Marion property owner wants to buy vacant lot

Marion property owner wants to buy vacant lot

News & Notes from September council meeting

news@theeveningtimes.com

A Marion resident has approached the city about buying a lot located next door to his property which is owned by the city.

Randy McClure, who purchased property at 161 Ross Street, said the lot is overgrown and he found out it is owned by the city.

“If the city is looking to clean it up or sell it, I would be interested in purchasing it,” McClure said.

The property is located behind the county courthouse. Street Superintendent Gordon Floyd told the council that the city owns the 42 feet between McClure’s property which was set aside for a street right of way.

“There are trees grown up on it probably for about 20 or 30 years,” Floyd said.

Mayor Frank Fogleman said he would have no problem selling the lot, but needs to check the records first to make sure they are in fact the legal owners.

“Certainly we should confirm that it is ours,” Fogleman said. “Once we get an abstract to determine that it is ours, the council can then determine a course of action. Mr. McClure is obviously interested.”

In other business:

• The council gave Floyd permission to put a threeway stop sign up at the intersection of Judge Smith and L.P. Mann Drive.

Councilman Jim Spence brought the issue to the council in August after a resident asked him to ask the city to do something to slow motorists down on that thoroughfare.

“It will be up tomorrow,” Floyd said.

• Treasurer David Rikard told the council that sales tax collections were up by 8.1 percent in August and up five percent for September. Year-to-date revenues were better than budget by about $31,000 while yearto- date expenditures were worse than budget by about $166,000.

• The council approved a plat for the Willowbend subdivision.

Willowbend Nursing and Rehabilitation plans to build a new 55,000 square foot facility on six acres on Canal Street. The new structure will replace their existing building on Hwy.

64.

The new facility will offer 118 skilled nursing beds and will include a designated wing of private rooms that will accommodate individuals requiring short-term rehabilitation stays.

The project will also be a boost to the city’s job base, employing 110 full-time and part-time employees.

Construction is expected to begin within 30 to 45 days and will take about ten months to complete.

• The council approved entering into a contract with F& F Construction and UrbanArch to design and construct an evidence storage shed for the Police Department and possibly a new Fire Station 1 for the Fire Department. Funding for both projects were included in a $16 million bond which was passed by voters.

• The council received a quote for $89,200 to replace the remaining oxygen masks that are about to expire for the fire department and approved using bond money to pay for them.

“We will submit that to the bond trustee in Stuttgart to pay it,” Fogleman said.

Fire Chief Woody Wheeless said it will take about four to six weeks to receive the new tanks.

• Building Inspector Jerry Kelley reported that the city issued six new home permits, one commercial, and 30 miscellaneous building permits in August.

To date, the city has issued 32 new home permits, five commercial, and 197 miscellaneous building permits.

• The council amended an ordinance to allow the city treasurer to sign check requests for funds to the bond trustee instead of the city clerk in addition to the mayor.

“The problem is that it requires (city clerk) Patty (James) to come back to the office and sign every check for the bond trustee,” said Treasurer David Rikard.

• The council approved swapping vision and dental care plans from Humana to United Health Care. The move will allow the city’s 48 plan participants to have more local options for vision

care.

• The council passed a proclamation declaring October 6, 2017, as “Go Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness” Day.

By Mark Randall