Durham resident Wendel Cook has purchased a flood-damaged building to keep the town from losing its post office. Durham’s post office, damaged by four feet of flooding July 4, could be in business again as early as a month from now. Former building owner John Ratzlaff, who lives six miles from Buhler, said he didn’t want to have to renovate and restore the building. (Read more: Marion County RECORD)

County commissioners, tired of roads in the Diamond Vista wind farm area not being maintained to their standards, discussed taking action against the company Monday. Damage from heavy rains has led to a dispute over whether the county or the wind farm company should be responsible for repairs. Enel Green Energy, the company developing Diamond Vista, considers the heavy rains to be an unforeseeable event not in the scope of their responsibility. (Read more: Marion County RECORD)

The county’s courthouse will get a security upgrade, but what it will look like is anyone’s guess. The district court requested security upgrades months ago, and commissioners decided to table the subject for further discussion. Commission chairman Kent Becker said he believes security upgrades would be good for both the courtroom floor and the courthouse as a whole. (Read more: Marion County RECORD)

Preston Williams was officially named Marion fire chief at Monday’s city council meeting. Williams has been with Marion fire department since March 2016 and was on the Ellsworth fire department three years prior to moving to Marion. A chemical applicator for Cooperative Grain and Supply, he is married to Alex Williams. (Read more: Marion County RECORD)

Marion County might benefit from the reinstatement of a state program designed to reduce the number of deficient bridges on local roads. County engineer Brice Goebel told commissioners Monday that the Kansas Local Bridge Improvement program will pay $140,000 per location to build local bridges. “It does not have to meet federal guidelines,” Goebel said. (Read more: Marion County RECORD)

A Small Business Administration disaster loan outreach center will operate at the civic center in Hillsboro 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Aug. 15. The federal agency has low-interest disaster loans available to Marion County residents who suffered flood losses between June 22 and July 6. The loans, with interest rates as low as 1.938%, can be used by homeowners, renters, nonprofit organizations, and business owners. (Read more: Marion County RECORD)

More than 40 years is a long time to serve a community, but Mike Regnier and Jim Davis are more than happy they were needed for so long by the city of Marion’s Volunteer Fire Department. Both Regnier, the city’s fire chief, and Davis are retiring this week after 44 and 42 years respectively — a term that surprises them both. “I don’t know,” said Davis. “You just get on and you never figure out how to get off. As long as you feel that you can do it, and if you’re needed, you stay.” (Read more: Marion County RECORD)

Future wind farms — and one with an approved conditional use permit — were discussed at Monday’s county commission meeting. Commissioner Randy Dallke said he’d listened to enough discussion about, and opposition to, development of Expedition Wind Farm, and said some of the comments made by opponents should perhaps be considered in future wind farm propositions. Although Expedition’s proposal was processed according to current planning and zoning regulations, Dallke said perhaps the plan should be reconsidered so more steps are taken during the planning commission’s consideration. (Read more: Marion County RECORD)

Commissioners approved a conditional use permit for development of a wind farm, but took no action on a development plan submitted by the company Monday. Audience members had been told earlier there would be no public comment at Monday’s meeting because meetings were earlier held for people to voice their opinions. Commissioners Randy Dallke and Kent Becker voted in favor of the application. Dianne Novak voted against. (Read more: Marion County RECORD)

Having previously tapped rarely discussed funds brimming with hotel and liquor tax receipts, county commissioners faced the inevitable Monday, hearing from others making additional claims on the same money. First up was Families and Communities Together, which since 2012 had been distributing revenue from the county’s special alcohol tax through its substance abuse prevention coalition. Two weeks ago, commissioners unanimously voted to give the fund’s balance of slightly more than $4,000 to a new alcohol and drug treatment agency, Restoration Center of Marion, which had asked for $12,000. (Read more: Marion County RECORD)