County official exploring raw-sewage violation on Burns property

Written by Aleen Ratzlaff Wednesday, 11 July 2007 07:34

Environmental health director Bobbi Strait reviewed several sanitation issues for Marion County commissioners at their Monday meeting.

In addition to the reservoir situation (see story, Page 1), Strait said she was acting on complaints she received regarding sewage on a property in Burns.

“There’s a huge amount of (sewage) water” all the way to the alley and draining to the property next door, she said.

A woman with children lives on the property; the children are staying with a relative because of the unsafe conditions, she said.

Strait said she plans to be on site Tuesday and expects the water to be pumped out so she can inspect the problem, determine whether the sewer line is broken or clogged and establish deadlines for...

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Drivers now ticketed for not moving over for maintenance and emergency vehicles

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Thursday, 05 July 2007 07:59

The warning period is over. As of July 1, drivers cited for failure to move over for highway maintenance vehicles working along Kansas roadways will be fined.

Drivers who fail to comply with the updated move-over law passed by the 2006 Legislature face a fine of up to $90 plus court costs, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

Fines also took effect July 1 for a second law that prohibits drivers on two-lane roads from overtaking or passing another vehicle within 100 feet of maintenance and emergency vehicles.

The second law carries a fine of up to $180.

For the past year, violators of the laws, as they pertain to maintenance vehicles, were only issued warnings.

The move-over law requires motorists to slow down and...

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Marion council hires Josh Whitwell as police chief

Written by Aleen Ratzlaff Thursday, 05 July 2007 06:37

Mayor Mary Olson announced the appointment of Josh Whitwell as the city’s police chief during Monday’s Marion City Council meeting.

The announcement came after the commissioners took action following a 20-minute meeting in executive session.

Olson and the city councilors plan to meet with Whitwell to negotiate salary, probably later this week.

Whitwell currently serves as a deputy with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department.

City Manager David Mayfield said the city’s engineering firm, Kirk and Michael, had called about finalizing the contract for curb and guttering street construction.

Mayfield reported he had not received documentation from Kevin Fruechting concerning withdrawal of the petition he and others had submitted...

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Consultant explains state fire marshal’s visit to county jail

Written by Jerry Engler Wednesday, 27 June 2007 00:59

Consultants with Law Kingdon of Wichita, who also work with planning for a new community corrections center, were at the Marion County Commission meeting Monday to explain planning to commissioners for meeting state fire marshal requirements for the current jail.

Tony Rangel of Law Kingdon said the requirements include blocking fire access through vertical systems—such as heating conduits—and putting barrier walls between jail housing for humans and jail housing for inanimate objects.

Rangel said the Commission could ask the state for 90 days to complete the work. He added that the work wouldn’t be overly expensive, and “could be done by local craftsmen.”

Rangel also said his firm needs the Commission to determine how much...

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