Councilor Gene Winkler noted the delay could cost the city 30 to 35 jobs from a telemarketing center that could move in. <p><p>Councilor Bill Holderman said, ?Nothing?s happened. You haven?t even broke dirt.?<p><p>Flaming acknowledged he was supposed to have the project done in May, but said he is waiting on dirt moving and concrete subcontractors who have had problems with wind and inclement weather.<p><p>Winkler said the city has paid $13,000 per the contracted building schedule, but there isn?t even a building waiting assembly at the site.<p><p>In response, Flaming said he has found it isn?t good to keep building materials on site.<p><p>The eventual scheduled total payment was to have gone into the $70,000s.<p><p>Development Director Jami Williams said the telemarketing company had been scheduled to complete its marketing March 31, but it has delayed beyond that point. <p><p>?The only silver lining here is that they have delayed time and time again,? Williams said. ?It gives us time, I hope.?<p><p>Flaming was repeatedly asked what else he had to do, and when he could be done with the Marion project.<p><p>After reviewing Flaming?s timetable for projects in other towns like Hillsboro and Hesston, Winkler said it looks it will be July before completion.<p><p>Councilor Stacey Collett said, ?All we can do really is just hope the contract is not back until you?re done. I?m just real disappointed.?<p><p>Mayor Martin Tice closed the meeting by saying, ?All right, Mel, please hurry.?
Marion leaders express impatience about delays in spec-building job
The Marion City Council?in a special called meeting Monday?berated Mel Flaming, its contractor, for not being on schedule with the construction of a city-funded spec building in Batt Industrial Park.
