Herzet resigns as county road and bridge director

Marion County commissioners approved Jim Herzet?s resignation as the last matter of business at the June 30 payday meeting.

Herzet, superintendent of Road and Bridges, announced his resignation following a series of executive sessions during which commissioners met both with and without him.

Herzet, who has served in that position for about 15 months, said his resignation would be effective July 1 at 3:30 p.m.

At the meeting, the commissioners approved a payout for wages and bills totaling $1,140,065.

?We had some expenditures that we don?t usually have,? County Carol Maggard said about higher than usual amount, which included recent capital improvements and law enforcement expenses.

Maggard reported the county?s sales tax collected for April amounted to $48,972.

Commissioner Randy Dalke referenced the half-percent increase in the county sales tax effective July 1. He asked Maggard if businesses had been notified about the change.

Maggard said the information is available on the county?s website, but nothing had been mailed.

The commissioners agreed to authorize another $2,000 toward a pool with five other counties for attorneys fees in the effort to challenge the tax exemption for the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline.

Maggard presented an e-mail suggesting that the legal fund had been depleted.

?(The attorney) will bill as needed,? Commissioner Dan Holub said, adding a pro-rated bill would be sent to each county if expenses are incurred.

?We?re still in the game,? Holub said.

The commissioners also met with several department heads at Thursday?s meeting.

Teresa Huffman, director of economic development, received permission for someone drive the tourism bus to Hutchinson to have graphics ?Come Grow with Us!? installed.

Dalke then asked how often the second bus is used, noting that it seems to have been parked in the same spot for some time.

Huffman said the bus was last used for the food drive, she said, though she has intended to convert it to an ?energy bus? that would be equipped and used to give instructions about energy efficiency.

Huffman said she had identified available grant funding and had received positive feedback from the state regarding the potential project, but lack of time has kept her from making progress.

Holub suggested she determine whether any groups might be interested in taking on the project.

Commission chair Roger Fleming agreed, and said once Huffman determined if such options exist, a decision can be made whether to keep the bus.

In response to Huffman?s request for accessible storage for her departmental materials, the commissioners recommended she contact Sheriff Rob Craft about availability of space in the rented building that stores county equipment.

The commission then met in executive session with Huffman regarding personnel. No action was taken afterward.

Diedre Serene, Health Department administrator, said the Kansas Department of Health and Environment would be sending a press release regarding blue-green algae at Marion County Park & Lake and Marion Reservoir.

She said KDHE gives recommendations regarding warnings and advisories for bodies of water based on regular testing at certified labs.

Herzet requested the commission approve and sign an agreement with Union Pacific Railroad to put crossbars on 360th by Ramona.

Dalke asked on behalf of Strassburg Baptist Church for sand to minimize excessive dust between 220th and 230th on Pawnee.

Also, Holub said Lee Leiker at Marion Lake was requesting permission to proceed on a plan to minimize erosion from water that stays on the road and causes erosion and potential safety hazard.

It was recommended that Leiker consult and work with Road and Bridges.

Steve Hudson, superintendent for Marion County Park & Lake, reported the recent bluegrass concert raised $311 and gave good exposure to the lake.

The commissioners approved a low bid for a John Deere Flex-Wing grooming mower from Prairie?Land Partners for $13,421.66.

Hudson also reported wind damage to two electric poles and received permission to explore the means and cost for replacing those, plus adding more electrical outlets.

Hudson met in executive session for personnel. No action was taken afterward.

During a break in the meeting, District Judge Michael Powers stopped by to express his thanks for the county?s cooperation and help with magnitude of logistics in light of the recent rape trial.

In other business, the commissioners:

? approved a request from Road and Bridges regarding signing documents for leased equipment by the county. with the provision that the documents referred to equipment previously approved.

? approved continuing business with GeoTech Inc. in Emporia regarding surveys.

? approved the area fuel bid of $20,542 from Cooperative Grain & Supply in Hillsboro over the bid of $21,438 from Cardie Oil Inc. in Tampa.

? approved the transport fuel bid of $25,936 from CG&S over the bid of $26,294 from Cardie Oil.

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