County applies for grant to make road safer

On Monday, Bourbon County Commissioners began looking ahead to 2015 when they hope a project will begin to make one county road safer.

Under a Kansas Department of Transportation program, a high risk study was performed on Maple Road/Humbolt Street between National Avenue and 205th Streets.

Transytems LLC conducted the study and provided four recommendations for the road:

* Modifying the road with high-friction surface

* Widen the shoulders

* Install center and edge lines.

* Modify the signage

The estimated cost of the improvements and engineering fees is $570,000. The project could qualify for a 90-10 High Risk Rural Roads Grant, with the county responsible for 10 percent, with no in-kind matches. The work would begin in 2015 if the grant is approved.

The survey was conducted at no charge.

The deadline to apply for the grant has already passed, but has been extended for Bourbon County because the study had not been completed by the deadline, Jim Harris, Roads and Bridges director, said.

"We've got to talk about it," Commission Chairman Allen Warren said. "Where do we get $55,000? Would it come out of federal money?"

Harris said he doesn't believe it would come from the federal exchange program.

"I could recommend you budget it in your sales tax fund, since this is a black top," Harris said.

The county receives a voted sales tax to pay for hard-surface roads projects.

Harris said the project would include tree removal so the shoulder can be widened.

"They are going to take some trees out and build some shoulders so that if you did get off the road, you have an opportunity to recover," Harris said. "And getting rid of some of those trees would improve the sight vision. It would really make a change down there."

The study calls for the project to begin at National Avenue on Humbolt Street, which is in the Fort Scott City limits. Humbolt Street becomes Maple Road.

Second District Commissioner Barbara Albright said she didn't expect the study to include any portion of the city, and Warren suggested they might want to get the city involved.

Harris said if the county took the project on without the grant, it would spend the same amount at the 10 percent match to have the overlay work done.

"So it's a wash for us," Harris said.

The county will not do any of the work if the grant is approved, Harris said.

"They won't let us," Harris said. "I tried that."

After the commissioners voted to apply for the grant, Warren called Fort Scott City Manager Dave Martin and met with him briefly Monday morning.

Other business

* Albright will be working with Sheriff Bill Martin to organize a campaign for a new jail project. Martin, Undersheriff Ben Cole and Bobby Reed, Southeast Kansas Correctional Center jail administrator, met with commissioners Monday. A complete report on their discussion will appear in Wednesday's Tribune.

* The commissioners heard a request to close the road between 165th Street from Soldier to Tomahawk roads. After a petition is submitted, the county will publish a notice of public hearing.

* Harris reported the county's wheel loader used for the hot mix asphalt was taken out of service because of a chronic brake problem Monday.

The loader, a 1979 950 Caterpillar, used by the bridges and culverts crew was moved to the asphalt mixer, which means the bridges and culverts crews were shut down, according to Harris.

"My request this morning is to rent a loader to make hot mix," Harris said.

He said three companies have "a very attractive rent to own" program, with all of the rental money going towards the purchase. Another option is a lease/purchase program, which might have a lower purchase price. Harris estimated the cost of a new loader would be between $125,000 to $150,000. Harris suggested the county could rent a loader for this season, and consider buying one after the season.

He also recommended the county sell the older load, which might bring $10,000 and an extra motor grader, which might bring $65,000, and use that money to purchase a new wheel loader.

Warren suggested Harris get some estimates on rent to own and purchase. Harris said he might be able to borrow a loader in the meantime.

* The commissioners rejected the only bid received for a new roof on the county attorney's office.

Wray Roofing of Newton submitted a bid of $62,820 for a tapered rubber roof and $90,000 for a pitched metal roof.

County Attorney Terri Johnson said there is $28,000 in her budget to pay for a roof. The commissioners discussed making repairs to the flat roof now, then adding more money in the county attorney's budget to replace the roof in 2015.

Warren also suggested he and County Maintenance Superintendent David Neville take a closer look at the roof this week, then discuss it again Friday.

* The county is reissuing a call for bids for fish food at Elm Creek Lake.

* The commissioners signed paperwork required before a low water crossing replacement project begins on 267th Street.