Staff writer
While county commissioners bemoaned delays in one project Monday, they moved ahead on another that should have cross-county traffic moving again by summer.
A Wichita construction firm will soon begin work to repair 190th Rd. west of Marion, which has been closed as a safety precaution for over seven months.
The road has been closed between Pawnee and Old Mill Rds. since late August, when county commissioners deemed it unsafe for traffic because of continuing erosion of the Cottonwood River bank on the south side of the road.
Dondlinger Construction, Wichita, awarded the bid for the repair contract, has until June 1 to complete the work, a requirement of the grant funding the project. Their bid on the project was $124,975.
A project on less certain footing is the planned adaptation of the former Straub building in Marion for county use. Commissioners are questioning whether to continue their efforts to buy and use the property.
Commission chair Randy Dallke said at Monday’s meeting he believes the city of Marion changes the rules as the process of seeking a zoning change from commercial to government use goes along.
“Quite frankly, I think they want a private business in there,” commissioner Dianne Novak said.
Saying the county had already put $25,000 into the purchase, Dallke said, “Maybe we should take legal action against someone for that $25,000.”
Commissioners agreed to discuss the matter again at their April 17 meeting.
In other business, commissioners:
- Heard a report from Steve Hudson on prevention of blue green algae at the county park and lake;
- Voted to buy a mower for shared use by the transfer station/recycling center and road and bridge departments at a cost of $5,993;
- Proclaimed April as child abuse awareness month; and
- Selected United Health Care for employee health insurance.