Pottawatomie County commissioners moved Monday to send out bids for dust control on some of the county’s more well-traveled dirt gravel roads.
Public Works Engineering Aide Janell Ralph says the county has three interested bidders for the annual sprays this year.
A number of rural routes have had more traffic amid the closure of the Louisville Road Bridge over Rock Creek, which remains closed after a sinkhole developed on the deck last year. Project Coordinator Steve Roggenkamp presented a funding agreement from the Kansas Department of Transportation, which approved a cost share grant for upcoming bridge repairs last fall.
Pottawatomie County will also be required to pay 100% of design, inspection and right-of-way costs, which is estimated around $1.9 million dollars.
Also during Monday’s meeting, resident Bob Cook, of Frankfort shared concerns with wind farm truck traffic damaging Pottawatomie County roads and presented photos showing the damage. Public Works Administrator Tim Eisenbarth says he has spoken to the manager of the Irish Creek site and promised a follow up conversation is in order.
Additional concerns with gravel along Burr Oak Road were also presented by John Thomas, of St. George Township.
A Pottawatomie County Planning Board member also spoke during public comment, noting he is supportive of the county exploring another sales tax question on the November ballot to address infrastructure needs.
Doug Kern says he’s 100% behind that and will do anything he can to help that pass, and explained his reason to county commissioners Monday.
Kern says the county’s prior attempts to pass a sales tax question may have failed because no sunset provision was included, for when the tax would essentially come to an end. He’s suggesting a 50 cent sales tax increase and spelling out the projects to be completed within a roughly 10 or 15 year timeframe.
A work session on the sales tax initiative is scheduled for Feb. 26.
