Staff writer
Marion County Commission approved inspections for the 330th, 120th, 60th, and 40th road projects Monday.
Inspections entail reconstruction inspection, asphalt mix, designs for construction, and the final inspection for the site. The engineering firm of Kirkham and Michael is conducting the inspection. The total it will cost the county is $75,000.
“This is kind of like lawyers,” Commissioner Roger Fleming said. “They don’t lose in the deal.”
Road and Bridge Superintendent Randy Crawford said overlay work has already begun four miles east of Tampa on 330th.
Trailer agreement approved
The commission approved rules and rent for trailers at Marion Park and Lake.
Friends of Marion County Lake President Jim Bratt started the meeting by saying the rules, which had been discussed three previous times, should be thrown out and the Kansas Mobile Homes and Park Landlord-Tenant Act should be used. Commissioners agreed to observe the mobile homes act in case of conflicting circumstances, for instance the inspection of electronic devices. The rules will go into effect July 1.
A rent for trailers, including utilities, of $1,200 was approved. It will begin Jan. 1. The rent and rules have been agreed upon for three years, although the rent can increase with an increase in utility cost.
Economic development
Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman informed the commission of county involvement in economic development projects.
Huffman received a grant from Kansas State University to apply to learning center at the Mennonite Heritage Museum in Goessel. That project did not work out, but Huffman continues to receive the grant. She is using the money to pay for plants and seed for the Florence Community Garden, $500, and to help pay for a small greenhouse. Peabody-Burns High School junior Kortney Foth is building the greenhouse for a class project. She can receive up to $500, although Huffman said it would cost more like $380.
The commission approved the use of an economic development bus for Marci Penner to use for a farm excursion tour in Marion County, starting in Durham. The tour is scheduled for October. Penner will need to hire a driver with a commercial driver’s license and pay for fuel for the vehicle. The bus seats 28 people.
Huffman briefly discussed an upcoming grant from the Kansas Department in Commerce. The grant applies to private property owners to turn a condemned building into a business. The property would have to pay for 25 percent of the project. The grant would not be available until 2013, which Huffman said would give her enough time to coordinate with cities to condemn candidate buildings. She said she has some properties in mind that would qualify.
In other business:
- The commission approved two stop sign for the intersection of 310th and Eagle Roads.
- The commission signed a document for cabling at the jail. The $48,377 deal from AT&T was previously approved.
- Emergency Management Director Dan D’Albini said he was looking into options for a text alert system. Tabor College had expressed interest in partnering with the county for tornado alerts.
- A copy paper bid from Baker Brothers was approved for 100 cases of paper at $31.10 a case, $3,110.