Staff writer
A committee will recommend a new set of bylaws for Marion County Economic Development Council intended to protect the interests of small and large towns, committee member Larry Paine, of Hillsboro, told Marion County Commissioners on Monday.
Under the proposed bylaws, representation would be determined by population, but the council would need representatives from seven different cities present to conduct business.
The proposed bylaws also would have the council elect a chairman and vice chairman from the volunteer members. The county economic development director would act as a liaison to the county, Paine said.
Leadership Marion County is a significant part of the council’s efforts, Paine said, and it would be beneficial to provide leadership opportunities for the members who complete the program.
“We do a pretty good job of followership,” Paine said.
He said he didn’t think Marion County Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman’s role would be diminished, but different.
Commissioner Dan Holub repeated his opinion from April 12 that the county doesn’t need to be involved in MCEDC.
“We’ve supplied the pot to fight over,” Holub said.
If funding isn’t available, Paine said he couldn’t see the value in continuing the council. Holub said he didn’t favor taking away funding, but rather giving the commission more oversight of it. The council needs a better way to account for the spending of taxpayer money, he said.
MCEDC will review the proposed bylaws at its meeting today, Paine said.
In other business:
- A letter will be sent to a property owner about an illegal dumping site in the county. The owner will have 30 days to rectify the situation before Kansas Department of Health and Environment will be contacted.
- The county will investigate what would be needed for a new Health Department building including size, number of offices, and storage space.
- Kenny Rogers Trenching, of Peabody, will mow the former county landfill twice for $1,080. The Rock Shop, north of Peabody, bid $4,394. The county must mow 30 acres at the landfill twice per year for inspections.
- Environmental Health Director Tonya Richards has responded to three reports of possibly rabid animals this year. She will work with the Health Department and Sheriff’s Department to coordinate response to similar incidents.
- County Appraiser Cindy Magill and County Clerk Carol Maggard met with commissioners in closed session for 25 minutes to discuss personnel. No action was taken on return to open session.
- The transfer station accepted 596 tons of waste in March, including 567 tons of municipal solid waste, 29 tons of construction and demolition waste, and about a quarter ton of tires. A man in Goessel plans to use the county’s new demolition incentive program, Transfer Station Director Rollin Schmidt said.
The next commission meeting will be Monday.