Rollin Schmidt, who wears multiple hats in his job with Marion County, notified commissioners Monday that he is resigning, effective March 27.
Schmidt is in charge of noxious weeds, household hazardous waste, the transfer station and county recycling.
Schmidt helped the county begin recycling, and has been responsible for much of the development of the transfer station over the past decade.
Schmidt reported the collection of 350.81 tons of solid waste and 19.36 tons of recyclable materials for Feb?ruary prior to a five-minute executive session after which Commission Chair?man Dan Holub announced the resignation.
The three commissioners shook hands with Schmidt and said he will be ?very missed.?
Sources at the courthouse said the resignation is typical of a very capable department head being hired away from Marion County by a county with more money to offer.
Commissioner Randy Dallke suggested the commissioners look at a bridge at 310th and Chisholm Road.
The bridge is proposed for abandonment after several people who use the road came to the meeting to protest that such a move would interfere with their access to farm operations and homes, plus interfere with prospects for further residential development.
Road and Bridge Director Randy Crawford said the bridge contributes to the financial strain facing the county with a $10,000 annual state inspection fee required to keep it open. He said replacing it with a low-water road over an installed railroad boxcar might be a better alternative.
Layne Wedell, who accompanied Crawford to the meeting, asked for installation of a stop sign on Falcon Road at 330th. He said his sister had an accident there. One of the factors was that tree plantings at a church located the intersection helped to obscure visibility.
The commissioners awarded a road and bridge transfer fuel bid of $15,049 for 5,5500 gallons of diesel and 2,500 gallons of gasoline to Cardie Oil Inc. of Tampa over a competitive bid of $15,265 from Cooperative Grain & Supply of Hillsboro.
The commissioners voted 3-0 to approve a zoning committee recommendation for the electrical generating wind-turbine area outlined at Florence that would allow individual rural homeowners to locate a turbine closer than the prescribed 1,320 feet from their own residence, despite safety protests by Bob Gayle, a resident there.
Gayle, in a several minute presentation, said a 1,500-pound, 50-foot blade dropped from a 500-foot tower at high speed could be hazardous. He said such a thing happens during normal operation.
In rival opinions, James Olson and Clifford Hett, landowners who will have turbines on their properties, said hazards are associated with nearly all home and farm operations. Too much safety interference from government inhibits individual free use of property.
Holub said it was ?not our job? to decide all exceptions, but only to ensure that proposals fit within existing rules.
Dallke agreed with Holub that it was beyond the commission?s regulation authority.
County Treasurer Jean?nine Bateman said in a money-saving effort, the state, beginning in June, will institute vehicle license renewals online rather than by mail. Vehicle owners will still have the option of coming to the courthouse to renew.
