Work will begin late summer or early fall

By BEN KLEINE

Staff writer

Marion County Commission voted to tear up a 10-mile stretch of Remington Road between U.S. 56 and the Durham-Lincolnville Road to replace the crumbling base underneath the road.

Road and Bridge Superintendent Randy Crawford said the project will be scheduled for late summer or early fall 2012. Part of the plan is to widen the road from 22 feet to 24 feet.

“It’s a safety issue,” Crawford said. “My biggest fear is two tourist buses meeting on the narrow road.”

The road is one of the most highly traveled in the county, receiving 320 drivers a day.

The cost of tearing up the road and placing rock will be $117,020. Based on the $1.9 million the Tampa Road project costs for four miles of six-inch overlay, commissioners estimated replacing Remington Road would cost about $6 million.

Commission Chairman Dan Holub said he would research state assistance for the cost of the project.

The commission also approved performing the same procedure on three miles of 30th Road west of Old Mill to the county. To tear up and replace the rock base of the road will cost $36,306.

Plans to close railroad crossing

Union Pacific Railroad representative Mike Benjamin talked to the commission about placing a corresponding rail along the existing track between 140th and 160th Roads near Aulne.

The commission did not approve a resolution to close the railroad crossing at 150th Road, a necessary provision with the railroad development, but said they would draft something for a future vote. Benjamin said Union Pacific would compensate the county with $150,000 for the closure. That figure is on top of a right-of-way purchase Benjamin speculated was necessary in order to fit the track large enough to contain a grain or cold train between 15 minutes to an hour.

Along with Benjamin, Shawn Hennes of the Kansas Department of Transportation will provide the county an opportunity to equip any rail crossing with a functioning signal system. Commissioners were partial to placing such a signal at the crossing at Remington Road near Marion.

Before a resolution is drafted, commissioner Randy Dallke said he would talk to property owners along the project who may be affected.

In other business:

• The commission approved a fuel bid for the Road and Bridge with Cooperative Grain and Supply for $26,850. The bid includes 4,000 gallons of clear diesel, 1,500 gallons of No. 2 dyed diesel, and 2,500 gallons of unleaded fuel.
• Chemical bids were approved for the Noxious Weed Department. Markley Service won three different bids. The first was for eight 120 gallon shuttles of 2,4-D Amine, 1440 gallons of 2,4-D Amine, and 360 gallons 2,4-D lo vol, for $38,994. Other bids included Ag Services with a bid of $42,814 and Agri Producers for $42,487. The second was 60 gallons of Tordon, 48 gallons of Ticlopyr Remedy, 30 gallons of Dicamba, and 30 gallons of Glyphosate Generic for $6,387. Other bids for these chemicals included Ag Service with a bid of $6,665 and Agri-Producers with a bid of $7,102. The third was for 40 pounds of Sahara DG, 48 pounds of Korvar I DF, 128 ounces of Metsul furon, 16 quarts of Milestone, another 20 gallons of Milestone, and 20 gallons of Element 4 for $9,856. Other bidders for these chemicals were Ag Services, $10,334, and Agri-producers, $10,300.
• Transfer Station director Rollin Schmidt also gave a tonnage report for the station for January. The station took in 495 tons of waste, which cost the county $41 per ton to dispose of.
• The county approved the purchase of a supplemental benefits, optional insurance — short term disability and cancer as examples — package through Benefits Direct. Commissioners also received a presentation from Blue Cross Blue Shield representative Tim Oglesby about the status of the county’s health insurance. Commissioners decided to search for bids on health care after receiving information from Blue Cross Blue Shield.
• The commission agreed to allow County Attorney Susan Robson and County Treasurer Jeannine Bateman to begin sending letters to delinquent escrow taxpayers. The escrow program allows taxpayers to pay taxes in monthly increments instead of an annual payment. It is used for individuals who are paying in advance and those who are paying back taxes. Robson and Bateman also allow those who are paying back taxes to set payment amount and schedule. “It’s in the best interest of the county for people to make payments,” Robson said. However, if those paying back taxes are still not paying they will receive a letter informing them that they are out of the program.
• Salary adjustments were approved for four employees. Susan Berg in the Treasurer’s Office received a six month raise from $1,603 a month to $1,636. Wilma Mueller in the Sheriff’s Office received an hourly increase from $17.19 to $17.52 after a year. Jessica Dines in the Appraisers Office received a raise from $1,603 to $1,636 a month after six months. In the Communication Department, Alicia Stone received a raise to $12.72 to $13.78 per hour after a year.
• A wall replacement at the Marion County Fairgrounds 4-H building was approved for $1,555. Water damage was discovered when windows were to be replaced. Commissioners requested that Marion County Fair Board Manager Kelli Savage inquire about a replacement air conditioner for the kitchen area of the building.
• Repairs on a Ford F-150 for the Road Bridge Department were made, at a cost of $2,198.
• An Acer computer and HP laser jet printer were approved purchases through CDWG for the County Clerk’s office. The computer cost $783 and the printer cost $760.
• Marion County Emergency Management Director Dan D’Albini informed the commission that he will travel to conferences March 13, April 2, and April 3-5. He also updated the narrow band bidding he has received. The least expensive bid thus far was $94 an hour to convert four to five radios an hour.

The next Marion County Commission meeting will be Feb. 29.