A mountain of silage delivered to property owned by a county commission candidate resulted in a letter from the city of Marion telling him remove the pile or file a written request for a hearing within 10 days.
Marion police delivered the notice July 24, the same day silage began arriving on Mike Beneke’s Marion property at 601 W. Main St., the former Straub’s International location.
“We served it, but it was issued by city hall,” Police Chief Tyler Mermis said.
City attorney Susan Robson said the situation was for “a nuisance issue.” The property is zoned for commercial use, not agricultural.
Depending on what Beneke does, the city could end up taking action to resolve the nuisance, such as removing the silage and charging costs to Beneke, Robson said. He said he planned to cover the silage and let it remain there until needed in the winter. Beneke appeared at Monday’s city council meeting to ask when the 10 days to request a hearing began. Robson told him they began the date he got the letter.
After the meeting Beneke said he will request a hearing.
Beneke, who bought the building in February, attempted to rent it to Marion County Community Economic Development Corp., of which he is treasurer, for $1,000 a month. He now uses the building as headquarters for his Double B Cattle operation.
(Read more: Marion County RECORD)