Hillsboro council OKs purchase of new fire command vehicle

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 14 May 2013 13:36

The Hillsboro City Council approved the purchase of a replacement vehicle for the fire department during its May 7 meeting.

Fire Chief Ben Steketee reported that he became aware of a 2010 Chevy 1500 pickup with emergency equipment that currently is being upgraded by a member of the Andover Fire/ Rescue department.The Chevy will replace the Suburban command vehicle that Steketee currently uses. The purchase price of the Chevy was $26,000.

Steketee said the vehicle does not completely match his specifications, but it is close. A grill guard and winch would need to be added for about $2,500.

Replacing the Suburban was included in the 2013 budget and was planned as a lease purchase, according to City Administrator Larry Paine.

After...

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Marion police now equipped with body-mounted cameras

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 07 May 2013 14:35

The Marion Police Department is equipped with new body-mounted cameras that will capture video evidence from the officer’s perspective.

Clinton Jeffrey, city of Marion assistant chief of police, said the new cameras can be attached to a hat, collar, shoulder or on specially designed Oakley sunglasses.

“The great thing is the camera is versatile,” Jeffrey said. “Taser teamed up with Oakley Sunglasses and came up with clear lenses.”

The camera, he said, can be worn in a way that gives the officer’s view of a situation no matter where he is looking.

The new cameras are made by the Taser company, but Jeffrey said they don’t have anything to do with the Taser device itself.

Jeffrey said the reason for purchasing the cameras...

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Marion council reviews park improvement plans

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 07 May 2013 14:32

The Marion City Council reviewed a three-phase project for improvements at Central Park during its regular meeting Monday, April 29.

Councilor Todd Heitschmidt, addressing the city as a member of the park board, said decisions need to be made on how the park board should proceed.

“We are throwing the ball back into the council’s court in deciding a location (for a new restroom building) as we come up with more dollars of what this will cost,” he said.

Heitschmidt provided a history of why the gazebo and restrooms should be completed separately, with the final phase being security equipment.

The restroom replacement is considered Phase I of the project because of its deterioration and size.

Other reasons for making it a...

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Funding issue won’t stop algae research

Written by Jerry Engler Tuesday, 07 May 2013 14:31

Philip Barnes of Kansas State University said at Mon­day’s Marion County Com­mission meeting that he will continue with his research to help slow fertilizer pollution and blue-green algae growth in Marion Reservoir despite the commissioners’ problem in finding a way to pay him for 2012 work because of budgeting rules.

Randy Dallke, commission chairman, said somehow over several years of funding the Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy program, under which Barnes coordinates his work, the commission’s budgeting process got off-track.

Dallke said the program is being paid out of the following year’s budget when it hadn’t been budgeted. The county’s budget consultants have informed the commission that this can’t...

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