Commissioners move money for road repair

Marion County commission Monday began moving funds to the road and bridge department in an effort to finish by upgrading surfaces damaged heavy rain before freezing weather slows efforts for the year.

Commission Chairman Dan Holub said he hoped allocation notice of Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for flood damage due Monday afternoon might finance the push in road work.

The commissioners voted 3-0 for an allocation of $25,000 to apply additional gravel as long as the weather allows.

Jeff Youk of Youk Land Co. asked the commissioners to close a once through-passage cut-off road at Golden?rod Road west of Durham.

The road dead-ends with a bridge because his company now owns all the land along it, and company would like it removed to allow cultivation straight through the former paved roadbed, he said.

With the county?s approval, Youk Land Co. would do the work of removing pavement, but would leave the bridge for company use.

Commissioner Randy Dallke said the commissioners would have to look at the road, and allow for public commentary before taking action. The meeting was unusual because much of it was dedicated to various executive sessions, all for personnel.

The commissioners met for 30 minutes for personnel with Road and Bridge Director Randy Crawford; for 10 minutes with Crawford and Chris Brewer, road and bridge employee; for 10 minutes with Planning and Zoning Director Tonya Richards; for 10 minutes with Health Department Administrator Diedre Serene; and for 10 minutes with Emergency Medical Services Director Brandy McCarty.

Serene said her department has been allocated $63,905 from the state for the WIC nutrition program.

McCarty said from 12 to 15 people have indicated interest in participating in the next ambulance volunteers program, which gives her hope the program may add up to eight EMTs.

The commissioners delayed action on a request from McCarty that her department be allowed to use the reserve ambulance to transfer homebound patients to St. Luke Hospital for a treatment program.

Dallke said he is concerned the program could turn into a major burden with possibly more than 25 to 30 patients using it.

McCarty reported 101 ambulance runs for August, including 15 from Peabody, nine from Florence, 36 from Marion, 36 from Hillsboro and five from Tampa.

There were two first-response runs from Burns, three from Goessel and one from Lincolnville.

The ambulance runs included 17 transfers, three cardiac, 22 medical emergency, four standby, seven motor vehicle accidents, nine falls, 37 no transfers, one ?disregard? and one other.

McCarty said she is concerned about the number of no-transfers because they include a growing number of persons who call the ambulance simply because they are frightened by possible symptoms, and are reluctant to incur an ambulance bill.

Dallke said he wanted it noted in commission meeting that ?it was just a very sad day that a gifted life has to be taken in such a way? in regard to the shooting death of 1994 Peabody High School graduate Ethan Schmidt at Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss., last week.

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