County bridges won't be compromised for farmers
Staff reporter
Knocking off banisters from county bridges to accommodate a few farmers is not an option Marion County is going to take.
The matter was discussed Monday by road and bridge personnel during a Marion County Commission meeting. County public works director Martin Rhodes told the commission that he had been approached by a couple of farmers who asked that sides of a concrete bridge be removed to allow them to drive over the bridge with combine headers.
The bridge is located on Holly between 180th and 190th and is sufficient for rural traffic including most farming equipment. Currently farmers in that area have to drive around the bridge when traveling on their combines.
County road foreman John Summerville suggested the farmers remove the headers which would allow the combines to safely travel over the bridge.
It was noted that county workers had knocked off banisters from bridges in the past but officials weren't sure if that was the best way to handle the situation because of liability concerns.
Contact will be made with the county's bridge engineering consultant.
In other business:
— Summerville reported he had talked with Kansas Department of Transportation regarding an erosion problem on a bridge on 190th Road, west of Marion. He said the county could use concrete reinforcement bar but it cannot be exposed. If any dirt fill goes into the water, the county needs to obtain a permit from U.S. Corps of Engineers.
Commission chairman Randy Dallke reminded the commission that the road formerly was a state road and the county "inherited" it when new U.S.-56 was built.
— The condition of Timber Road between 60th and the county line has deteriorated to the point of needing to be replaced. Two miles will be removed and reconstructed at a future date. Summerville also noted that 140th from Sunflower to U.S.-77 was to the point of having to be reconstructed. A bridge project also is being planned on 140th which would add to the inconvenience of those who use the road.
— Crews are working on Quail Creek by Ramona.
— Cooperative Grain and Supply of Hillsboro was the low bidder for transport fuel bids at $20,624 for 5,000 gallons of diesel, at an average of $2.58 per gallon, and 3,000 gallons of unleaded fuel at $2.443 per gallon. Cardie Oil Company of Tampa presented a bid of $20,637 for the same amount of fuel at an average of $2.58 per gallon for diesel and $2.45 for unleaded fuel.
— Rhodes requested and received a 10-minute executive session for personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— Jesse Hamm was promoted to acting culvert foreman and will receive a pay increase from $1,879 per month to $2,012 per month while serving as foreman.
