Staff writer
The committee to create a proposal for a new Marion County law enforcement center will meet for the first time at 7 p.m. Thursday in the St. Luke Hospital basement.
Sheriff Rob Craft organized the volunteer committee at the request of Marion County Commission. The committee will be asked to work under the assumption that Marion County needs to do something about the current jail situation, which could include a new facility, and will be tasked with determining the best options.
Commission would like to have a proposal early enough that it could be on the November 2010 general election, if the commission chooses to do so, Craft said.
Craft, Undersheriff Dave Huntley, and Communications and Emergency Management Director Michele Abbott will attend meetings and advise the committee.
Committee members are:
- Barb Britton — rural Goessel, 62, retired
- Randy Hagen — Hillsboro, 54, automobile dealership co-owner
- Bryan Harper — Florence, 46, automotive sales
- Dan Kinning — Hillsboro, 50, Hillsboro Police Chief
- Mike Kleiber — rural Hillsboro, 58, farm supplies
- Don Kraus — rural Marion, 60, farmer and rancher
- Gene Pearson — Burns, 47, Wichita firefighter
- Dan Peugh — rural Peabody, 60, manufacturing
- Burton Tidwell — Marion, 57, organist and organ builder
- Ed Wheeler — Marion, 57, attorney
- Karen Wheeler — Marion, 50, nurse practitioner
- Greg Winn — Florence, 48, convenience store manager
There also are three alternates to the committee. They will attend meetings and participate in discussion, Craft said. If a member has to leave the committee, one of the alternates will gain the committee spot.
The alternates are Harry Bennett of Marion, and Danny Flynn and JoAnn Knak, both of Hillsboro.