Staff writer
Marion County Road and Bridge Department will continue grinding 330th Road east of Tampa into gravel despite requests from area residents to leave it the same. The road is located between Limestone and Quail Creek roads.
The road is asphalt, but it is in poor condition, said section foreman Mark Heiser Monday at Marion County Commission meeting.
Road and Bridge Superintendent John Summerville said it would be unsafe to keep it asphalt. It currently is safe, but by the time wheat harvest arrives it could be in dangerous condition.
“It’s going to turn into a safety issue,” Summerville said.
The department could cease work on the road during harvest to allow farmers to use the road, Heiser said.
In other business:
- Cooperative Grain and Supply of Hillsboro won a bid for 6,000 gallons of diesel and 2,000 gallons of unleaded gasoline. The company’s bid was $14,351. Cardie Oil of Tampa bid $14,609.
- Marion County Park and Lake Superintendent Steve Hudson will seek bids for re-shingling roofs of two stone outhouses, two shelters, and the lake house, following recent damage from wind and hail.
- The county lake received $18,883 of $25,176 for 2009 from Kansas Communities Fisheries Assistance Program. The program pays the county to allow anyone with a state fishing license to fish for free at the lake, Hudson said.
- Hudson applied for a grant for a youth and handicap fishing pier.
- The county lake will host a bluegrass concert June 20. Sponsors have been arranged, and the event is free to the public.
- Hudson is arranging construction of a campfire amphitheater at the lake. The proposed site is on the north side of the lake, across the cove from the beach. It would be in an existing rounded depression, and seating would be made from donated utility poles. No timeline is set for construction.
- Commissioners met with Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman in closed session for a total of 40 minutes to discuss personnel. On return to open session, commissioners reiterated their support for Huffman.
- Ty Wheeler, of the private not-for-profit law firm, Kansas Legal Services of Topeka requested $4,500 for services provided in Marion County. In 2008, the firm represented 27 people in Marion County who couldn’t otherwise obtain an attorney, Wheeler said. The firm had 17 open cases in Marion County as of Jan. 1, 2009. Marion County paid the firm $3,000 in 2008, Marion County Clerk Carol Maggard said. Commissioners voted to continue funding $3,000 for the year.
- Commission’s next meeting will be Monday.