City Administrator David Mayfield said at the Marion City Commision meeting Monday that Westar has asked the city to forward those claims to the company.

Mayfield and Fire Chief Mike Regnier are also asking some local businesses to keep on hand applications for free smoke detectors for the public because response has been slow in getting safety devices distributed.

The commissioners approved a lease-purchase agreement between the City of Marion and Marion National Bank for a new fire truck financed for $167,381 at 4.1 percent interest with quarterly payments of $15,021 over three years.

The commissioners approved a condemnation ordinance for demolition and destruction of a house at 1018 Denver St. City Attorney Dan Baldwin said bids for the demolition may be solicited, or the city could elect to do the work itself after publication of the ordinance.

Mayfield said Marion may be asked to pay an estimated $2,000 of $175,000 in legal fees being raised by Kansas Municipal Utility to intervene in Westar's attempt to raise transmission fees 26 percent.

Such an increase would raise Marion's transmission fees by about $20,000, Mayfield said, further adding to the $82,000 the city must absorb on its new Westar contract.

Mayfield said the city has six applications for its new economic development director position. He reminded commissioners they will have an public work session on the matter after the regular commission meeting Sept. 6.