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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Goessel council reviews fireworks regs

Written by Cynthia Goerzen Wednesday, 27 June 2007 00:57

The Goessel City Council reviewed fireworks stipulations for the public during its June 18 meeting.

Permits are required to discharge fireworks within the city of Goessel. Forms may be picked up at the city office and at Citizens’ State Bank and must be returned to the city office by 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 3.

Only Goessel city residents may obtain permits. Permits will not be issued to anyone under age 18. No permit will be issued if the requested location is deemed hazardous.

Permit holders will be allowed to discharge fireworks one day only, from 10 a.m. to midnight on Wednesday, July 4.

Certain types of fireworks are banned, including bottle rockets, Roman candles and other self-propelled tube-type devices that shoot into the...

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Commissioner’s waste disposal is allowable, sanitarian says

Written by Jerry Engler Wednesday, 27 June 2007 00:56

HolubTrashDCP_3975.JPG Click image to enlarge

Public callers reported this pile of commercial and demolition waste to the Free Press from a house torn down on North Cedar in Marion by Seacat Hardware, where County Commissioner Dan Holub works. The waste was placed in an old trench silo on land Holub’s mother owns along 240th. County Sanitarian Bobbi Strait said the trash placement is approved as legal temporary storage by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Holub said he allowed the placement to benefit Seacat and the community in an effort to begin building spec homes along Cedar while waiting on an approved disposal hauler that will get rid of the C&D waste at half the price of other methods. He said the three homes planned...

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