Project costs may be higher than anticipated
Staff reporter
Two county road projects may cost more than anticipated.
Mike Olson, engineer with Kirkham Michael Consulting, reported Monday to Marion County Commission that oil accessibility may drive up costs.
Olson said in 2004, 11.4 miles of Indigo Road was overlaid at a cost of $43,000 per mile. The county had budgeted $586,000 for the project and the lowest bid was $100,000 less.
"The other bidders were a lot higher," Olson pointed out.
The estimate for this year's work is $57,000 per mile for 19.5 miles of two-inch thick asphalt overlay. The total cost for the project could be as high as $1.4 million.
The county has the funds to complete the project.
The increase in oil costs include the cost to produce the oil and transportation to obtain it.
Another factor is the distance between the two road projects — one being Old Mill Road near Peabody, and the other 290th, the former Durham-Lincolnville road.
Olson also recommended a culvert be replaced on 290th before road construction begins. County road and bridge crews can do the replacement.
The commission approved the project and advertising will begin for contractors.
Bids will opened at 10:45 a.m., during a commission meeting, Sept. 1. The latest day to start the project will be Oct. 3, and will be completed within 25 days.
Olson added the quality of the finished product will be dependent on the patching completed by county road and bridge employees prior to the overlay.
In other business:
— Commission chairman Bob Hein asked Olson the status of negotiations with Kansas Department of Transportation regarding reimbursement for damage to county roads due to the re-construction of U.S.-77.
Olson responded negotiations are continuing.
— Road and bridge superintendent Jim Herzet requested and received a 10-minute executive session to discuss personnel.
The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— Commissioner Randy Dallke wants employees and department heads who handle county funds, to sign off on the county's audit report.
"My opinion is we're getting a heads up here on how county money is handled," Dallke said about the audit report.
Commission Dan Holub said there needed to be a time line for addressing the infractions outlined in the auditor's management letter.
County clerk Carol Maggard said she could call a meeting of department heads to discuss the issues and resolve the problems.
— Dale Snelling, county lake superintendent, reported damages to a stone arch bridge on Lakeshore Drive due to cattle trucks and semis using the road as a short cut.
He said the bridge is on the national register of historic places. It recently was repaired but the traffic has loosened the mortar.
Traffic has been reduced but Snelling wanted the commission to be aware of the situation.
— A delinquent tax list has been completed by county treasurer Jeannine Bateman and turned over to county attorney Susan Robson.
— The commission approved the 2006 budget and hearing notice. The budget increased more than $3 million dollars from the previous year due to an increase in tax revenue.
The mill levy will remain the same.
The budget hearing will be Aug. 22 during a regular commission meeting.
— As of July 31, the county has a balance of $8,353,366 of cash on-hand.
Special vehicle fund showed a balance of $71,991 at the end of July.
— Dallke requested and received a five-minute executive session with Bateman to discuss personnel.
The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— A bid of $500 for a 1979 Ford ambulance was accepted by the commission. Roxanne Wallace was the bidder.
— Maggard reported she had sent letters to Chase, Morris, and Mitchell counties regarding the sharing of a county appraiser with the county.
— A July budget report was reviewed by the commission.
— A recognition party for former road and bridge superintendent Gerald Kelsey will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 19 in the courthouse basement.
— Herzet will attend an open house Aug. 22-24, at a Caterpillar plant in Peoria, Ill.
The next commission meeting is at 9 a.m. Monday at the courthouse.
