During the regular Road and Bridge report provided at the Monday, July 22 Greenwood County Commission meeting, a bid for work to the bridge at L Road and 110th Street from Ramsey Concrete was presented. Road and Bridge Supervisor Allen Greenwood also shared at this time, that this quote included a note from Ramsey in reference to approaches in need of repair. The note outlined that the cost for needed repair to approaches would be in line with the cost for the L Road project, shared at roughly $15,000. Commissioners approved proceeding with work to L Road and 110th Street. Commissioners noted that future projects pertaining to needed approach work, being planned for various crossings, would be presented individually.
Two bids were submitted for purchase of tires for the Road and Bridge Department. Following review, commissioners approved proceeding with the bid from Rock’s 54 Tire and Oil for the amount of $10,490.
Greenwood reported that a meeting had been held in regards to the Piedmont Bridge, and he had also reached out to Steve Criqui with Criqui Construction, with no response received as of Monday morning. Follow up is planned. Work to the Short Bridge is slated to start September/October. Startdate clarification and follow up noted in future plans. A quote of $13 per ton for clean .5-inch chips was quoted by Harshman Construction. Greenwood noted he would be looking to get pricing for oil this week. Greenwood shared that 375th Street and X road had been assessed and they were awaiting the receipt of a hydrology report before a determination is made to address water flow issues. An update on the cattle guard discussion was provided. Greenwood shared that he met with Corey Baker and Road and Bridge had cleaned/dug out the cattle guard. Pertaining to roads in Johnson’s Lake View Edition, commissioners expressed intentions for consulting legal counsel. Commissioner Preston Evenson referenced the chip seal road east of Eureka, located near U Road and 160th Street. After discussing condition, Greenwood was slated to speak with the township pertaining to future maintenance. During this time, Emergency Management Director Levi Vinson made a recommendation that any agreements or changes be formally documented for records.
Vinson shared a conflict pertaining to designation of approximately .5 mile of roadway located at 125th Street, between EE50 and FF Roads (also referenced during discussion as Baker Bridge). Vinson discussed that the original bridge at this location had went out in the 90s and there are conflicting maps, one reflecting county responsibility and one reflecting this as a township road. When it was shared that this is currently being maintained by the county, Greenwood advised that he was recently informed that the county goes over the halfmile stretch approximately three times per year. It was shared that this road had been researched and records that the board of commissioners had ever assigned responsibility to anyone for this section of road were not found. Due to the conflicting papers, Vinson noted the need for clarification on the length of road. In discussion, it was noted that this is located in the Pleasant Grove Township near Toronto Lake. Officials discussed looking to designate this as a township road and noted intent of consulting Legal Counsel in regards to this.
Ongoing work to update formal documentation and mapping in regards to rural roads in Greenwood County was referenced by Vinson. He noted having received a lot of calls, adding that commissioners may also have been contacted, from people who believe the county is crazy for efforts to redo official mapping. Vinson noted that for a time in years past, changes were constantly being made. He noted that updating mapping was simply the county picking up on a practice that had been neglected. He later recommended that, once completed, periodic review, potentially annually or biannually, be conducted.
EMS/Ambulance Director Brian Mongeau provided updates on recommended insulation to the stations bay and well as fleet upgrades. Mongeau shared that one company had assessed the structure, but they were still awaiting the bid. An additional company from the Madison area is also scheduled to visit the station for future provision of a bid, but as of Monday morning, they had not been in yet. Mongeau shared that a representative from Osage was present last week to discuss scheduled remounting. Ambulance 22 was previously identified as the unit for work to be completed to. Mongeau noted that around this time when assessment was completed, a compressor in the air conditioner went out and the truck was taken back to the shop for repair. After sharing this, Mongeau stated this was definitely the truck to get rid of. Following this report, Mongeau told commissioners that an official quote was just received, but he had not gotten a chance to review it yet. Mongeau noted that numbers were quoted with reuse of all they can factored in. Trade in of $1,500 was quoted. The option for them bringing the chassis back so the county can sell it would be approximately $900. Numbers are to be further reviewed. Total for remounting was quoted at approximately $148,000. This bid was noted as only good for 20 days, due to the market. The week of Aug. 12, the truck is slated to go to the shop for remounting and Mongeau noted he expects this to take 90 days. Mongeau is slated to return to the next commission meeting to revisit this item after reviewing the quote further. During discussion, Mongeau noted that approximately $225,000 would be spent for a new truck and savings would be roughly $80,000 for remounting.
Vinson notified commissioners that all of the Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) pertaining to storm sirens had been signed by all cities which possess them. As such, beginning Aug. 13, countywide storm siren testing will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m. This is moving from the former schedule of Monday evenings at 6 p.m. See related article located elsewhere in this week’s edition for additional details.
Vinson shared that the weather event experienced in April is officially a federally declared disaster. It was later reminded that a lot of rain had been received in a short amount of time and brush removal as well as additional work had been required.
In old business, Greenwood sought commissioners’ thoughts in regards to the City of Eureka’s previous request, and the recently submitted written document, pertaining to the county aiding in removal of fuel tanks at the Lt. William M. Milliken Airport. In regards to the written agreement submitted pertaining to provision of aid, dissatisfaction was expressed by commissioners towards the verbiage and disinterest was then voiced in aiding with this item.
Exposed piping in the pipeline near Madison was noted in meeting conversation.
An executive session for five minutes for the subject of legal discussion was requested by Commissioner Ben Fox. Following the return to open meeting, Fox referenced future plans for budget publication and shared that the county mill levy would be looking to see a 1.799 decrease for the next fiscal year.
A five-minute executive session was held by commissioners for legal discussion. Following the session, no action was taken.
A 10-minute executive session was held with Greenwood remaining, for the subject of personnel. Following the session, no decisions were made.
Special payables in the amount of 2823.45 were approved.
Payables in the amount of $243,419.74 were approved.
Payroll in the amount of $154,293.59 was approved.
Minutes of the July 15 meeting were approved as written.
Legal Counsel Paul Dean was absent from the meeting.
In future items referenced on the weekly agenda, a road viewing is slated to follow the Aug. 12 meeting and a budget meeting is scheduled for Aug. 26.
The next meeting of the Greenwood County Commission will be held on Monday, July 29 at 9 a.m.
