Sunflower Road improved, not perfect
Staff reporter
A comment was made at Monday's Marion County Commission meeting regarding the condition of the newly overlaid Sunflower Road.
Despite a new two-inch overlay, the road is rough-riding and ridges are apparent.
County road foreman and acting public works director John Summerville told the commission that cooler weather had prevented the asphalt to be properly laid. Warmer weather next spring and summer may smooth out the asphalt.
He added that a two-inch overlay will not correct all of the irregularities in the road.
Work continues on the road with the hopes that it will be complete before the weather prevents further improvements.
In other business:
— The commission reiterated that it does not want to be a part of a countywide hospital project after reviewing a letter from the board of trustees of Marion County Hospital District #1/St. Luke Hospital. In the letter, the board suggested a facilitator be hired to moderate future discussions.
— Marion County Clerk Carol Maggard will contact Restoration and Waterproofing Contractors Inc. of Wichita regarding the portion of the contract that is to pay for the reconnection of air conditioning units that were relocated while work was completed on the courthouse.
An air conditioning unit for the third floor of the courthouse was earmarked to be replaced because it was installed in the 1970s and probably isn't as efficient as a newer model.
The cost to reconnect either the old or new unit would be $1,740. The cost of a new unit is $2,870.
The commission will make a decision after Maggard gathers the information.
— Neil Hett will be contacted by the commission regarding his failure to comply to a Nov. 1 deadline to remove a 1960s mobile home on his property.
The single-wide trailer is used by Hett as an office for his landscaping business. County zoning administrator Bobbi Strait told the commission that electricity has been installed which is a concern.
The commission gave Hett two years to replace the outdated trailer and since he has failed to do so, Hett will be asked to come to a commission meeting to provide an explanation.
Since the commission will meet only two more times this month, Hett will not have to attend a meeting if the trailer is removed by Nov. 30.
— The commission concurred with transfer station manager Rollin Schmidt and the station will not be open Nov. 24, the Saturday after Thanksgiving Day. The station was open last year on that same day and had only 10 customers.
— Schmidt reported there was 6,853 tons collected in October which resulted in 337 trips to the landfill at a cost of $37.24 per ton.
The next commission meeting is at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the courthouse. The courthouse is closed Monday for Veterans Day. The commission will not meet Nov. 19 because commission members will attend Kansas Association of Counties convention.
