By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

County commissioners Monday ponied up $4,000 to help pay for a July 3 celebration at Marion County Park and Lake.

A cruise around the lake, a band, and a fireworks show afterward are planned.

County park and lake superintendent Isaac Hett asked commissioners Monday if they would permit such an event.

The Marion fire department is interested in coming out and collecting donations, as they did years ago when a July 3 fireworks show was a regular event at the lake.

County counsel Brad Jantz said there would have to be liability insurance and Hett said the fireworks company said they carry liability insurance for the show.

County clerk Tina Spencer said a special events permit is required if public parking is planned.

Commissioners were not so agreeable to another request Hett discussed.

A private citizen wants to bring a pontoon boat on weekends and moor it at the county boat dock so it can be rented out.

Neither commissioners Randy Dallke nor Kent Becker liked the liability issues of operating a commercial enterprise on county property.

Commissioners agreed more research needed to be done on state boating regulations.

Commissioners canceled the county’s contract with Ben Baxter, owner of Ben’s Boat Docks in Kechi, and approved a design-build contract with Cody Nelson, owner of Nelson-Fowles Construction, to rebuild the lake’s heated fishing dock.

The dock was destroyed two years ago when it was rammed against the shore during a storm.

Baxter was hired to build a new dock and paid $101,950 to begin a $203,900 job he still has not completed.

In March, the county went to Kechi to pick up the pieces of dock from his property.