Marion can put rhinos at county sites, but county won’t pay for them
Staff writers
County commissioners granted permission last week for the City of Marion to extend its rhino project into the county. But it stopped short of offering to pay for them or put in permanent signage.
Marion’s economic development director, Megan Jones, asked for rhinos to be placed at locations such as the county lake, the courthouse lawn, the emergency medical services building and the sheriff’s office.
The county was a bit reluctant to approve, but it did. What it wouldn’t approve was her secondary request that the county pay to sponsor them.
“We need to expand rhinos, and make it more visible,” she said.
The city is seeking a Kansas Department of Commerce tourism grant that would pay 40% of the cost of increasing the number of rhinos statues in the area from 72 to 150.
The city’s share of the $60,000 grant would be reduced with in-kind contributions. With the addition of the 78 rhinos the city would have 150 stops for its rhino tour.
“We won’t be getting them for a while,” Jones said. “But we need to have a plan in place.”
The grant proposal must be completed by Jan. 7. The city council will vote on it at its next regular Monday meeting Jan. 5.
Included with the rhinos would be signs on why they are here and for campers to see and read.
At the urging of county commissioners, Jones said QR codes linking to the signs could be embedded with the statutes.
Jones said installing the statues would be a way to get people into town to visit churches, businesses, and other attractions. She estimated that a visitor could spend $60 to $100 in Marion businesses while looking at rhinos.
Commissioner Kent Becker wondered whether the places where the rhinos would be placed would be large enough to allow for features about other communities seeking tourism.
“We can’t discriminate against anyone in the county,” he said. “We have to treat everyone the same.”
He also said the courthouse lawn does not have enough space.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate on county property,” commissioner Clarke Dirks said.
Locations on county property will have to be reviewed by representatives of the county office involved.
At last week’s meeting, commissioners also heard from Sheriff Jeff Soyez about purchasing body cameras.
The last time cameras were purchased was in 2017. The warranty on them has expired and are expensive to fix, he said.
When cameras need to be repaired it usually takes one to two weeks to get them back, he said.
“I got to have enough for my patrol guys,” Soyez said.
He proposed getting 10 cameras from Motorola Solutions for $177,713.
“I know they are expensive,” he said.
The cameras go back 30 seconds to a minute to see how incidents unfolded. The warranty, which is included in the cost, is for five years.
Commissioners approved the concept and will purchase the cameras at their next payday.
Commissioners also approved a conditional use permit for a Nex-Tech Wireless tower with the stipulation the Federal Communications Commission approve the project.
The 250-foot tower would provide better cellular service in Peabody.
Planning and zoning commissoners earlier this month recommended approval of the permit.