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County plans road repairs on an as needed basis

Township officers asked to submit list

Staff reporter

Letters will be sent to township trustees and superintendents of the five school districts in the county requesting information about roads in need of repair.

Marion County Commission decided June 1 to send the letters in an effort to prioritize county roads in need of attention.

County clerk Carol Maggard told the commission there were 24 townships and seven were inactive because they do not have budgets.

Commissioner Randy Dallke commented he had received complaints about rock being laid on less-traveled roads and roads without residences.

Acting county road and bridge superintendent Jim Herzet said crews will seal roads until the 9,600 tons of materials are used.

The commission instructed Herzet to check into harder road rock which should provide a longer life span.

Herzet said Hamm Quarry near Woodbine could provide the rock. He said the rock was less expensive than road rock from local quarries but higher transportation costs will make the cost about the same.

Dallke suggested $50,000 of grant funds from previous storms be used on higher-traveled rock roads.

He also suggested using blade operators to make a second crew to patch roads. A second roller could be rented.

In other business:

— The commission approved area fuel bids from Cooperative Grain & Supply of Hillsboro for 6,550 gallons of diesel fuel at four locations at an average cost of $1.61 per gallon for a total cost of $10,569.

Cardie Oil Company of Tampa also submitted a bid of $10,818.

— Herzet requested and received a 10-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.

— Employees were approved for summer employment with the road and bridge department. Dallke instructed Herzet to advertise for summer help in the future.

— The commission approved a proposal from Jim Versch to paint the county commission room for $425.

— A refund check of $189,961 was received from Blue Cross/Blue Shield. The cost of services were lower than anticipated.

— March sales tax of $44,568 was received.

— A total of $226,701 was encumbered from the 2004 budget. Of that amount, $159,100 were landfill closure costs.

— The commission designated Maggard as the individual to oversee non-attest services for the county which includes proper recording of transactions and notifying the auditors of all relevant facts related to the budget process.

— Bill Smithhart, county noxious weed director, submitted two bids for chemicals. Bids from Markley Service of Marion were approved for 50 gallons of Rodeo at $37 per gallon for a total of $1,850, and 50 gallons of Crossbow at $48 per gallon for a total of $2,410.

Ag Service of Hillsboro also submitted bids of $44 per gallon for Rodeo and $49 per gallon for Crossbow.

— Commissioner Dan Holub clarified his position regarding the 40-acre rule for zoning.

Holub said he did not have a problem with net density being one residence per 40-acre tract, as the county's zoning regulations define. He wants to make the requirements less stringent to sell or purchase acreage.

— The commission approved $644,624 in payroll and vouchers.

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