Marshall council approves sale of city property, lease with food pantry

Marshall City Council members approved the sale of city property at their meeting Monday evening, March 1.

City Administrator Connie Latimer said the three items from the municipal services department needed to be sold before purchasing new equipment for that department.

For a 1993 Internation truck with a 1992 McNeilus packer body, the council accepted the high bid of $4,950 from American Equipment Co. of Kansas City.

Governor Motor Company's high bid of $2,056 was accepted for the purchase of a 1998 Ford Crown Victoria sedan.

The 10,000 gallon above-ground fuel tank formerly at Marshall Memorial Airport was approved to be sold to Central Copters Inc. of Belgrade, Mont., for $32,506.

In committee reports, council member Dan Brandt said compost loading will begin Saturday, March 13. It will be available from 7 a.m. to noon on the second Saturday of every month for the season.

Brandt also said solid waste collections in February totaled 707.5 tons, compared to 602.3 tons in January and 576.8 tons in February 2009.

Activity at Marshall Memorial Airport increased quite a bit in February, with 138 aircraft compared to 37 in January; it is still down from February 2009, which saw 234 aircraft.

It "looks like things are starting to pick up a little out there," Brandt said.

Speaking for the community development and code committee, council member Ron Duvall said construction in February totaled $243,995, with 30 permits issued and $782.50 collected in fees.

As a formality, the council approved an ordinance authorizing a lease agreement between the city and the Community Food Pantry. The city owns the building where the food pantry is currently located.

"We've always had a verbal agreement with them," Latimer said. "It seems to make more sense if we actually do have a lease with them."

The lease gives the food pantry use of the facility for 20 years, at a cost of just $1.

The council also approved an update of the private sewage disposal code, which regulates private sewage systems like septic tanks, City Inspector Mike Morgan said.

This update is routine, occuring every three years, Morgan said.

Marshall citizen David Kemm was also present at the meeting to remind the council of his annual clean-up day, which is scheduled for Saturday, April 10.

In addition to Brandt and Duvall, council members Sam Moten, Vince Lutterbie, Gabe Ramsey, Sheila Cook, Barbara Utlaut and Mayor Pro Tem Lorna Alexander were present at the meeting.

The council will meet again Monday, March 15, at 5:15 p.m. in the City Office Building.

Contact Sydney Stonner at marshallbusiness@socket.net