?I don?t think we want to put (the sale of the center) off any longer than we have to,? Councilor Stacey Collett said.
Initially, the city was asking $110,000 for the former nursing home, which it bought from Golden Living officials for $100,000, following council approval at the Nov. 17 meeting.
The facility was originally bought by the city in the hope of attracting businesses to the area. Doug Kjellin, Marion?s economic development director, said the cooperative is a viable business and would fill an empty building.
Part of the agreement, should MCSEC accept the council?s offer, would be a $20,000 down payment and a six-month lease/purchase arrangement to pay the remaining $80,000?and about $1,600 in interest?by July.
The interest rate will be determined by local financial institution offers and prevailing loan rates at the time of financing, Kjellin said.
Councilor Gene Winkler asked David Mayfield, city administrator, if July would be too long to wait for the $80,000 balance.
Mayfield said he would take a close look at the capital-improvement budget.
Collett also voiced concern about the utility costs since the city took ownership.
City Clerk Angela Lange said the center had not generated its first bill yet, but Mayfield said he didn?t believe the cost would exceed $5,000.
Mayor Mary Olson said the city did inherit a generator after buying the facility.
?I am thrilled we are not looking at an empty building,? Kjellin said.
Although the number of jobs won?t increase, MCSEC employs about the same amount as Golden Living Center did. Kjellin estimated the number of employees at Golden Living as 28 full-time and 20 part-time.
With the council?s approval to sell the building and proper transfer of ownership, MCSEC could take possession of the building by mid-January.
In other business the council:
n approved a request was from David Hett to shoot fireworks on New Year?s Eve. Olson thanked Hett for continuing to keep the tradition alive.
n heard Fire Chief Mike Regnier report that his department had a good year. ?We had two or three structure fires and two grass fires,? he said.
Regnier said the department has 18 volunteers at present.
?We usually have 20,? he said.
n reappointed the following people to city boards: Royal Smith and Rosalie Schmidt?berger for three-year terms on the Cemetery Board for three-year terms; Margo Yates to the Board of Zoning Appeals to complete a one-year term, and Darvin Markley reappointed for a three-year term; Markley and JB Miesse reappointed to the Marion Planning Commission for one-year terms; Gary Ewert, Elora Robinson, Marty Fred?erickson, Bud Hannaford and Wendy Youk reappointed to the Marion Historical Museum Board for four-year terms.
n received completed work orders from Harvey Sanders, public works director, to include removal of snow from streets, repairing street lights, installing emergency lights in the city shop, repairing a water leak at Freeborn and Melvin and repairing Christmas lights.
n heard Kjellin report he is continuing to work with the model airplane promoters. ?I did a survey of temperature, wind speed and rainfall for the most recent six years to determine if historically mid-June would be possible for their activities,? he said.
n passed a resolution authorizing the city to participate in the Mutual Aid Program with Kansas Municipal Energy Agency.
The next council meeting will begin at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 12.
