5,329 were approved.
— Commission, Mayfield, and police chief Michel Soyez entered a 10-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
The next commission meeting will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday instead of Monday due to the Labor Day holiday.
