County commission asks KDOT to discuss road issues face-to-face
U.S.-77 construction causes damage to county roads
Staff reporter
A letter will be sent to Kansas Department of Transportation by Marion County Commission regarding completion of lingering negotiations.
The commission reviewed and corrected a draft Monday to Donald Drickey of KDOT regarding needed improvements and repairs to county roads.
KDOT had initiated negotiations with the county nearly a year ago due to the reconstruction of U.S.-77 and motorists using county roads during that time.
Commissioner Dan Holub suggested the letter be more specific with needed road repairs.
He suggested the letter state roads need to be reshaped, damage to gravel roads, damage to shoulders and culverts, damage to Lakeshore Drive and the old stone bridge on the county lake road.
"This is more than re-graveling roads," said Holub.
Commission chairman Bob Hein wants to take it one step further.
"I'd like for KDOT to come and talk with us face-to-face," said Hein.
A letter will be sent and a request will be made for KDOT personnel to be placed on the agenda.
In other business:
— The final payment request for closure of the former county landfill was signed by the commission. The final cost was $211,845. The commission had approved the final cost at a previous meeting.
— Engineer Mike Olson of Kirkham Michael Consulting presented contracts for the county's overlay projects on 290th and Old Mill roads.
The original late start date for the project was Oct. 3 but due to the county taking additional time to reduce the amount of the project to meet the engineer's estimates, the late start date will be Oct. 10. The completion date will remain the same.
The commission approved and signed the contract, change order for the lesser amount, and start date.
The total project will cost $1,355,029.
— The county again will apply for grant funds through the Heritage Trust Fund.
The grant will be used for restoration and repairs to windows at the courthouse.
Dan Hall of BG Consultants, Inc. will assist with the application and provide cost estimates for the project. He said the grant will not allow replacement of wooden windows with more efficient metal windows.
Maggard said since the building is on the national historic register, replacing the windows was not allowed.
The maximum amount of the grant is $90,000. The county will be responsible for a minimum of a 20 percent match.
If cost estimates indicate more than the grant amount, the county could pay the remaining amount to complete the work or the work can be done in phases with applications made for more grants in future years.
Maggard will talk with the grant administrator regarding more efficient windows.
The commission approved a contract with BG Consultants, Inc. for $3,000 to begin the grant process. The fee can be used as part of the 20 percent county match.
A preliminary grant application is due Jan. 15 with final application being made by March 1.
— County appraiser Cindy Magill requested and received a 15-minute executive session to discuss personnel.
The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— Maggard requested and received a five-minute executive session to discuss personnel.
When the meeting reconvened, the commission approved extended sick leave for employee Debbie Bowman to care for a family member.
— The commission previously had instructed David Brazil, county transfer station manager, to meet and negotiate with Steve Garrett, City of Hillsboro administrator a solution to commercial and demolition charges incurred by the city.
Brazil asked the commission for clarity regarding what the commission wanted from the City of Hillsboro. Brazil was instructed to seek payment in full with the possibility of current regulations for C&D waste being changed.
— An agreement between Marion County Health Department and Marion County Special Education Cooperative was approved. The health department provides vision, hearing, and screening services to the cooperative based on a flat hourly rate.
— A budgeted transfer of $100,000 was approved. The transfer was made from the road and bridge general fund to the special equipment fund to make a lease payment for county motor graders.
— Brazil distributed monthly reports for the transfer station, environmental health, and planning and zoning.
He reported 80-120 tires were deposited at the transfer station each month. Costs to dispose tires have increased.
Currently the county charges $1 per passenger tire but the county pays $1.05 per tire for disposal. Costs and charges will be reviewed in January, said Brazil.
— A second work session is planned Oct. 20 between Marion County Planning Commission, Marion County Commission, and the mayors of the cities within the county. The purpose of the session is to discuss areas of urban influence.
The session will follow the regular monthly meeting of the planning commission.
— Commissioner Randy Dallke said he was informed that Legacy Park was charged between $3,000 and $4,000 by the county ambulance office to transport residents to another facility due to the electrical outage and ice storm in January.
More information will be gathered and reviewed at a future meeting.
The next commission meeting is at 9 a.m. Friday. There will be no meeting on Monday.
