Finding ways to fund regional bridges continues to be a topic of conversation for the Pottawatomie County Commissioners, but for now, they’re finding ways to make do. Commission Chairman Pat Weixelman said the board heard from Public Works Director Leu Lowrey during their weekly meeting on Monday, March 30, who gave updates on two on-going bridge projects.
“We have received four kits for the patching of the Belvue Bridge, and we’re going to plan to start working on it in the next two to three weeks,” said Weixelman.
He added that there has also been progress on the Flint Rock Bridge, which was previously condemned.
“Abutments have been poured,” Weixelman said of the bridge. “It’s on schedule and things are going pretty well. It looks like we’ll meet the projected completion date on that.”
The commissioners also heard from County Health Director Leslie Campbell, who reported that Pottawatomie County ranked third in the state for over-all health for the second year in a row. The data used for the study was gathered by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and includes factors such as premature death rates, adult obesity, unemployment rates and air pollution levels. Areas the county excelled in included high school graduation rates, low unemployment and high rankings in general quality of life.
Noxious Week Director Tim Eisenbarth presented the 2015 Weed Control Plan at Monday’s meeting as well. Weixelman noted that Pottawatomie County oversees weed control for 5,000 acres of right-of-way, 13 cemeteries, and a variety of parks and state-owned ground, which makes the plan crucial.
“This plan has to be submitted to the state on a yearly basis,” Weixelman said. “We also spray for KDOT. We contracted with them at the beginning of the year for spot-spraying on all of their highways that run through the county.”
Additionally, the board heard from County Counselor John Watt regarding the removal and disposal of abandoned and junk vehicles in the county. Watt reported that he was meeting with the sheriff as well to assess the issue and discuss possible solutions.
