ORIGINALLY WRITTEN JERRY ENGLER
The Marion City Commission Monday unanimously approved both a curb-and-guttering project for Kellison Street and airport renovation to be funded under a state matching grant.
City Administrator David Mayfield said he would tie these two projects together with street surfacing in Country Club Heights to try to get paving companies to offer more economical bids.
Commissioner Jim Crofoot clarified that the cost for the curb-and-guttering on Kellison would be recovered from residents of the street. The action also comes as the result of a petition from residents in January 2002.
Mayfield said there is sufficient revenue in the special highway fund to complete the project. He said the cost will be collected from residents either by payment up front or through property taxes.
The state airport grant for $100,000 was approved in November 2002 and is to be used between July 1, 2003, and June 30, 2004, with $90,000 from the state and $10,000 from the city, Mayfield said.
The commissioners’ approval came with Mayfield explaining it would be necessary to make a transfer of $90,000 from the utility fund to the capital improvement fund for up-front payment, which would be reimbursed by the state.
The city crew will be able to help keep costs down by providing services such as electrical wiring and lighting for the project, he said.
Mayfield said a letter has been sent by City Attorney Dan Baldwin to Sunflower Construction, contractor for the library/depot project, informing the company that if it doesn’t return to complete such projects as installing lights and painting tiles in the children’s area within 10 days, the city will pay to have the work done from elsewhere, and take legal action for recovery of money.
Baldwin said the company has responded that they will proceed on those items immediately.
Mayfield said the city has notified by its insurance company that it will need Bob Hartley, owner of the truck wash at the industrial park, to file a formal written report outlining damages to his equipment he says were caused by the city using hard water from the creek during the reservoir algae crisis.
Development Director Susan Cooper said Bob Brooks, developer of the assisted living facility to be built north of the school bus barn, probably will begin building the independent living housing on the site in September because lot sites have been spoken for.
Public Works Director Harvey Sanders said city crew put in a highly commendable effort to fix the break in a 10-inch water line on North Freeborn, working from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. last Friday.
