Residency discussion postponed
Staff writer
Although Marion city council members talked briefly Tuesday about city codes and charter ordinances regarding where officials may reside, the issue was delayed to a later meeting.
Councilman Ruth Herbel, a frequent critic of city administrator Roger Holter, raised the issue two weeks ago, pointing out that state law requires city officials other than police officers, city attorneys, and municipal judges, to be qualified voters within the city. Holter lives at the county lake.
Herbel said that while the city exempted itself from the residency requirement 15 years ago, later amendments wiped out the exemption without reinstating it.
At Tuesday’s meeting, city attorney Susan Robson said she was reviewing changes made over the years and would need to complete her review before any needed changes could be addressed.
She said she also wants to consult with the Kansas League of Municipalities.
Herbel said also the city was required by its own code to publish all new ordinances in their entirety instead of publishing summaries with a complete version on the city website.
“We need to make sure we are doing that,” Herbel said.
State law allows summaries if cities opt to use them, but Marion’s code contains no mention of summaries.