Sometimes the county has the resources to do things more easily than the smaller towns.
Marion County commissioners said Monday that the road and bridge director knows best on behalf of the city of Burns in cooperating with Mid-Kansas Coopera?tive to reconstruct gravel 10th Avenue and build turn-arounds for two-way semi-truck grain-hauling traffic.
The Burns City Council told Erik Lange, contractor for MKC, that it wants heavy truck traffic kept off new overlays downtown on streets such as Washington and Broadway.
Lange said MKC realizes road and bridge will have to work on the project over a period of time to fit it in with its schedule. But the MKC also wants to operate in advance for cooperation to build the best project possible, he said.
Road and Bridge Direc?tor Randy Crawford said the effort to widen the rocked road to 24 feet and rebuild its base correctly probably will cost $15,000 or more in gravel with no estimate yet on total construction.
Crawford acknowledged that widening the road and turning areas likely will encourage big-truck drivers to stay on the designated route and off city pavement.
The commissioners approved a request from Marion Fire Chief Mike Regnier to purchase nine LED rechargeable safety lights for fire departments across the county to use during night fires at a cost of $4,745.
County Attorney Susan Robson was directed to send a letter to owners seeking county purchase of land for road construction at 24 Rock Road to allow better ambulance access to the area.
The commissioners and county clerk?s office personnel met for the first hour and a half of the meeting to canvas votes for the city, school and general election April 7.
Commission Chairman Dan Holub said, after 20 minutes in executive session for personnel, that the commissioners were making an offer to a candidate to be director of the transfer station, recycling and noxious weed.
He said they will announce the name until next week if the person accepts the position.
The commissioners voted 3-0 to proclaim April 12-18 as National Public Safety Communications Week to honor men and women who provide 911 emergency assistance everywhere.
