Oil distributor purchase approved by county
Staff reporter
Marion County Commission approved the purchase of an oil distributor Monday following presentations from two representatives.
Commission approved an Etnyre Shooter, supplied by G.W. Van Keppel Company of Wichita, mounted on a 2004 International pickup truck at a cost of $79,853. Van Keppel also presented a bid of $85,069 for a deluxe model.
A representative from Victor L. Phillips Company of Wichita presented a bid of $74,153 for a Rosco Maximum 3 oil distributor with a 2004 International pickup.
Gerald Kelsey, road and bridge superintendent, Jim Herzet, road supervisor, and Tom Holub, shop foreman, were present at the meeting.
Prior to making the decision, Herzet and Holub discussed the differences of the distributors with commissioners.
The higher dollar Etnyre model was their first preference but understood budget constraints.
The amount of $80,000 was encumbered from the 2003 road and bridge budget for the planned expenditure.
The county currently has a 1992 distributor that had been repaired. A leak was repaired four years ago and workers continue to have problems with the equipment.
The distributor is mounted on a 1992 International pickup truck with a motor in need of repair.
County officials wanted to purchase another International pickup because of the service accessibility within the county.
Sheriff Lee Becker reported to commissioners he is seeking bids for repair of the sewer leak in the jail.
The 1999 Ford Crown Victoria had a used rear-end installed.
The current jail population is 13 inmates. The sheriff's office provided 10 transports last week. Becker said the jail population has been staying around 10.
Becker said his department assisted Hillsboro police over the weekend with a missing toddler in Hillsboro. The child was found without incident.
In other business:
— Bill Smithhart, noxious weed and hazardous household waste director, presented bids for chemicals for approval.
Commission approved four bids from Ag Service of Hillsboro totaling $38,310. The bids were for 2, 4-D Amine; Excort-xp, Banvel, and Tordon.
Markley Service was the low bidder for Amine Shuttles at a price of $10,260. A sixth chemical will be rebid due to a difference in price between the two bidders.
— County clerk Carol Maggard reported another reduction in employee health insurance rates. Blue Cross/Blue Shield submitted a revised renewal to the county with a reduction of $7.41 for single coverage and $16.28 for family.
The rates will be $371.65 for single and $823.81 for family.
— Maggard presented county fund report prepared by county treasurer Jeannine Bateman.
Cash on hand as of Feb. 27 is $6,822,377 compared with $7,238,894 this time in 2003.
County general has a cash balance of $1,897,325. Road and bridge has a cash balance of $1,131,507.
Outstanding checks in the amount of $373 will be written off by Bateman according to state statute. The checks were refunds for vehicle tags that were more than two years old.
— Auditors have submitted their report to commission regarding the Marion County Microloan program.
Maggard will follow-up with recommendations.
— Commission approved the publication of a resolution declaring April as Fair Housing Month.
The commission meeting will be at 9 a.m. Monday in the courthouse.
