Marion County Commissioners seek bidders for solid waste transfer station property

The Marion County Commissioners are accepting bids for two parcels of land which is the current home of the county solid waste transfer facility, a move that has sparked a measure of frustration on the part of City of Marion officials.

Republic Services operates the solid waste transfer facility at 1564 Victory Road in northern Marion Township. The 6.798-acre site includes two parcels, one that is 5.822 acres and the other that is 0.976 acres. The transfer facility building is on the larger parcel of land.

According to the Marion County Auditor's website, the larger parcel's appraised value is $338,260 and the smaller parcel has an appraised value of $110.

The bid announcement states that the "property is believed to have access to Marion City sewer and water service, but no warranty is offered by the commissioners on that matter."

The county commissioners are accepting sealed, written bid submissions until 10 a.m. July 27. Each bid must be accompanied by a $5,000 deposit in the form of a certified or cashier's check. Bids will be opened that morning.

Marion Mayor Scott Schertzer has expressed frustration that the county commissioners opened the public bid process without first approaching the City of Marion to gauge its interest in purchasing the transfer facility site. He said the city met with at least one of the county commissioners in October 2021 to discuss the issue and "express the city's interest if they were ever to put it back on the market."

Schertzer noted that he reached out to two county commissioners on July 6 the day following the city council committee members held on July 5 in an attempt to discuss the matter, but has not received a return call.

"Unfortunately, I just don't think it's very neighborly," Schertzer said. "If you're selling your lawn mower and your neighbor needs a lawn mower, wouldn't you offer to sell it to your neighbor first? I mean, that's just the neighborly thing to do. So I can't speak for the lack of communication by the three county commissioners across the street. Typically, historically, I will tell you that that communication has been wide open and very good. Why it's not on this issue, I have no clue."

Commissioner Kerr Murray said he was under the impression that following the meeting in October 2021, the city was going to possibly submit a proposal regarding the transfer facility site, but that did not occur.

"I thought we were waiting for something from the city, the law director," Murray said during the July 7 county commissioners' meeting. "I don't remember anything coming back. I don't believe we got a formal request."

City Councilman Mike Neff, 6th Ward, said Monday that he had spoken with two of the three commissioners regarding the sale. He said they are consulting with legal counsel regarding the issue.

"Of course, you know they weren't making me any promises, but they promised they were going to work on it and they were going to look for a solution short of the property going to auction," Neff said. "I haven't had any contact with them again this week. I'll reach out to them again (Tuesday) and try and get everybody working together here. But I have spoken with two of the three (county commissioners)."

During a city council committee meeting held July 5, Councilmen Jason Schaber, 3rd Ward, and Joshua Feliciano, 4th Ward, voiced support for the city to pursue purchasing the transfer facility site from the Marion County Commissioners.

The Marion County Commissioners will meet on Thursday.

Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter 

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion Co. Commissioners seek bids for waste transfer station site