County, state discuss reimbursement for road repairs
Marion County will receive compensation for road repairs during reconstruction of U.S.-77 between Marion and Florence.
Joe Palic of the Marion Kansas Department of Transportation office opened negotiations Monday with Marion County Commission.
Following a discussion, the commission authorized consulting engineer Mike Olson of Kirkham Michael Consulting to negotiate with Palic regarding compensation for road repair.
The official detour will be U.S.-50 at Florence to K-150 to U.S.-56 to K-15 to U.S.-50 or I-135, Palic said, but knows alternate routes will be used.
Bid letting for the project will be in December with construction to begin in March 2005. Completion is anticipated for fall 2006.
The road will be reconstructed at the existing site, requiring the road to be closed during the construction period.
"Unofficial detours will impact county roads," Palic said. "KDOT wants to help out the county."
Palic said Sunflower Road probably will be the alternative route between Marion and Florence.
"In lieu of paving Sunflower Road, KDOT would kick-in a specific dollar amount to the county," Palic said. He said 140th also could be used but was hesitant to encourage the county to resurface any particular road.
Commission chairman Leroy Wetta said if he were a truck driver he would use Nighthawk.
"We're not just looking at Sunflower," Wetta continued. "We're looking at Nighthawk, too."
The commission and engineer expressed concerns about heavy use on Nighthawk since the road was not designed for heavy truck traffic.
Palic said he thought local trucks might use Nighthawk but doubted if over-the-road drivers would take it.
The commission also expressed concerns about loaded trucks not having any weight restrictions if its route originates in Marion County or has a delivery in the county.
Road engineer Mike Olson of Kirkham Michael Consulting said he wasn't sure if trucks will utilize Sunflower.
"The ability to pull out on Main Street from Third Street in Marion is difficult, even in a passenger vehicle," Olson said. He said he would like to keep the trucks off of Nighthawk.
"Is there anything we can do to restrict use of Nighthawk?" Olson asked. "What enforcement does the county have?"
Commissioner Bob Hein said he wasn't worried about passenger vehicles.
"I just wish the semis would take K-15 to U.S.-56 instead of county roads," Hein said.
Commissioner Howard Collett said he was concerned about weight limits on culverts on Sunflower.
Olson responded the culverts are short and all of the weight of larger trucks wasn't on the bridge at the same time.
Traffic count numbers were discussed on the local highways.
On U.S.-77, between Marion and Florence, KDOT traffic counts were between 1,790-2,220 per day with 250-320 being heavy trucks.
Sunflower has between 540-880 vehicles per day, Nighthawk 420-471, and Indigo 985-1,487.
It was determined additional traffic on Nighthawk would be detrimental to the road. Signs restricting through truck traffic were recommended.
Palic asked the commission if state trucks could use Sunflower as a snow route to other highways. He said KDOT would provide snow and ice removal on Sunflower in exchange for use. The commission agreed that would be beneficial for both entities.
Palic announced bid letting for the roundabout at Florence would be January 2006.
Olson suggested keeping the roads maintained during the detour.
"Maybe after the first year, we'll know which road to overlay," Olson said.
Collett said he, too, would like to see the roads maintained during construction and then receive an overlay when U.S.-77 was completed.
In other road and bridge department business, Jim Herzet, acting road superintendent, recommended Phil Bowen of Peabody be advanced temporarily to road foreman position.
Following a 10-minute executive session, the commission returned to regular session and approved the appointment and pay increase.
Herzet presented two area fuel bids from Cardie Oil Company and Cooperative Grain and Supply.
Cardie Oil gave bids of $1,243 for 800 gallons of fuel at $1.5547 per gallon, $3,310 for 2,150 gallons at $1.5397, and $2,825 each for two locations with 1,800 gallons at $1.5697 per gallon.
Cooperative Grain and Supply bid $1,236 for 800 gallons at $1.545 per gallon, $3,321 for 2,150 gallons at $1.545, and $2,772 each for two locations with 1,800 gallons at $1.54 per gallon.
The commission approved the $3,310 bid from Cardie Oil and awarded the other three bids to Cooperative Grain and Supply.
