Commissioners will have resolution Monday

By ADAM STEWART

Staff writer

Marion County Commissioners hope a plan to waive fees for demolition debris disposal will encourage property owners to replace dilapidated structures.

Commissioners worked out details of the plan Monday with County Appraiser Cindy Magill, Planning and Zoning Director Tonya Richards, County Attorney Susan Robson, and Transfer Station Director Rollin Schmidt.

If the plan is approved, property owners will be able to apply for a permit, which would waive the $40 per ton fee the county levies for demolition debris. The permit would be issued from the Planning and Zoning Department. It would require a $50 fee to inspect for hazardous materials, and if such materials are found, another $50 inspection to verify proper disposal.

The permit would be valid for 14 days, and would exclude concrete, rock, dirt, brick, and structural metal.

Each permit would allow a maximum of 25 tons of debris cost free. Most home demolitions produce between 17 and 22 tons of debris, Schmidt said.

Commissioners plan to limit the program to 10 permits to begin with. If the debris accepted for those permits totals less than 250 tons, the county may elect to issue additional permits. Each household would be limited to one permit per year.

In other business:

• Economic Development Director Huffman said she needs meeting space. Her office is small, and she cannot meet with multiple people at one time. Extra space would allow Huffman to meet with businesses for training, and it would be advantageous if it was close to her office.
• The county will seek an estimate of the cost to repair stairs in the Health Department building. District court records are housed upstairs, and converting them to electronic formats would cost an estimated $74,000.
• Road and Bridge Superintendent Jim Herzet met with commissioners in closed session for five minutes to discuss personnel. On return to open session, commissioners announced department employees John Summerville and Mark Heiser would have their pay reduced because of reduced duties. Summerville’s pay went from $42,516 to $40,165 per year. Heiser’s pay went from $2,849 to $2,188 per month.
• KVK Incorporated will replace an air conditioning unit for county dispatch at a cost of $5,200. Flaming’s Incorporated bid $6,585, and Suffield’s Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing bid $9,175.
• Kyle Klassen will replace Kevin Marler on Lehigh Township Board of Trustees, following Marler’s resignation.
• County Clerk Carol Maggard met with commissioners in closed session for 10 minutes to discuss personnel. On return to open session, commissioners announced Schmidt would have 60 days to use 23 excess vacation hours.
• Cooperative Grain and Supply of Hillsboro will supply the county with 5,000 gallons of clear diesel, 1,000 gallons of dyed diesel, and 2,000 gallons of unleaded gasoline for $19,485. Cardie Oil Company of Tampa bid $19,492.
• The county will seek an estimate of what the cost would be to pave 330th Road from Tampa to K-15 with six inches of asphalt. Commissioners expect the cost to exceed $1 million.
• Most commercial property values are down from 2009, Magill told commissioners. Residential values are mixed, and agricultural values are mostly unchanged. Valuation notices will be mailed March 15.
• Marion County is using a trailer borrowed from Dickinson County for recycling pickup, but Dickinson County wants the trailer either bought or returned at the end of March. Commissioner Dan Holub said he would ask for more time to settle what the county will do.
• Markley Service of Marion will provide several chemicals to the Noxious Weed Department for $10,554. Ag Service of Hillsboro bid $11,236, and Cooperative Grain and Supply of Hillsboro and Tampa each bid $11,946. Ag Service had the winning bid for another package of chemicals, $7,429. Markley Service bid $7,887, and Cooperative Grain and Supply bid $9,219. Cooperative Grain and Supply of Tampa won a third chemical bid, $33,632. Ag Service bid $34,672, and Markley Service bid $35,077. When the two co-ops share a winning bid, the commission alternates between the two.

The next commission meeting will be Monday.