Staff writer
Marion County commissioners wish to meet with a property owner who has requested the county gravel a dirt road.
Two roads from the unidentified property owner’s home near U.S. 50 are graveled, but the property owner wants the road directly from the home to the highway graveled, Commission Chairman Randy Dallke said.
One road was graveled when the home was built, and another was graveled at the request of USD 398 to shorten a school bus route.
The property owner has offered to pay the original cost to apply gravel to the road and subsequent maintenance, Dallke said.
Commissioner Dan Holub said he didn’t favor granting the request, not just for someone’s convenience. He said that even if the county accepted the property owner’s offer to pay for maintenance, the county would need to maintain the road if the owner sold the house.
Commissioner Bob Hein said he had no problem with the request, as long as the property owner paid all of the costs. Dallke, able to cast the deciding vote, said he wanted the property owner to meet with the commission. Commissioners tabled the issue.
Elite Engineering Services, LLC of Gardner will conduct biannual bridge inspections of 301 bridges for $17,458. Cook, Flatt & Strobel Engineers, P.A. of Topeka bid $19,565, and Schwab-Eaton, P.A. of Manhattan bid $22,575.
Kirkham Michael Inc. of Ellsworth declined to bid, saying that bridge inspections should be determined by the firm most qualified rather than which bids the lowest.
Klenda is interim communications director
Communications supervisor Linda Klenda was appointed interim communications director after a 30-minute closed session.
Klenda has worked in the department for 10 years. Her first day as interim director will be Thursday. Commissioners said they would address pay later.
Michele Abbott’s last day as communications director is Friday. She has accepted a position as communications director for Hutchinson and Reno County.
Abbott reviewed communications and emergency management requirements, grants, boards, and pending projects.
Lisa Engler received a raise, from $11 to $12.50 per hour, for completing 911 operator training.
In other business:
- County Appraiser Cindy Magill, County Attorney Susan Robson, and Treasurer Jeannine Bateman reviewed proposed changes to the county neighborhood revitalization program. Robson will discuss a proposed disaster disclaimer with officials from the attorney general’s office. The disclaimer would automatically close the program to new applications in the event of a natural disaster.
- Commissioners reviewed a confidential report about an open workers’ compensation claim.
- County Clerk Carol Maggard met with commissioners in closed session for 10 minutes to discuss personnel. No action was taken on return to open session.
- Ag Service of Hillsboro will sell 50 gallons of Tordon 22k herbicide to Noxious Weed Department for $2,258. The chemical will be sold through the department’s cost-share program to a railroad to kill johnsongrass. Markley Service of Marion bid $2,375.
- Known infestations of sericea lespedeza, a noxious weed, along county roadsides are declining, Noxious Weed Director Rollin Schmidt said.
- The county sent 693 tons of waste in September to Butler County Landfill. The cost per ton for fuel, wages, and tipping fees was $37.86.
- Health Department Director Diedre Serene met with commissioners in closed session for 10 minutes to discuss personnel. No action was taken on return to open session.
- Commissioners met Tuesday to review a proposed new employee handbook.
The next commission meeting will be Monday.