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Business owner, commissioners discuss ditch problem
The Bourbon County Commissioners took a field trip Tuesday to see what work needs to be done in a ditch at the Fort Scott Industrial Park.
They met with Kevin "Skitch" Allen, who has been asking for something to be done for several months. Allen, who has a business at the industrial park, said a contractor went through laying fiber optic lines -- sometimes boring and sometimes digging. Allen said he also had a culvert replaced at his business entrance, but it is not draining properly because the dirt work was never finished properly in the ditch. Because of the uneven ground, water remains in the ditch a long time after a heavy rain, he said.
He also said large rocks and uneven ground make it difficult to mow the ditch.
Following the tour, commissioners spent much of the rest of the day back at the courthouse discussing the problem, but no firm decision was made.
Public Works Director Jim Harris recommended allowing him time to talk to the contractor who installed the fiber optics. Harris said the ditch in front of Allen's business is not the only area that needs attention at the Industrial Park.
"There are a couple of places that need work," Harris said.
First District Commissioner Lynne Oharah recommended they pay Allen to do the work in the ditch. Oharah described it as an "economic development grant" from the county.
Later, Commission Chair Barbara Albright asked County Clerk Kendell Mason to research how much and the reasons the county has spent money for economic development. Mason said the county has budgeted $20,000 for economic development, but that money is earmarked for the Bourbon County Economic Development and the Southeast Region Planning Commission.
Albright also asked Bourbon County Treasurer Rhonda Dunn to help her identify which properties in the industrial park pay city taxes.
Dunn said typically, the businesses that are within the city's taxing area are or have taken advantage of incentive programs.
Those businesses that pay city taxes are Key Industries, Niece Products, Carlisle Corporation, First Source, Value Merchandising and one building belonging to Mid-Continental.
Businesses that pay county taxes are Tri-Valley, Allen, 7-Up, Norvell Company Inc., and the second Mid-Continental building.
No matter what direction the discussion took Tuesday, it seemed to always return to the same question: "What are we going to do to resolve this?" Albright said.
"If you want county workers to clean up private property or something that's been done by a contractor, we'll do it," Harris said.
Albright said her intention is not to have county workers on private property.
"I hope we don't get in the habit of chasing too many contractors' jobs, cleaning up after them, because that's all we'll get done," Harris said.
Albright asked Sheriff Bill Martin if inmates in the honor pod could pick up rocks in ditches. Martin said because inmates are not allowed to work on private property, they could only work in the county's right-of-way. He said the men could do the work, as long as jail staff is available and it's not raining.
Harris said it would take his crew about 30 minutes to pick up the rocks in the ditch at Allen's business and another 20 or 30 minutes at another location.
Harris said the county also needs to address Allen's request for an additional whistle so the drive can be widened to accommodate larger trucks and equipment.
Allen has argued for the past year that he would do a better job of installing culverts than the county -- and leave the area looking nicer when he is finished.
The county's current policy prohibits private contractors from doing that work because the ditch and culvert belongs to the county. But that could change, as the commissioners and Harris continue to review a revised policy regarding the county's right-of-ways. In the revised version, licensed and insured private contractors will be allowed to install culverts.
Harris said extending the culvert at Allen's business would cost between $1,000 and $1,200, which includes the tubes and rings, but not the gravel.
Without making a final decision on Allen's request, the commissioners and Harris reviewed changes Harris made to a draft of the revision. Albright said she would like County Counselor Justin Meeks to review the changes before the draft is returned to Holly Powers, engineer tech with Schafer, Kline and Warren. The county contracted with the firm to write its policy in 2013.
In the meantime, the commissioners said they are standing by the current policy.