Lake improvements discussed
Staff reporter
Marion County Lake Superintendent Dale Snelling presented a list Monday of proposed improvements to the lake and park area to Marion County Commission.
A welcome sign at Upland Road and Lakeshore Drive, near a flag pole, will be replaced for $548 from Dirt Cheap Banners, McPherson.
Other signs on U.S.-77 and U.S.-50 were removed for road construction and need to be returned, said Snelling.
If the county is approved for a state grant, new historic signs for the lake will be installed, Snelling said.
In other lake business:
— Boat bumpers for $400 were approved for a public boat dock.
— Bids for repainting and residing the lake hall will be sought by Snelling.
Snelling requested permission to seek bids for repainting the lake hall but Dallke asked if it would be practical to reside the 1976 building.
Snelling said the roof also was in need of repair and changes needed to be made to a sidewalk near the building.
— Bids also will be obtained for repairs to the heated dock which was built in 1964, and a porta-potty near the heated dock.
The facility will be unisex and wheelchair-accessible.
— Snelling was instructed to apply again for a state grant for a new boat dock. If approved, the state would provide 75 percent funding, and the county 25 percent.
He added that he never has requested funds from sales tax revenue but may need assistance with his budget due to other expenses that were not budgeted.
— Bids for floor covering in the kitchen of the lake house also was approved to replace 18-year-old carpet. The house is provided by the county to the lake superintendent as part of his salary.
In other county business:
— County clerk Carol Maggard reported a representative from Trans Canada Pipeline had contacted her office regarding plans of a crude oil pipeline being laid from Canada to Illinois.
Existing crude oil pipelines will be interconnected to supply oil to refineries in Oklahoma and will pass through the eastern edge of the county.
Public meetings are planned.
— Appraisal notices will be mailed March 31 to property owners.
— An annual market study has been completed and the results are available at the county appraiser's office.
County appraiser Cindy Magill reported the market was stable with a three percent upper trend in Hillsboro. Trends are based on sale of properties and do not mean values won't change.
Square footage and location of houses determine market value, said Magill.
— Magill asked for permission to pursue cost estimates to make a computer terminal with Internet access available for public use. The terminal would be located in the basement hallway to provide online information to taxpayers regarding values of properties.
— Bids for ceiling fans in the appraiser's office will be obtained.
— A salary increase was approved for Magill who recently had completed six months of employment with the county.
— A meeting will be held at 7 p.m. April 20 with city mayors, council members, economic development professionals, and members of Marion County Economic Development Council to discuss a county economic development position.
The next commission meeting is 9 a.m. Monday in the courthouse.
