Your Turn
— Comments may be sent to the Marion County Record, PO Box 278, Marion, e-mailed to news@marionrecord.com, or brought to the office at 117 S. Third St. Please keep comments brief.
Unbelievable! Even for Florence! A volunteer fire department getting bad-mouthed because they accepted a donation of food from a local resident. Did some of the people forget what a fund-raiser is? Shame on you! May God forgive your stupidity! If you boycotted the fund-raiser, you can still donate.
The foundation of effective team building begins and ends in open communication throughout all avenues of the county. Effective leaders (commissioners) encourage and nurture this ability to communicate within and, in doing so, allow the team (county employees) to build by placing reachable goals (substantial raises) in place for the team to strive for and accomplish. As it stands now, the county employees do not have the option of open communication as Marion County has an "at will" policy
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One major asset Marion residents have is Marion City Library. The librarian, Janet Marler, and her staff go far above their job requirements in providing materials, resources, and programs for all age groups in the community and surrounding area. I trust the Marion City Council realizes Janet and her staff are more than just employees doing a job — they are valuable individuals who are interested in helping and serving.
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Here's a quote from the Feb. 7 Your Turn column: "Yeah boy — the new jail will really bring in a lot of revenue for the county. Vote NO."
Yep, if you vote NO, and when, not if, our current jail is shut down by the state, Chase County will house our inmates and get our tax money of $100,000 to $200,000 a year to house our law breakers. But it won't bring in any revenue, will it? Plus, we'll spend money on transporting all the inmates to and from Chase County (if Chase County can hold them and law officers don't have to drive further). This will affect all of the cities that have law enforcement.
Let's say a Marion officer arrests someone for DUI, a warrant, domestic problem, or anything that requires an arrest. Now they drive two to 10 blocks to book in the person.
When we house our inmates in Chase County or wherever, they will have to be driven to that jail. This will leave the city without a patrol officer and cost money on extra gas and wear and tear on the car. This all adds up.
People, it will bring in revenue versus taxes going to another county. It will employ more people, rather than those same people going to Chase County to be hired at their jail for extra help to house our law breakers.
Instead of us making revenue from other counties and saving money on our inmates, we will be sending our tax money to other counties. But most important is the safety issue with our current jail and courtroom for the people who work there and the inmates that might even be you or your friend.
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Did anyone notice the City of Florence voted to donate $50 to Big Brothers Big Sisters bowling tournament? Wonder what the fire department got as a donation from the city? Zilch.
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I see where the hospital district has plans to remodel or build another hospital. Do you think anyone in Hillsboro will allow a joint hospital to be put in Marion? Also, will the board allow the taxpayers to vote this time on any mill increase?
It has not been that long ago since they passed a sizable increase in the mill levy without taxpayer approval. The hospital needs to be held accountable to the taxpayers of this district, including the large share of taxpayers who go to Hillsboro, Herington, or Newton to a doctor. There are a lot of property owners who are forced to pay taxes who live outside the city limits of Marion.
