Staff writer
Marion County Commission approved the Road and Bridge Department decreasing from 14 sections to 10 sections Monday.
One motor grader is assigned to each section. Road and Bridge supervisor Bud Druse said the change would save the county approximately $12,819 per unused grader in fuel, tire, and oil change costs alone. The 10 sections would be approximately 440 miles apiece. The 10 graders would have an extra 40 miles a piece to cover.
The section change applies for the summer season. The commission was worried about snow removal during the winter, but Druse said the extra machines would be used in such a capacity.
Commissioners were ecstatic to have a cost-cutting proposition offered. An incentive for the department for the change is that four graders are currently due for an upgrade. Druse suggested taking two of the machines, which have leases up in December, and giving them back to the owners. With two extra graders still available, new machines could be added to the mix one per year. Druse advised the commission that they should stop the leasing program for road graders. The commission did not commit to any new machines at the meeting.
The commission also approved some Road and Bridge employees to work a four-day, 10-hour workweek in the summer. Commission Chairman Dan Holub advised to have only the employees working on long term projects commit to this workweek. Employees would work from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
In other business:
- A 8,000-gallon fuel bid from Cardie Oil was approved for $27,557. The competing bid from Cooperative Grain and Supply was $27,557.
- Road and Bridge Department will allow 360th Road between Ramona and Limestone Road to go back to a dirt road. The gravel road does not contain a residence and is not used for a mail route.
- Commissioners approved the department to search for new pickup trucks on Purple wave. Holub was hesitant. “If we don’t have gravel money, and you’re buying a truck, it’s a priority thing.”
The next commission meeting will be Monday