The Marion County Board Tuesday night appointed John Gaston to a two-year term on the Board of Review to hear complaints about the assessed valuation of property.
Gaston will replace Wayne Walker.
Supervisor of Assessments Mark Miller said with the state cracking down on the qualifications of Board of Review members he wanted someone with the assessment and banking knowledge Gaston has.
However, board member Brock Waggoner questioned if there were no other candidates. He didn’t think Gaston was a good choice because he also sits on the Salem Grade School Board which Waggoner felt was a conflict of interest due to the school receiving property tax revenue.
Only Waggoner and Tyson McHenry cast votes against Gaston’s appointment.
In other action, the board approved an emergency repair agreement with Shores Buildings of Centralia to replace a section of sidewalk on the north side of the courthouse that has sunk into the ground. At one person has been injured by a fall on the uneven surface. The $8,200 cost will be paid from the payout the county received from the City of Salem when the West Side tax increment financing district was extended for 10 years. The board made the decision even though it is still unclear if the sidewalk belongs to the city or county.
The board retroactively approved a contract renewal with Advanced Health Care for the jail. The cost for the current year increased from $187,000 to $253,000 partially as the result of registered nurses being at the jail five days a week instead of LPNs. Sheriff Kevin Cripps says there has been a cost-saving benefit by having fewer inmates having to be taken to the hospital.
