Undersheriff Bob Soyez retires
Undersheriff Bob Soyez announced his immediate retirement Friday to Marion County Commission.
His letter cited his health as the reason. Soyez had heart problems in the past year but returned to full-time status.
Soyez was with the county for more than 11 years, joining the sheriff's office after serving with the Marion Police Department. His son, Michel, is now an officer with the Marion PD.
Soyez was undersheriff for much of his career with the county. Sheriff Lee Becker will appoint a replacement.
Ice and heavy snow caused few problems in Marion County, Becker reported.
"On the 18th (the first snow), we had eight accidents all at once," he said. "This storm, we had one minor one."
Becker has a semi-serious theory to explain the difference: The storm on the 18th happened in the afternoon, while weather this past week didn't get serious until most people were already home from work.
"If they get out in the morning, we don't have problems, but if it comes in the afternoon, people slide all over the place," he said.
The courthouse itself was closed Jan. 30 due to weather but opened at 10 a.m. Thursday. A number of employees were unable to come in to work but all offices were open and functioning, said Clerk Carol Maggard.
Commissioners formally lifted the burn ban in the county. Michele Abbott-Becker, emergency management director, had lifted the ban Thursday after heavy snow blanketed the county.
The heated dock at Marion County Lake was still in use though the weight of snow and ice had pushed one corner under water.
Snelling said he had never seen the dock forced under the water. It did not appear damaged and would re-float as the snow melted.
"It hasn't hurt the fishing inside the dock," he said.
Gerald Kelsey, road and bridge superintendent, said they received numerous complaints about delay in clearing roads. Commissioners said the calls they received were complimentary, and thanked the department for getting main roads cleared quickly.
"There's two or three layers, so it's tough to get off the surface," Kelsey said. The storm started with sleet and freezing rain, turned to snow, the followed up with more freezing rain.
In other reports:
Commissioners approved payment of $300 to the Flint Hills Research Conservation, and Development district. It is an annual support fee. Commissioner Leroy Wetta serves on the board. He noted that the group was reviewing its structure and bylaws to "reinvigorate" the organization.
Checks totaling $699,406 were approved to pay bills. This includes a number of annual payments, including the insurance premium of $103,416. This is a nine percent increase of about $10,435 compared to last year.
Sales tax report totaled $34,575, down $7,313 compared to the same time in 2001.
Commissioners approved purchase of 6,550 gallons of fuel from Cooperative Grain and Supply, Hillsboro, for $4,287.
Commissioners approved plans to order 10,000 tons of cold mix, used as road patching material, at a cost of $140,500, about $13.55 per ton plus $5,000 to bring in a portable plant to mix the material. Usual cost is $21 per ton but the county received a great deal of material from area highway reconstruction projects. Brown and Brown Construction will provide the plant.
Commissioner Howard Collett asked if the project was bid. Kelsey said he did not know of any other companies with a portable asphalt plant. Otherwise, the county will have to send its trucks to a permanent plant to pick up the material.
