County still hashing out details for new road
The Bourbon County Commissioners are moving forward on a new road project from U.S. Highway. 69 into the Fort Scott Industrial Park.
The project is a long-term concern of access to the Fort Scott Industrial Park for the City of Fort Scott in order to accommodate traffic at the Adam LaRoche Baseball Complex now under construction.
Before work begins, paperwork has to be taken care of, according to Jim Harris, Bourbon County Public Works director.
"You need a formal request to build a road," he said during Monday's commissioner meeting. "You need a formal request to KDOT (Kansas Department of Transportation) to build a road on county property."
"I think they (the city) need to make a formal request," First District Commissioner Lynne Oharah said.
County Attorney Justin Meeks said a letter of understanding needs to be drawn up between the county and city.
"I've talked to the city," Meeks said. "I've talked to Heather Griffith (Fort Scott Economic Development director). They are going to request some help with that. What do you think about that?"
"We are going to try and pull it off," Third District Commissioner Harold Coleman said.
Wade Aluminum
A public hearing on the sale of the Wade Aluminum site will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 9 in the commission room.
In December, commissioners reported they were approached by Leon Hester who expressed an interest in buying the property.
"We had a appraisal done," Coleman said. "We need to publish it two times and have a public hearing on that land."
Bourbon County has been working in collaboration with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on issues surrounding the abandoned Wade Aluminum site through an Environmental Remediation Agreement, according to kdhe.gov/remedial/site website.
The site is an abandoned secondary aluminum smelter located at 2263 Noble Road. The facility was across from the current landfill and in its day reclaimed aluminum from dross, which was brought in from surrounding aluminum smelters and stored on site. The facility was abandoned in 2006. Waste determined to be characteristically hazardous for lead was removed from the site in 2012, according to the website.
Wheel loader
The commissioners gave Harris approval to look at a John Deere 844K2 wheel loader in Springfield. Mo. or Topeka, following more discussion on the merits of the three wheel loaders discussed on Feb. 23.
Harris said he favored the John Deere proposal because of the bucket size on the loader, the fact that payments could be delayed until 2016 and the level of equipment emission standards.
In 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency introduced Tier 4 emission standards which required another major emissions reduction for off-highway diesel engines, according to the EPA website.
"I like the idea of Tier 3. You don't have to get into Tier 4," Harris said.
Following approval to look at the wheel loader, Oharah said he is interested in going with Harris to view the prospective loader.
Appraiser retiring
Appraiser Judy Wallis discussed work that needs to be completed before she retires.
She asked for and received an April 1 extension for evaluation notices.
As of April 1, citizens have 30 days in which to appeal the value of their personal and real estate properties. The appraiser then has to hold hearings by May 15, and give the results of the hearing by May 20. By statute, the appraiser has until June 15 to certify personal and real estate property values.
"I wanted you to know that I'm going to then choose June 12 as my last day...so everything will be taken care of. If there was ever going to be a good time for the baton to be passed, that would be best."
After the meeting, Wallis said the exact retirement date is uncertain.
Other business
* The commissioners signed-off on the Federal Fund Exchange Program for 2015.
This program allows a local public agency to trade all or part of its federal fund allocations with KDOT in exchange for state transportation money, according to information provided by Harris.
* Coleman asked Harris to look at 255th Street north of Unique Road as per a constituent request.
* Harris said he needs a hold harmless agreement for the quarry at 95th and Range Road.
* The commissioners heard from Register of Deeds Lora Holdridge. Her office is moving to the old vehicle office on the first floor of the courthouse and requested new flooring for the office because of the condition of the old carpet and the amount of traffic her office will have. Coleman said he would like Albright to be present for the discussion. The move is slated to take place following April elections.
* Coleman passed a report to Oharah from Paula Peacock to look at the condition of the county road on 145th Street, south of Range Road. Oharah said he would look into it.
* The commissioners heard from Jim Meech that the road is getting narrower on Soldier Road because the county road worker is cutting ditches.
"He needs to widen it back up," Meech said.
* Meech asked the commission if they were having a hearing on the sanitation issue with the Amish community. Coleman said the meeting was Feb. 27, but that there would be more discussion at 10:30 a.m. Friday March 13.
* Oharah had a request from an individual for the planks off the old bridge the county is contemplating giving to Allen County for an Allen County walking trail. Oharah said there has been no decision on the proposal, the commission is waiting on the county attorney's office to look at the issue.