Marion commissioners vote to annex quarry

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN JERRY ENGLER
The Marion City Commission voted unanimously Monday evening to annex 400 acres owned by Geraldine I. Williams, John Rockney “Rocky” Hett and Shirley Jo Hett in what is considered a step toward establishing a regional landfill.



Although Commissioner Jim Crofoot voted against annexation of Pearl Baxter’s 10 acres in a related move last week, he joined Commissioner Larry Reiswig and Mayor Max Hayen in approving the Hett annexation. The ordinance of annexation of the land will take effect upon publication in the official city newspaper.



Keith Collett, local attorney, called into question the commission’s right to proceed with the annexation without a detailed description of the boundaries rather than the usual description of rural land by section and township.



City Attorney Dan Baldwin said a survey with detailed description has been promised by the owners prior to the end of the year.



Collett said, “That’s a sort of the ‘check’s in the mail’ sort of thing.”



A person who asked to remain unidentified said the vote for annexation would be viewed by Waste Connections, Inc., as an indication the city of Marion is serious about negotiating with them. A team of Collett, Reiswig and City Administrator Dennis Nichols has been appointed to negotiate with Waste Connections.



In other business, Don Knak appeared before the commission to ask about plans regarding the building at 201/203 E. Main. (See a story about that elsewhere in this issue of the Free Press.)



David Branson presented a revised use policy for the Marion Baseball Complex. He said there has been some cooperation in communicating with Hillsboro on the policy because the two cities have the only comparable baseball facilities in the area.



The policy would require a $100 advance deposit returnable if grounds are clean and there’s no damage to both outside groups and local teams hosting tournaments. In addition, outside groups would pay $30 per day per field and local teams would pay $15 per day per field.



Benefit tournaments, Cottonwood Valley League Tournament and others of this kind would pay $150 per tournament regardless of the number of fields or number of days when the hosting group provides umpires and balls.



Regular league men’s slo-pitch would pay $15 per night without umpires provided by the city or $40 per night with umpires provided by the city.



Teams are limited to one hour of practice when a second team is waiting, and they are expected to rake the pitching area and batter’s box after practice.



Branson said with so many teams practicing, lights may be used as long as coaches are responsible for turning them off after practice, and the courtesy is extended to all-star teams that are coached by Marion coaches or have Marion players.



Branson said the cost to sponsor a 2001 team will be $130, the same as in 2000 when there were 17 sponsors.



The baseball commission recommended purchase for about $300 of a lightning detector for use in the 2001 ball season.



In regular season or tournament play if the lightning was detected within eight miles, the field would be cleared, and a decision made after 30 minutes on whether to cancel the game.



Branson said the detector would both increase safety and lower liability, and the policy would make it less arguable as to when games are being called off.



He said the Lions Club needs two tournaments annually to make the concessions pay off.



Susan Cooper, development director, reported that plans for a subdivision ordinance are in a final meetings stage.



Harvey Sanders, utilities superintendent, said electrical work is proceeding for the Victoria Heights housing development on the east side of Marion and for street lights on Eastmoor Drive around Eastmoor United Methodist Church.



The commission approved 3-0 an electrical license for Glen Waggoner of Hedland Electric, Inc., who is doing electrical work for the city.



Twice during the evening, the commissioners went into executive session.



The commissioners unanimously approved warrants for $21,843.23 and a payroll for $21,090.95.

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