Marion County Commis?sion Chairperson Roger Fleming completed his four-year term on the board Monday with the business agenda ending with well wishes from friends and county employees, and servings of his favorite chocolate coconut cream cake.
Fleming is expected to be followed in office next week by commissioner-elect Lori Lalouette-Crawford.
In his final vote on an issue, Fleming made a motion that led to a 3-0 decision to reimburse Gary Diepenbrock $2,179.97 for 229.47 tons of inch-and-a quarter rock he had his cattle feedlot semi-truck haul and apply to Vista Road north of 290th.
Diepenbrock said the actual cost for the rock and use of his truck was $4,322.94, but he was choosing to ask only the reduced material rate of $9.50 a ton.
He invited the commissioners to observe how much better the Ottawa rock holds up as compared to rock the county uses from the local Florence quarry ?which grinds to powder.?
Fleming told Diepen?brock, ?You?ve been very generous with your request.?
Commissioner Randy Dallke said he would like to go see the gravel Monday afternoon before making a vote, but acquiesced to the unanimous decision when Commissioner Dan Holub said he also would vote for immediate compensation to Diepenbrock.
Although a rare reimbursement?the county doesn?t want individuals to lay their own road base?the commissioners noted Diepenbrock as an exception with the use of his semi-truck feed haulers.
The commissioners also discussed county file storage needs.
Dallke said he would like to see the commission give priority to building a metal storage building estimated at $350,000 for a basic model for file storage.
Fleming said it might be critical just to get the building up, and then start making add-ons.
Holub said the building couldn?t handle all paper files from the courthouse, and might be more cost effective to go to a two-story structure that once was under consideration.
County Clerk Tina Spencer said the space might be alleviated by plans to record many county records on micro-film, and then destroy the paper records.
In other actions, the commissioners approved plans by County Attorney Susan Robson to prepare a tax foreclosure sale.
They approved $10,910 for county noxious weed sharing with landowners for chemicals to eradicate weeds.
