County will negotiate repair of Remington Road with pipeline company
Staff writer
An inspector’s report about the condition of Remington Road between U.S. 56 and 290th Road was expected sometime this week, Marion County Road and Bridge Superintendent Jim Herzet told commissioners Monday.
The report from engineering firm Kirkham Michael is to compare the condition of the road now to its condition before work began on Keystone Pipeline. The road was used extensively in the pipeline’s construction.
When the report is completed, the county will negotiate with TransCanada, the pipeline’s parent company, to pay for road repairs.
Commissioner Dan Holub said the county is running out of time to adequately repair the road for winter. The road would be horrible if it had ice or packed snow on it in its current condition, he said.
TransCanada posted a $2 million bond as guarantee the company would pay for repairs necessitated by its equipment while using the road.
The county is renting a tractor from G&R Implement of Durham after an International tractor quit working. The rental tractor is available for purchase and appears to meet the county’s needs, Herzet said.
Herzet met with commissioners in closed session for five minutes to discuss personnel. No action was taken on return to open session.
Planning issues addressed
Robert and Florence Sellers were awarded a conditional use permit for a hunting lodge at 1366 Yarrow Road, at the recommendation of county Planning Commission.
An existing house will be converted into a lodge. The lodge may have a maximum of six occupants, must have off-street parking, compliant water and wastewater systems, and compliant signage, Planning and Zoning Director Tonya Richards said.
The permit also allows a kennel at the lodge, although there is no kennel currently.
Commissioners followed Planning Commission’s recommendation and denied Nancy Gibson’s application for a conditional use permit for a 1965 manufactured home. The county’s cutoff for manufactured homes is 1994, although homes already in place do not have to meet the requirement unless they are moved.
In October 2009, commissioners gave Gibson one year to do something about the building. It must be removed before Nov. 11.
James and Linda Green received a 60-day extension to clean up property at 2867 U.S. 56 near Lincolnville. Richards said progress is being made, although the family can only work on the property on weekends.
In other business:
- The county will advertise for applicants to fill the 911 and emergency management director positions vacated by Michele Abbott. Commissioners will appoint interim directors in the near future.
- The county will purchase ExecuTime time management software for $27,500. A proposal for Attendance on Demand software would have cost $750 initially, but would have included a monthly fee based on the number of employees. The county needed new time tracking software because its old program will not be supported after Jan. 1.
- The Tampa PRIDE committee is seeking a grant for a new park in the city. Commissioners approved a letter of support for the grant.
- County Clerk Carol Maggard told commissioners another building in Marion’s industrial park is for sale.
- The commissioners will attend a client appreciation dinner Nov. 15 sponsored by Kirkham Michael.
- Marion County Park and Lake has already exceeded its budgeted revenue for the year. The county budgeted $80,000 in revenue, and after three quarters, the lake’s revenue totaled about $83,000, Superintendent Steve Hudson said. However, camping revenue was down, largely because of a wet spring and Independence Day.
The next commission meeting will be Monday. A special meeting will be 8 a.m. Tuesday to hear comments on a new employee handbook.