Peabody asks county for assistance with streets
Marion County may consider an agreement with the City of Peabody to provide funds for the resurfacing of city streets.
Jeff Benbrook, Peabody City Administrator, asked Marion County Commission Monday for $10,000, which would be half the cost, for the quarter-mile project.
Peabody city officials said the timing would benefit both entities because the county is planning to make repairs this fall on a road south of Peabody.
Jim Herzet, county road and bridge superintendent, gave a copy of a resolution from 1973, that set out the county's policy for connecting links.
The agreement sets out the county providing assistance with specific streets in Peabody and north of U.S.-50, for a total of 2.227 miles. Payments are made by the county to the city four times per year for approximately $560 per year.
All 12 cities within the county receive similar payments, said Herzet.
Commissioner Randy Dallke suggested the contractor for the county road project measure the area for assistance and obtain a cost estimate.
Benbrook said the City of Peabody would do patch work prior to an overlay.
In other department business:
— Joe Palic of Kansas Department of Transportation, reported the state will pay a maximum of $450,000 to the county and City of Marion for road repairs due to detours caused by U.S.-77 construction.
Palic said separate agreements can be drawn between the state and the city if necessary.
The commission will contact the city and get back with KDOT regarding the contracts.
At the last meeting between the state and county officials, the state had agreed to pay the county $450,000 plus pay the city $30,000.
— Tom Alstrom, superintendent of USD 398, asked the commission to improve specific roads near Peabody.
"I was here last year and two years ago regarding these roads," said Alstrom. He said millings were put on two roads which has improved them but large holes still concern him.
He said he requested a cost analysis from Herzet regarding road repairs and replacement for county roads and had not received it. Alstrom said he believes other parts of the county are receiving more work than the Peabody area.
Dallke said he had received calls from school board members who also were concerned with the road conditions, particularly for the buses. He said Herzet and his crews did what they could this summer but didn't get to all the roads.
Herzet said crews will hand patch areas on the road until Friday when the asphalt plant closes for the winter.
"Twice I've been promised improvements and 'we'd be next' but it hasn't happened," said Alstrom. "Frustration arises from broken promises."
— The commission approved a bid of $21,710 from J&J Drainage Products of Hutchinson, for metal culverts. Welbourn Electric of Salina also presented a bid of $22,258.
— Cardie Oil Company of Tampa, received the bid for area diesel fuel. The bid was $13,642 for 6,550 gallons of fuel at an average cost of $2.08 per gallon.
Cooperative Grain & Supply of Hillsboro also presented a bid for $14,135 for the same amount of fuel.
— Herzet reported transport fuel bids were opened Friday by county clerk Carol Maggard. Cardie Oil Company had the winning bid of $19,482 for diesel and unleaded fuel.
— Salary changes were approved for Steve Hudson and Phil Bowen.
