The city of Burns may be in the running to be the location of a manufacturer of energy equipment.
The equipment would separate hydrogen from oxygen in water from a process other than electrolysis for combustion that would return it back to water to produce usable power.
The Marion County Commis?sion Monday referred Rolland Boesker, a Burns city commission member, to Teresa Huff?man, Marion County Economic Development director, help in getting grant money to locate Ridder Industries there.
Boesker said he is working with others who might present Florence as an alternative if Burns is unable to provide a suitable location.
An added benefit may be the manufacturing purifying well water from the area that has mineralization levels too high for human consumption, he said.
Commission Chairman Randy Dallke suggested that if funding efforts to locate the manufacturer in one of the cities is unsuccessful, Boesker could return to the county to see if commissioners can obtain funding to locate the factory just outside Burns or Florence on county ground.
Commissioner Dan Holub said the county may be able to help with a rebate on property taxes for the manufacturer for five years.
Boesker said the manufacturer probably would employ three to four persons to begin with, then add as it begins to grow.
Commissioners told Park and Lake Superintendent Steve Hudson they accepted a memorial donation of $1,156 from the Kevin Hoffer estate by his wife, Vicki Hoffer, to purchase and install three benches at the lake.
Hudson said turning wheels around for a wider wheel base on the tractor used for mowing various slopes at the lake has increased comfort and safety.
The commissioners approved a competitive herbicide bid for noxious weed control of $4,000 for 100 gallons of Crossbow from Cooperative Grain & Supply of Hillsboro over bids of $4,160 from Markley Service of Marion and $4,410 from Ag Service Inc. of Hillsboro.
Transfer Station Director Rollin Schmidt reported 555.39 tons of waste disposed of in April, bringing the 2013 total to 1,786.77 tons.
The commissioners said they will support withdrawal of county administration of the WRAPS program at Marion County Reservoir in favor of administration through the county Natural Resources and Conservation Service office.
Holub said the county also will tell NRCS that it wants the majority of funding to go to building water conservation structures like farm terraces rather than going to administration.
The commissioners met in executive sessions for five minutes for personnel, for five minutes for personnel with Appraiser Cindy Magill, and for 10 minutes for personnel with Road and Bridge Director Randy Crawford.
