County approves rezoning request
by Patty Cheffey
Approval was given for a new subdivision in the county after the Marion County Commission approved a rezoning request upon the recommendation of the county’s planning and zoning commission.
Approval was given during Monday’s Marion County Commission meeting, at which they also approved CARES Act funds for the Marion County Fair and reviewed several other requests, approved new by-laws for the Marion County Port Authority, approved a road oil bid and discussed current sales tax.
Rodney Kuntemeyer, who has power of attorney for his mother, Mary Kuntemeyer, had requested a zoning change of 42 acres from agriculture to rural residential on the west side of County Road 333 for the purpose of developing a nine-lot subdivision.
Planning and zoning commission had voted 5-2 to rezone the land with the two no votes asking Kuntemeyer to set up some type of road association.
In making his motion to approve the request, Western District Commission Steve Begley said he understood the concern about the road, but felt that was not a matter for planning and zoning.
In other business, the Marion County Fair was approved for $24,537.60 from CARES Act funds, which included several COVID-19 related expenses, including antibacterial gels, signage and masks.
Teya Stice, county improvement coordinator, said the amount requested was less than the $30,000 plus originally requested.
Requests were also reviewed from:
• Palmyra Fire Department, $17,783.03 for PPE bunker gear, including reusable and washable items;
• Marion County Library, Subdistrict #1, $2,357.65, for masks and antibacterial gel;
• Huck’s Transportation, $35,000;
• Danni Nicole’s LLC, $1,200;
• Hannibal Jaycees, $7310.51;
• Marion County R-II Fire Department, $77,000. The commission asked Stice to have someone attend a meeting to explain some of the expenses;
• The Rebel Pig, $198,961.33. The commissioners asked for further receipts and more explanation;
• Marion County Emergency Services (911), $286,766.56, which included supplies and payroll. County asked for additional information;
• Riverside Restaurant, LLC, $195,418.84; and
• Teddyco Hospitality, $44,781.68.
If questions are answered and additional information received, the commission will be looking at approving all or part of these requests at next week’s meeting.
In other business, the commissioners approved new by-laws for the Marion County Port Commission, which needed to amend them to allow for such items as virtual meetings.
In reporting on the port authority, Corey Mehaffy said they have applied for Regional Port Authority status.
In addition, they will be sending requests for qualifications for someone to do such tasks as identify property for development and talk to employees about long-term shipping concerns. He noted the group could possibly be getting $24,000 in CARES Act funds to help pay for that.
The commissioners also approved the bid from Costal Energy for road oil. Their bid was $2.14 a gallon delivered for EA300 oil and $2.09 a gallon delivered for MC800 oil.
A second bid was received from Missouri Petroleum for $2.14 gallon delivered for MC800 and $2.04 a gallon delivered for EA300. However, Begley and Mike Schaffer, road supervisor, said they have had problems with Missouri Petroleum in the past.
County Clerk Valerie Dornberger presented monthly sales tax revenue figures, noting those are up again this month.
She did note Local Use was down for the year, but up for the month.
Chris Kempke with University Extension also visited with the commissioners, noting he had received a call from the Census asking if they could set up a table at the courthouse, which was approved.
