Staff writer
Following road work that didn’t turn out the way Marion County Commissioners expected, the original contractor has offered to repair the work and perform the county’s summer maintenance for free.
Blevins Asphalt Construction Co., Inc., of Mount Vernon, Mo., completed chip seal and double chip seal work in 2009 on Marion County roads. The roads, especially stretches of Limestone and Timber roads which were double chip sealed, quickly began deteriorating.
Earlier this year, commissioners sent the company a letter requesting something be done about the road issues. A company executive met with Road and Bridge Superintendent Jim Herzet and toured the affected roads.
On Friday, commissioners received a letter from the company, which said low-quality rock was at fault for the issues in the road. Blevins offered to repair the problem stretches of Limestone and Timber roads, and to chip seal the county roads scheduled for maintenance this year — between 30 and 40 miles — free of charge.
The company would provide labor and equipment for the project, and the county would supply materials. Herzet estimated that hiring a company for that would cost about $275,000.
Commissioners accepted the company’s offer. That will allow Road and Bridge Department to continue its usual work uninterrupted. Previously, commissioners planned to use county road crews to complete 2010 chip sealing.
Commissioners to meet with company about recycling
Representatives of Stutzman Refuse Disposal Inc., of South Hutchinson, have a plan for single-stream recycling for Marion County, Transfer Station Director Rollin Schmidt said.
The company is willing to present the plan if commissioners will give it serious consideration, he said. He said he thinks the plan is workable and worth consideration.
Commissioners instructed Schmidt to invite the refuse company representatives to present their plan at a commission meeting.
In other business:
- The transfer station office suffered damage in a storm Thursday night, when the southeast corner of the roof blew off the office. The extent of rain damage was not clear Friday, Schmidt said.
- Mary R. Duckworth was hired as a part-time secretary for the Noxious Weed Department. She will work as-needed at a wage of $10 per hour.
- The county and regional solid waste plan was approved with no changes from 2009.
- Setco will supply four solid rubber tires for a skid steer at the transfer station for a total of $3,536. The tires currently on the skid steer lasted about 2 ½ years.
- Cardie Oil Company of Tampa will provide 5,000 gallons of clear diesel and 3,000 gallons of unleaded gasoline for transport fuel for $21,139. Cooperative Grain and Supply of Hillsboro bid $21,183.
- Cardie Oil Company and Cooperative Grain and Supply split bids for area fuel. Cardie Oil Company will provide 2,950 gallons of diesel for $7,248, and Cooperative Grain and Supply will provide 3,600 gallons for $8,888.
- Sales tax receipts for February sales were $39,916, compared to $46,590 in February 2009. In the past four months, the county received $176,376 in sales tax, down $22,863 from the same time in 2009.
The next commission meeting will be Monday.