Staff writer
Pranksters who think it’s fun to take down stop signs in Marion County should know the county doesn’t think it’s funny.
Road and bridge superintendent John Summerville told Marion County Commission Monday that vandalism in the north part of the county has been running rampant.
“This is getting out of control,” he said, noting stop signs, road signs, and a railroad crossing sign were broken off or pulled out and laid down in ditches.
“There have been six stop signs removed from intersections and if someone isn’t familiar with the road, it could be disastrous,” Summerville said.
Commissioner Randy Dallke commented that he had noticed road signs that were missing.
Section supervisor Mark Heiser commented that it will be costly for the county to replace all of the missing signs, but was necessary for public safety.
Summerville said Marion County sheriff’s department was aware of the vandalism and whenever Summerville is notified of a missing traffic sign, such as a stop sign, a worker is immediately sent to replace it.
In other department business:
- After discussion of mowers, and the need to replace them, the commission approved the purchase of four tool bars for motorgraders from Foley Equipment of Salina for $14,754. Two motorgrader operators will share each tool bar. The tool bars will be used for grading some of the hard rocked roads. It was noted that Dickinson County uses tool bars.
- A bid of $1,880 from The Lumberyard of Hillsboro was approved for 150 4x4x12 wooden sign posts and 50 4x4x14 posts. Two other bids were reviewed from North Pacific of Dierks, Ark., for $5,815, and Kropf Lumber of Hesston, $2,083.
- Commission chairman Bob Hein commented that the newly-resurfaced road near Tampa was dusty. Heiser said it was dusty because there was less millings used in the overlay.
- A salary change was approved for Jesse Hamm for completing a year with the county. His monthly salary went from $2,137 to $2,237.