Discrepancy in water billing at county lake creates $6,400 problem

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 04 November 2008 14:29

The city of Marion recently discovered a large discrepancy in what it believes the Marion Improvement District No. 2 owes on its water bill, according to information David Mayfield, city administrator, presented at Monday’s meeting.

Mayfield told the council the error was discovered in December 2007, and the issue was with the water meter.

“The district purchased 750,000 gallons of water, but in one year’s time the amount was more than 1,600,000 gallons off,” he said.

When checking the amount of money the district billed to its customers and what the city was charging, the difference resulted in a loss of more than 1.67 million gallons to the city, Mayfield said.

To correct the problem, Mayfield said, the city sent an...

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Catholic church in Marion undergoing remodeling

Written by Jerry Engler Tuesday, 04 November 2008 14:28

StMarkRenovation0809230015.jpg This was the scene at the Catholic Church of St. Mark in Marion a couple of weeks ago as workers tore open the interior to begin remodeling. The project should be completed in mid-December.

The Catholic Church of St. Mark’s in Marion, completed in 1952, may have needed physical renovation, but there also was a spiritual renewal in mind.

“I think our goal was to make the mass experience more spiritually uplifting,” said Father Hien Nguyen. “By beautifying the church, the entire experience becomes more uplifting.

“When we go to Mass, we want it to appeal to all the senses, the music, the sights, the significance of it,” he added.

The church also represents more than a century of traditions for...

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Commissioners approve recycling, wind-farm support

Written by Jerry Engler Tuesday, 28 October 2008 14:34

Marion County took big strides toward becoming “more green” Monday at the Marion County Commission meeting with decisions to begin recycling and to ensure construction of wind turbine farms for generating electricity can proceed.

“I’m excited, and optimistic that we are doing something,” Transfer Station Director Rollin Schmidt said when the commissioners told him to proceed on contracting with Sunoco paper mill at Hutchinson for cardboard and paper taken from the county waste stream.

Schmidt confirmed for the commissioners that Sunoco is still willing to provide a cardboard baler and pickup from Marion for only a token lease rate of $1 a year. He said the company also has advised a willingness to help dispose of other...

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Goessel council reviews rates for trash, recycling

Written by Cynthia Goerzen Tuesday, 28 October 2008 14:33

Hank Yoder of Stutzman Refuse attended the Oct. 20 Goessel City Council meeting to discuss trash rates and recycling.

The trash rate for regular trash will increase by 50 cents a cart. Goessel does not have mandatory recycling, but the council discussed that possibility with Yoder. A fee of $2.75 a month would be charged for picking up recyclables.

“If they do recycling, it doesn’t decrease their trash fee,” Mayor Peggy Jay said.

Yoder said, “No. (Recycling has) never been a money-maker. The markets have dropped in the last two months.”

But Yoder added that recycling is “the right thing to do” and “it takes a lot of education.”

Councilor Jim Wiens asked if recycling could be added at a later date. Yoder said...

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