County approves refinancing of bonds
Staff reporter
The Marion County Commission decided in Monday's regular session to refinance two bonds and will contract George K. Baum as the underwriter.
Jeannine Bateman, county treasurer, told the commission that she didn't care which two proposals they accepted as long as the bonds were refinanced. Both proposals were equal in cost and savings.
"What it really comes down to is who you feel the most comfortable with," said Bateman.
The commission agreed and voted to accept the proposal from George K. Baum as bond underwriter and Jonathan Small as bond counsel.
The consensus was to move forward as quickly as possible due to concerns about interest rates increasing in the coming weeks.
Marion County Attorney Susan Robson discussed options with the commission regarding a road that was closed to traffic in 1991.
Individuals want to use Ulysses Road, near Antelope, as an access road to their property. The county has been taking care of the drainage issues by the road but not maintaining it.
Robson suggested the option of vacating the road, which would give half of the road to each of the adjoining landowners.
Leroy Wetta, county commissioner, was concerned about the potential of the property being "land locked," where the vacation of the road could eliminate access to a part of the property.
Robson didn't think that was an issue but would check into it. Robson will also check to see if it is in a flood plain.
The commission asked Robson to report to them at Friday's meeting where a decision will be made at that time.
Marion County Clerk Carol Maggard presented the monthly treasurer's report.
As of Sept. 30, total cash on hand is $5,556,452, which reflects a bond payment of $1,060,000 made Sept. 10.
County general fund has $1,634,191 and road and bridge fund has $1,167,309. Interest earned since June 30 is $75,657.
The commission moved into executive session at 9:20 for 10 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel issues with Maggard.
Meeting reconvened at 9:30 with no decisions or actions.
David Brazil, county planning and zoning administrator, submitted and the commission approved two resolutions from the county planning commission's July meeting.
Resolution 03-24 is a conditional use permit for Tabor Mennonite Church, two miles south and two miles east of Goessel. The church is adding a new addition and wanted to update the wastewater facility.
Resolution 03-25 is a variance for less than ten acres for residential development. Land was taken from the property owner for changes in the highway right of way.
Bill Smithhart, county noxious weed director, submitted a letter from the state certifying him as a supervisor under the Kansas noxious weed law and regulations.
Smithhart also submitted the annual renewal household hazardous waste permit for Marion County.
During Florence's volunteer clean up day, 252 pounds of waste was picked up. Peabody's city wide clean up day netted 1,560 pounds of waste.
Road maps identifying areas that have been sprayed for noxious weeds was examined by the commission.
Noreen Weems, county director of elderly department, distributed minutes from the annual meeting held Oct. 16 at Hillsboro Senior Center.
The next board meeting will be Nov. 21 at the Peabody Senior Center with mill levy requests being accepted and reviewed.
Lanelle Hett, transportation coordinator for the elderly department, reported 14 trips for the month of October, eight were health related.
Gerald Kelsey, county road and bridge superintendent, and Jim Herzet, county road foreman, presented and received signatures for crossing permits for Moundridge Telephone.
Kelsey also reported that Krause Welding, the county's bridge contractor, suggested that a bridge being replaced at 47th and Bluestem be five feet longer.
This will require 50-foot beams instead of the 40-foot ones that were ordered. Kelsey had bids with the lowest bid being $850 for each beam, at $23.50 per running foot.
Commission approved expenditure for 13 beams at the lowest bid price.
