Citizens want action on county roads
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The county commission got brickbats for roads Wednesday evening.
Commissioners received several pointed comments about road work from citizens. However, commissioners also took steps to address some of the comments.
Gene Hirt, Williamsburg, was critical of what he called the county’s slow response to the condition of part of John Brown Road near Williamsburg.
He had complained a week before of the condition of the road’s pavement, which he said was dangerous.
Hirt said he had been told by county officials to call 911 in the case he found hazardous road conditions but he said got no response Thursday evening when he reached the spot again. He and a neighbor put up leftover county caution signs at the spot to warn motorists.
Lisa Johnson, interim county administrator, and Jim Haag, county public works director, asked the commission to waive the county’s rules for purchases to deal with the section of pavement on John Brown Road, plus two sections of Tennessee Road near LeLoup and east of Ottawa, and a section of Rock Creek Road southeast of Ottawa.
Commissioners gave them the authority to negotiate with Killough Construction for the repairs.
Hirt also asked about a proposed meeting concerning the K-68 corridor study.
A public hearing on the corridor study will be 6:30 p.m. May 22 in Ottawa. The study has been commissioned by the Kansas Department of Transportation in coordination with Franklin and Miami counties, will look at projected growth along the highway between Ottawa and the Missouri line and what to do about it.
Jed Hermreck, Williamsburg, urged the county to repeal a new resolution on improving minimum-maintenance roads.
People who build new houses — and pay more in property taxes because of it — shouldn’t have to pay for bridges, culverts and other improvements to their roads, he said.
He also said that in the past the county has been inconsistent in how it makes improvements to minimum-maintenance roads.
In other road related matters, the commissioners set up a committee of Johnson, Haag and Commission Chair Sue Farrell to recommend an engineering firm to make improvements to Missouri Road.
Because of the new U.S. 59 expressway, Missouri Road needs to be improved to serve as a new outlet for several residents who would have to make lengthy detours to get across the new expressway.
KDOT will pay most of the costs of the Missouri Road improvements.
Commissioners also passed a resolution urging KDOT to include four items — K-68/K-268 to U.S. 75, bridge repairs or replacements, the state’s local transportation revolving loan fund used by the county for two projects, and improvements to Eisenhower Road — in the next state transportation program.
In other matters, the commissioners:
• Took no action on a motion by Commissioner Don Hay to make all of the commission meetings occur at night.
Farrell said she had no objection to more night meetings but was reluctant to make all of the meetings night meetings.
Commissioner Ed Taylor said that the commission had voted in January to have one night meeting a month and that there was no point in revisiting the issue until next January.
• Decided to buy a used motor grader from Martin Tractor Company, Ottawa.
• Agreed to a request for local organizers of the National Day of Prayer to use the courthouse lawn May 1.
• Accepted the low bid for culverts from Welborn Sales.
• Heard from Johnson that she and County Treasurer Debbie Hough are working on the next tax sale.
Twelve properties are targeted for the sale but Johnson said she expects the number to fall as property owners pay up delinquent taxes.
• Went into executive session with Johnson for attorney consultations. No action was taken.
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