New bylaws may resolve standoff on planning appointment
Staff writer
Controversy over appointing an at-large Marion County planning and zoning commissioner appears to be on its way to a resolution.
After two county commissioners objected to reappointing Derek Belton they asked for a legal review by the county counselor.
Counselor Brad Jantz presented a modified ordinance.
Bylaws Monday that if approved next week would not allow planning commissioners to serve for three consecutive terms whether at large or by district.
Belton has served since 2012m first representing a district and then at large.
The proposed bylaws also would make a planning commissioner have to wait three years rather than one to be reappointed after completing three terms.
Chairman Dave Crofoot objected to that proposed change Monday. He asked Jantz whether it could be kept at one year because it was hard to find people wanting to serve.
Commissioner Clarke Dirks disagreed.
Jantz said commissioners can change anything in the draft.
According to the draft, at-large appointments would have to be approved by four of five votes.
“It needed a bunch of changes, and now the question is what changes you want,” Jantz said.
Regarding whether Belton did not take an oath of office to be an at-large director, Jantz recommended planning commissioners take the oath every year.
“What we had in place was a lot of things that needed to be addressed,” he said.
At Dirks’ suggestion changes to be sent back to county commissioners Monday to give them time to review them before voting.
In other business commissioners unanimously approved giving the Marion County Food Bank $6,000.
Gene Winkler told commissioners the food bank’s 2025 utility expense was $7,362.51.
A total 3,928 families encompassing 9,804 people were served by the bank. That’s problematic because 136 more families make up 379 people last year, he said
“That’s a lot of people,” Winkler said, adding the food bank provides for 12 ZIP codes in the county.
He estimated that it distributes 203,680 pounds of food a year. “Whatever you can do for us will be greatly appreciated,” he said. “We take advantage of everything we can get.”
Families can pick up food twice a month.
Dirks’ expressed concern is the commissioners already had funded the food bank this year.
Commissioner Jonah Gehring proposed looking for grants in the future to help the food bank.
Steve Hudson and Doug Kjellin with road and bridge provided a quarterly update to commissioners.
Hudson took issue with reports that commissioners did not respect their work or employees’ experience.
The average experience for a road and bridge employee is 10.6 years, and the total experience for its 15 employees is 159.5 years, he said.
In 2025, nearly 250 culverts were installed or repaired, 15% of county road had obstruction removed, 45% of gravel roads were improved or rebuilt, and 15% of asphalt roads were blade patched and chip sealed.
Hudson asked the public to call the department at (620)382-3761 if roads need repair or removal of vegetation.
Commissioners also instructed Jantz to draft on battery and data centers moratorium letter for commissioners to review next week.
County administrator Tina Spencer was directed to bring in someone with experience in the field to offer insight.
Commissioners also received a quarterly update from park and lake superintendent Isaac Hett.
Hett said a cottonwood tree fell off Lakeshore Drive.
Removing the tree while leaving the debris behind would cost between $8,000 and $10,000.
The county will send out a request for proposals for companies specializing in removing fallen trees.