Yarrow Road open for local commercial traffic
Staff reporter
Marion County Commission re-emphasized its stand Friday regarding Yarrow Road.
The commission had closed the road to non-local commercial traffic at the June 27 meeting.
Marion County Sheriff Lee Becker asked the commission for clarification after a misunderstanding Thursday.
Commercial vehicles that purchase materials at local quarries are allowed to use the road. All other commercial vehicles are not.
A sign will be erected by the road and bridge department that will read "Road closed. Local traffic only."
Becker said residents have told him traffic has slowed down since the sheriff's department has stepped up patrol on that road.
Traffic will be limited for the duration of construction on U.S.-77.
In other business:
— Area fuel bids were approved with Cardie Oil Company of Tampa, and Cooperative Grain & Supply of Hillsboro, sharing the bids with two each.
Cardie Oil Company presented two bids for 2,950 gallons of diesel at an average cost of $1.79 per gallon for a total cost of $5,260. Cooperative Grain & Supply's two bids were for 3,200 gallons of diesel fuel at an average cost of $1.77 for a total of $6,381.
— County resident Gary Grentz showed the commission a letter sent by the county noxious weed department to Grentz' landlord regarding the county spraying right-of-ways for noxious weeds.
Grentz said the property he rents is on the county's no-spray zone because a neighbor had requested it, not the landowner.
Bill Smithhart, noxious weed director, explained letters are sent annually to all rural landowners. If landowners want to accept the responsibility of spraying their own ditches, they can request the county not spray that area.
However, Grentz's neighbor requested that area not be sprayed which was not the wish of the landowner.
It was clarified that only landowners can request the county not spray an area and Grentz's property will be taken off the list.
— Michele Abbott-Becker, county communications director, reported the first phase of a new 911 system installation had been completed.
She advised the commission that her department was in a transition and learning period.
— County clerk Carol Maggard reported county retail sales tax revenue of $42,143 for April, the highest since April 1999.
— A letter was signed by commission chairman Bob Hein and sent to Unruh Construction for dirt work to begin by Tuesday and be completed by Sept. 2.
The construction company is filling in the former county landfill.
— Gail Burns was approved as a part-time, seasonal employee in the noxious weed department.
— Diane Burnett, an employee in the treasurer's office, was approved for a raise after completing one year of employment.
— Linda Ogden of Marion was appointed to the Mid-Kansas Community Action Program board to replace Delores Dalke of Hillsboro.
— The commission approved $669,619 in payroll and accounts payable.
— Maggard reported that $225,101 remained unspent in encumbered funds from 2004.
The next commission meeting will be at 9 a.m. Monday in the courthouse.
