Widening of lake roads not feasible for county
Most are too narrow to meet state statute
Staff reporter
Marion County Clerk Carol Maggard provided information Monday to Marion County Commission regarding road repairs at Marion County Lake.
A total of 2.2 miles of county lake roads were repaired with milling in 2002, Maggard said, which included Gilham, Dan, and Grandview roads.
Commissioner Dan Holub said he drove Dan Drive where there's a private drive and there were "no trespassing signs" and railroad ties that partially blocked the road.
"If we start maintaining these roads, the county will assume the responsibility," he said.
Holub cited a state statute that requires county roads to be a minimum of 60 feet wide.
"If we start putting in 60-foot roads, gardens, porches, and houses will disappear," he said, referring to some landowners using every bit of their properties. "We (the commission) cannot accept the roads without requiring them to be widened."
Holub then suggested a homeowners association be created for the sole purpose of working with the county on a road maintenance agreement.
All agreed that the roads do need to be improved and were concerned about emergency access for ambulance and fire equipment.
Maggard said previous commission minutes reflected that the original lake committee could be dispatched by the commission for future projects.
In other business:
— The commission will review a recycling contract proposal from Stutzman Refuse Disposal, Inc. at its next meeting.
County transfer station manager Rollin Schmidt commented that the company was becoming more aggressive with recycling.
"I think we really need to get with it," commission chairman Bob Hein said.
Schmidt said there were four smaller counties, like Marion County, that have started recycling programs which have been successful.
Commissioner Randy Dallke said he would like to see recycling become mandatory.
— The commission accepted the resignation of Risley Township Trustee Loren Ensz and approved the appointment of James Ensz to the position.
— A $500 budgeted payment was approved to Flint Hills Resource Conservation and Development area.
— The commission signed an agreement to release the county's drug dog, Jag, to former Marion County Sheriff Sergeant Jeff Soyez. Soyez had resigned from the department the previous week and plans were in the works to retire the dog.
— Maggard requested and received a five-minute executive session to discuss personnel. When the meeting reconvened, the commission called in Marion County Undersheriff Randal Brazil and another 10-minute executive session was called.
There were no decisions when the meeting reconvened.
— Holub requested and received a five-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
